Planning Outdoor Lighting Upgrades
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Outdoor landscape lights are generally better made than indoor fixtures, because they have to stand up to the effects of the weather. Even so, outdoor lighting fixtures still deteriorate faster than indoor fixtures and so need updating more often.
Strangely enough, this need to change the light fixtures more often because of weathering can actually be a benefit!
Why? Because upgrading light fixtures can do amazing things for the appearance of your home. If the first thing a visitor (or buyer if you’re thinking of selling) sees is worn out of weathered looking light fixtures that’s going to give a bad first impression.
You can take a home built in the 1970s and just with new, outdoor light fixtures, transform it and bring it into the 21st century. In addition to being more functional, new lighting will dress up your home while adding resale value.
There are hundreds of lighting styles to choose from in every possible price range. So take stock of your existing outdoor lighting fixtures and consider which ones should be updated.
For example, for the entrance or pathway area to your home, the outdoor light fixtures should make a powerful statement. In other areas, you want lighting that creates a more gentle , inviting feel whilst also providing enough light to highlight the best landscape features.
The exciting thing about entrance and pathway outdoor lighting is that regardless of the size of the entryway, new lighting can make a dramatic impact.
Just keep in mind when you’re planning outdoor lighting that the new lighting is the first thing people see. Therefore, it needs to set the tone, providing adequate illumination while making people feel warm and welcomed.
Some of the outdoor lighting styles to consider for an upgrade are:
- portfolio outdoor lighting
- outdoor walkway lighting
- vista outdoor lighting
- outdoor security lighting
- rustic outdoor lighting
- vista professional outdoor lighting
- outdoor string lighting
- led outdoor landscape lighting
- outdoor wall lighting
- colonial style outdoor lighting
- outdoor led lighting
- outdoor tree lighting
- vintage outdoor industrial lighting
Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Basics
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What are the advantages of low voltage outdoor lighting systems?
- They are safe
- Easy to install
- Energy efficient
- Less safety precautions are required
There is a wide range of fixtures you can buy to suit different outdoor lighting applications:
- low profile fixtures to light a deck
- globe or tier lights for landscape lighting or illuminating pathways
- floodlights for lighting larger areas
You can buy complete lighting kits with everything you need (except for long run cables), or purchase individual components, if you want to construct a custom installation.
There will be a control box for the lighting system, which is best mounted indoors e.g. in a garage for weather protection. This control box will include a step down transformer that converts from the mains voltage to the low voltage used by the outdoor lights.
Things to Remember:
- Install outdoor lights (or at least the cabling) before you complete the landscaping and planting (so you don’t have to dig things up again to lay cables).
- If cable runs get too long or expensive, think about solar outdoor lighting.
- Don’t go overboard with “lights everywhere”.