WHAT TYPES OF LIGHTS CAN YOU USE TO LIGHT UP OUTDOOR SETTINGS?

Landscape lighting in Charleston SC can make the nighttime look of your yard from boring to bling. When it comes to outdoor lighting– less is more. You may feel like illuminating everything: every tree, every detail, every cranny, and every nook. However, apart from possibly increasing your power bill, this will make your yard look flat and washed out. What really makes certain outdoor lightings stand out after nightfall is the drama created by the variation of lights and darks. Emphasizing certain features and leaving some areas in shadow and playing with the various plants and forms will result in an intriguing and well-lit outdoor space.

What elements to light up in an outdoor setting?  

You may be wondering how to choose the elements that should be highlighted. These tips can help you determine that:

1. Determine the prized components of your lawn. It can be anything from a particularly splendid tree to a pond—enhancing them with light will draw attention towards them.
2. Provide drama to spaces that may not be the center of attention during the daytime. You can take even a plain stone wall to another level at nighttime by grazing it with light and shadow.
3. Keep function in mind. For instance, a bendy pathway or a deck with steps should be adequately lit to make moving around the yard easily and avoid the risk of injuries.

Types of fixtures

Now that you are aware of what you are supposed to illuminate, the question remains- how are you actually going to do it?

Below are the few common types of fixtures, each with a different purpose, which you can use in your landscape lighting plan:

Path Lights

They are small posts with a built-in light and are a diffuser cap. They can be used for framing out a feature or space in the year or spread across a walkway. Ideal for lining around a pond, path or along a driveway’s outline.

Hardscape Lights

A recent addition to outdoor lighting, these tiny lights have flanges or brackets that can be installed into or onto structures and are ideal for grazing or washing walls with light.

Piermount/Postmount Lights

When light is required to highlight certain architectural features, these lights are ideal as they can be installed over a structure or onto a post. They are generally used for fences, gates or entries.

Step and Deck Lights

They are used to highlight architectural features and make dark stairways safe, step and deck lights are directly installed into the decking or hardscape of the yard.

Spotlight

These lights are the spine of any lighting system. Spotlights are used to highlight a variety of features such as buildings, trees, architectural and sculptural details.

Flood Lights

Floodlights are high-intensity, broad-beamed lights typically used to illuminate large areas.

Well Lights

A variation of the spotlight, this light is buried in the ground for a seamless look where the beam of light is visible but the fixture is not.

Pond Light

Pond lights are aquatic spotlights that can be immersed in water to provide a dramatic look to any water elements in the outdoor setting.

How to light up an outdoor setting

Considering the numerous types of fixtures available that can be placed in numerous ways, planning a lighting scheme can get quite overwhelming. Here are some common effects used in landscape lighting to help you out:

Up Lighting

One of the most common types of technique used in outdoor settings. It involves using a tree or tall structure to create intrigue and drama. Well, lights and spotlights are generally used to either highlight the underside of the canopy of a tree or the trunk of a larger tree.

Silhouetting

It involves creating a captivating effect by illuminating dramatic shapes that may not be as noticeable during the daytime. Place a source of light (a spotlight or well light) behind the object, and direct it towards where the main viewpoint is. Make sure that the light source is not visible from that point.

Shadowing

This technique is the opposite of silhouetting. It involves placing a light source (floodlight, well light or spotlight) between the object being lit and the viewpoint, with the beam directed at the object. This generally only works if there is a flat surface such as a wall behind the object, where the shadow of the object can be projected. This technique creates a relatively softer and moodier effect.

Moon Lighting

This is a particularly effective technique to use lighting if your outdoor setting has large trees. It involves placing a spotlight high up on a long tree, with its beam directed downwards, to wash the ground and branches below with light. This technique is ideal for open-branched trees.

Grazing

Grazing is a good option if your yard has a lot of hardscapes. It involves placing a hardscape light or well light near to a flat surface such as a wall, aimed up or down across the surface for a theatrical light and dark effect. You can direct the light upwards or downwards, but the purpose of it is to make the texture of the flat surface stand out, so it is perfect for uneven surfaces.

Washing

Sometimes more ambiance may be required by a space. Wash a large space such as a hedge or wall with a flood light for a well-lit effect. Place the wide-beamed light between the large surface and main viewpoint for a seamless, gentle look with light washed over the entire area.

Path Lighting

While this seems pretty simple, it can go wrong just as easily. It is important to consider how many lights are actually required. A lot of people end up using too many lights, which makes the space look over-lit and boring. Place path lights or bollards on both sides of the pathway, working to and fro for a seamless look.

Now that you know the basics of landscape lighting design, you can go and plan out you’re pathway landscape lighting scheme for your outdoor setting. However, it is important to keep in mind that it can be beneficial to refer to a professional while planning your lighting scheme as they can help you out with various details such as choosing a transformer with the right voltage.