5 Tips For Successful Outdoor Lighting
Use these landscape lighting techniques and you can comfortably enjoy the outdoors after dark and respect your neighbors and environment.
Tip #1
The first and most important landscape lighting rule is you should never see the source of light, just a nicely illuminated area as the result of lighting.
If you can see the light source, you must be producing glare which your neighbors (probably unwillingly) share. Unfortunately, many landscape lighting installations don’t get this important point right and the installation will be substandard and probably annoying.
Tip #2
Use low wattage lights in the 5-15w range with 20 watts as the absolute maximum - unless you want to operate a military-style checkpoint at your front gate! Bright lights and landscape lighting don’t go together because bright overwhelm the landscape and call attention to themselves.
Tip #3
Use shielded or shrouded landscape lights so the light goes where you aim it and doesn’t flood the surrounding area with light. A light fixture is often meant to illuminate a point of interest, but if its not shrouded, it floods surrounding area with light which defeats the purpose.
Tip #4
Don’t illuminate trees. This is a common practice, but it shows a lack of respect for the environment. Trees need darkness and sleep too just like we do. Don’t uplight trees because they look stark and ghostly. Instead. Highlight the connection of the tree to the Earth.
Tip #5
Turn Your Lights Off! At the latest when you go to bed, preferably before. Nobody is looking at your landscape in the middle of the night, so save money and energy resources by turning them off.
