Outdoor lighting in the hands of an expert can do wonders for your landscape when the sun goes down. It could be the reason why cars passing by actually stop to take a look at your house in admiration. However, it needs to be done right to produce such an effect and here are a few points that may help you to do just that.
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Marking the Parameters
The path leading to your house should be marked with lights that highlight the section of the garden which flanks the path from both sides. The distance between each set of lights should be enough so that there are no dark sectors in-between. The lights can also be used to light up the path instead of the garden if you feel that’s the right approach for your setting. Mix up the designs to add variety.
Highlighting What You Want
Path lights are not only supposed to mark the parameters; they are also meant to be placed in your garden to highlight the plants and pieces of architecture that you want people to see after dark. Decide where you want them placed and introduce some color into your garden with Lighting Expo Outdoor Lighting.
Don’t Overdo It
The idea is to emphasize your landscaping with outdoor lighting, not flood it. Make sure that the light and dark effect is always there, with darkness being the dominant theme here. If you use outdoor lighting sparingly, everything you highlight will seem more beautiful and particularly dreamy on a moonlit night.
Moon Lighting
A more elegant way to install path lights is to opt for moonlighting. We are not talking about the natural moonlight here, but artificial lights which are placed high up in the tallest trees, with the actual light sources being hidden from sight. This ambient lighting system, if done right, can make your garden look like a magical little forest glowing in the moonlight. One Thing to remember is that moonlights are cooler and bluer than general garden lights, and most outdoor lights in general, with most having a color temperature of roughly 5,000 – 5,500 Kelvins.
Candle Lighting
Low powered candle lights are an excellent idea on tabletops whether you have moonlights or not, as they provide the perfect contrast to the blue moon lighting with their yellow luminescence.
Door Lighting
The main entry to the house needs light too, but this need not always be spotlights. Instead, place a few bright and colored lights behind the pillars or some other piece of architecture to illuminate the entrance with ambient light without directly visible sources.
The Silhouette
Imagine a house prominently visible against the dark background in bright luminescence and you might just love the idea. Everything from the chimney to the trees near the house can be lit up brightly with the help of uplights and downlights. If this is too bright for those that love a bit of mystery in their outside lighting, use the same lighting method sparingly to highlight the architectural lines.
You will find some amazing ideas once you decide to seriously approach outdoor lighting for your home, but the trick lies in subtlety and being able to discern what will be right for your particular landscaping. An idea that worked great for your neighbor’s home may not work so well for yours.
Images from House Sar by Nico van der Meulen Architects
Photographed by: Barend Roberts and David Ross
