Pictures of a well-lit pathway conjure up images of fairytale-like settings and magical places, don’t they? The truth is that great lighting can turn any ordinary front or backyard into a magical place that you love to spend time in—and show off to your friends and family.
But landscape lighting has practical benefits too. It lights up the way so you and your guests can see and explore at night. It’s also great for highlighting something you’re already proud of—the raised planters you worked on all summer, your favorite tree, or a brand-new patio. With so many different types of outdoor lighting options, it can be hard choosing which lighting to install first!
In this article, we’ll look at some great lighting techniques for maximizing your outdoor space, but first let’s review some of the reasons you might want to install lighting in the first place.
There are so many benefits to installing pathway lighting in your backyard, such as:
There are many different types of outdoor lights. Here’s just a few of our favorites:
With so many options, you might need some help figuring out what type of light is right for what you are trying to accomplish. Here are some examples of lightning techniques used by the pros and the lights that go with them:
These lights are designed to illuminate pathways and stairs so that you can walk safely and comfortably at night. They usually aren’t a huge source of light—just enough to brighten up what otherwise would be a dim path with unknown obstacles. But they also add a warm and inviting atmosphere to your backyard.
FXLuminaire Inspiration
FXLuminaire M-PL Path Light
Up lights, often used as accent lights, are perfect If you have a feature of your home or yard that you want to highlight such as the walls of your house, rocks, or trees. Just as the name implies, they shine light up to one of your yard’s focal points. Shining light from below adds a dramatic and enchanting effect to whatever it’s being shined on.
FXLuminaire C-WW
Kichler 2-in-1 LED Water Accent Light
Down lights are lights that are placed above the area you want to highlight. As the name implies, they shine down from above. These lights can be used to brighten an entire area of your yard rather than a specific feature. These lights will improve visibility of your overall yard, but can also be used in more specific ways, such as moonlighting. Moonlighting is the term for placing a light in a tree some that some of the branches and leaves appear as shadows. This emulates natural moonlight and adds dimension to your yard.
Moonlighting Landscape Illustration
Deck & patio lights are like down lights except they are made for these active social areas. In these spaces, the lights themselves stand out more, and you should consider the size, style, and finish as an extension of the color palette of your deck or patio. These lights provide ample lighting in sitting and social areas and should be used liberally in order to light up the faces of your friends and family.
Kichler LED Half Moon Deck Light Fixture
A Hardscape refers to the “hard” features of your backyard such as walls, pavers, stairways, rocks, water features, fire features and more. Hardscape lighting is made to fit into these spaces and add lighting directly on the object. It can be used to light pathways or specific features such as an outdoor kitchen island.
FXLuminaire LF Color
Wall Lights are a more specific type of light that are engineered to light up walls and the areas surrounding them. Installed in the wall, these lights add a designer feel to walkways and spaces because of the special fit in the wall.
FXLuminaire MO Color
Water Lights are a type of specialty light that’s fully sealed so it can be placed in wet areas or even underwater. These lights show off water features and perform much like up lights in that they accent points of focus.
Kichler 2-in-1 LED Water Accent Light
Kichler 2-in-1 LED Water Accent Light
Pathway lighting is as much of a style choice as it is about function. Whether you want modern light fixtures that enhance the look of your sleek backyard or rustic lights that highlight a woodsy and eclectic style, you will find the perfect light for you.
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