Landscape Lighting Orlando, FL takes your home’s exterior to a whole new level after dark. From highlighting architectural features to drawing attention to prized trees, it can transform the entire yard.
Unlike line voltage (120V) systems that require a licensed electrician to install, low voltage (12V) systems offer less risk of shock and can be installed by homeowners as a DIY project.
Whether you are planning to sell your home or not, curb appeal is a critical factor in how you and others perceive the environment around your house. There are many things you can do to increase your home’s curb appeal, from painting the front door to planting flowers. One often overlooked way to boost your property’s curb appeal is by adding landscape lighting to your yard.
Landscape lighting can create a nighttime appearance for your home that’s visually striking. The lights accentuate the structure of your house, highlight your landscaping and make your outdoor spaces come to life after dark. As a result, they can add significant value to your property and give people that “wow” factor when they visit your home.
A well-lit driveway or walkway can help prevent accidents and improve the flow of traffic on your property. It also makes it easier to move around your yard and garden after dark. Additionally, a well-lit exterior can provide extra security for your family and guests.
Depending on your space, there are different types of landscape lighting that can be used to enhance your property’s curb appeal. These include path lighting, accent lighting, task lighting and general illumination. Each type of lighting serves a unique purpose and can create a harmonious atmosphere in your landscape.
For instance, path lighting is ideal for illuminating pathways and gardens, while accent lighting can be used to highlight a tree or flower bed. When choosing a path or accent light, be sure to consider its beam spread and color temperature. This will help ensure the light is not too bright or too dark.
Another great way to bolster your property’s curb appeal is by using plants to frame your windows and entryways. Plants such as daylilies, hydrangea and lavender are easy to grow and can have a big impact on your property’s curb appeal. You can even use them to hide the garbage cans or street sign on your property if they are located near your house.
Lastly, if you want to enhance your property’s curb appeal on a budget, consider building a trellis or arbor and training a flowering vine up it. This is an inexpensive and simple way to add a pop of color to your property’s exterior.
Safety
When it comes to your outdoor spaces, safety is one of the most important factors. It’s easy to overlook that the same things that make your property beautiful at night can also pose hazards for visitors if they are not properly illuminated. Professional landscape lighting design takes safety into account, but does so without sacrificing the beauty of your property.
The most obvious way landscape lighting improves safety is by illuminating walking paths and other areas where people may trip or slip. This reduces the risk of serious injury and helps you feel confident that your guests will be able to enjoy your outdoor space safely.
Other ways that landscape lighting improves safety are by highlighting any steps or stairs that might be a hazard, or by making it easier to see where children are playing and exploring at night. This also helps you keep an eye out for any stray toys or pet debris that might be lying around in the dark.
A well-lit entryway to your home is another safety feature that makes it easier for visitors to find their way around your property, whether they are coming from a car or on foot. Especially during the holidays, when there is more foot traffic, having a brightly lit entranceway is a great way to help your guests get where they are going safely.
Finally, landscape lighting can deter potential thieves and vandals by making it harder for them to sneak up on your property at night. It’s a lot more difficult to hide in the dark, so well-lit outdoor spaces can create a barrier between your home and criminals that other security measures might not be able to achieve.
When installing landscape lighting on your property, it’s important to follow proper installation and maintenance practices to ensure your guests’ safety. This includes using the right light bulbs for your fixtures, as well as ensuring that you’re not over-illuminating your property with lights that are too bright. This can be a problem that is caused by having too many fixtures, using bulbs with higher wattage than needed, or by placing them in the wrong locations on your property. It’s also a good idea to regularly inspect your lights for leaves or other debris that might be blocking them and ensure that they are working correctly.
Entertainment
Landscape lighting isn’t just about safety and curb appeal; it can transform the way we see our surroundings at night. It can also set a mood, showcase a special tree or plant, draw attention to a water feature or other feature of your garden and even enhance your entertaining space for friends and family.
In addition to the lights you use to illuminate walkways, driveways and other functional areas, the right lighting can highlight architectural features, trees and plants, water features, sculptures and other elements of your landscape. You can use different lighting strategies to create a unique visual effect, such as grazing walls of light or moonlighting.
There are three main categories of landscape lighting: overall, task and accent. Overhead lighting, like patio lights, floodlights and spotlights, provides general illumination of your yard. It is the most common type of outdoor lighting, and it can be used to highlight a patio area or other entertainment area for evening gatherings.
Path lights are another way to light an area, and they can be a great way to guide people on your property at night. Unlike overhead lighting, which can overwhelm an area, pathway lights are designed to be subtle and blend in with your landscaping. The most popular way to light a pathway is by illuminating the edge of it with a small wall wash fixture. This technique uses a narrow beam to “wash” the wall of a pathway with light and creates a soft, welcoming glow.
The last type of landscape lighting is accent lighting. This technique highlights the form, color and texture of a feature, such as an old twisting oak or a beautiful garden statue. By using spotlights, floodlights and well lights to illuminate these elements, you can show off their beauty after the sun goes down.
If you want to make your yard look spectacular at night, a professional landscape lighting design is the way to go. There’s a science and an art to creating the right landscape lighting, and experts can help you create a landscape that’s both safe and beautiful.
Ambiance
Landscape lighting transforms a home at night into an oasis for evening entertaining. It illuminates your home’s architectural features, draws attention to prized plantings and trees, and highlights water or art features for a dramatic effect. It also adds safety and security by illuminating walkways, steps, and driveways so you can safely travel through your outdoor living spaces at night.
But a lot goes into the design and installation of landscape lighting, including proper fixture placement to avoid glare or creating shadows that obscure areas you want to highlight. Proper maintenance is also crucial to extending the life of your landscape lights. Keep leaves and other debris away from fixtures to prevent overheating, and replace burned-out bulbs regularly.
A professional landscape lighting contractor can help you plan and execute a lighting system that will enhance your property for both beauty and function. In addition to the type of light and its placement, the lighting designer can take into consideration how well it complements your home’s architecture, as well as any landscaping features.
Lighting fixtures are available in a variety of styles and finishes to match any look, but it’s important that the bulb and fixture are rated for use outdoors. Fixtures that are not designed for outdoor use may have a finish that isn’t durable enough to stand up to moisture and temperature changes.
Some light sources have a specific purpose, such as the floodlights that are often used to illuminate outdoor structures or the downlights that are used on walkways. Others, such as the spotlights and tiki torches that are sometimes incorporated into landscape designs, offer more flexibility for a wide range of applications.
Other factors in the choice of lighting include color temperature, beam spread, and lumen output. Color temperature and lumen output are fixed by the manufacturer, but beam spread is a variable attribute that can be controlled to accommodate a variety of tasks.
Many landscape lighting systems have the option to be digitally controlled by a smart device. This allows the user to adjust settings and schedules from anywhere, eliminating the need to visit a hard-to-reach fixture or manually change light programs. This feature can be especially helpful for homeowners who have a busy schedule or travel frequently, and it’s an easy way to ensure your home is always well-lit.