SOME BASIC OUTDOOR LIGHTING IDEAS

More and more homeowners are becoming interested in outdoor lighting not just as a safety or security requirement, but also as a way to beautify their nighttime landscape.  There are literally thousands of models and styles of outdoor lighting products and consumers can create a wide variety of effects – all of them beautiful if put together properly.  Outdoor lighting ideas are as numerous as the imagination allows! 

Architectural landscape lighting has been used for years by commercial properties, but now that outdoor low voltage lighting systems and solar powered lights are affordable and reliable, consumers are using light to enhance nighttime architecture. Many of the techniques professionals use are not complicated and consumers can use these ideas to create any effect they are looking for. 

Down lighting simulates natural moonlight. A light is placed high and focused on a spot below – this highlights the object.  Up lighting is the reverse technique and is used to highlight and accentuate texture of foliage, or statue etc. This also creates a wonderful contrast between the lighted surface and the darker background of the surrounding area. 

Front lighting (placing the light source in front of an object) highlights the texture and detail of the object while backlighting accentuates shape and silhouette. Side lighting (light source off to the side throwing soft light across the object or area) creates a wonderful elongated shadow effect while cross lighting (multiple light sources throwing light from different directions onto the same object) makes a beautiful highlight. 

Solar powered lights are available to implement any lighting idea

Low voltage outdoor lighting is reliable but requires wire hookup, trenching and some maintenance. Solar lighting products are available for any outdoor illumination ideas and cost nothing to operate. Solar patio lights, solar garden lights, solar powered pathway lights, solar post lights, the list goes on and on. Experiment with the above techniques by putting your solar lights in different positions until you get the effect you want. Ideas will come fast and furious!

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