Designing with Light Outdoors
Outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your property, makes your
home safer and more secure, and increases the number of pleasurable
hours you spend outdoors. And it is an investment that pays off
handsomely in the value it adds to your home.
A well-lighted front
entrance enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall
lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a warm,
welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who enter. Under
a porch or other overhang, you can use recessed, chain-hung, or
close-to-ceiling fixtures. A separate rear or side entrance can be
lighted with a single wall lantern installed on the keyhole side of
the door. To conserve energy, consider post and wall lanterns that
use new compact fluorescent or high-intensity discharge light
sources such as mercury vapor or high pressure sodium.
For the
safety and security of family members using the garage at night, you
can install a wall fixture on the face of the garage. Fixtures
equipped with high-pressure sodium bulbs will deliver more light per
watt and last many times longer than those with incandescent bulbs.
In addition, photocells are available that will turn fixtures on at
dusk and off at dawn, reducing energy consumption and providing
security when you're away.
For added security, illuminate any
side of the house that would otherwise be in shadow. To conserve
energy, install a motion- or heat-sensitive control that will switch
on the light only if someone approaches that side of the house. An
automatic timer can control a portion of your outdoor lights to turn
off at a certain hour, while basic security lights can be left on
through the night. Another proven safety measure is to use timers on
interior lights to make your home look occupied when you're away.
Steps, paths, and driveways should be
illuminated to make sure family members and guests are able to move
about easily and safely after dark. You can install path lights or
post lanterns or attach lights to the side of the house. Low-level
path lights, which spread circular patterns of light, will brighten
your walkway, while highlighting nearby flower beds, shrubs, and
ground cover. These close-to-the-ground lights are available in
fixtures using energy-saving low-voltage current (see light
sources). They are simple to install and can easily be moved to
reflect changes in your landscaping. Low-level path lights can also
be used to define the boundaries of long driveways. Bollards, which
stand 30 to 36 inches off the ground, also work well. Use shielded
fixtures to avoid glare.
Decks, porches, and patios can be converted into
romantic evening retreats by concealing low-voltage mini-lights
under steps, railing, or benches.
Another idea is to install a
spotlight in the branches of a nearby tree.
Don't forget to add stronger light
over the barbecue or serving area. To accomplish this, install a
recessed spot-light on an adjacent roof overhang or mount spread
lights on a railing behind the grill
For more information on outdoor lighting, Please visit either of
our showrooms. While you're there, pick
up a copy of "Light Up Your Landscape," the ALA's 16 page guide to
outdoor lighting.
