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Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting
by Debbie Rodgers
Description: How to choose outdoor lighting that works best for your landscape.
When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may drive us inside
from our porches, patios or decks. Don't despair – outdoor lighting
can lengthen the day and dramatically extend the potential of our
outdoor living spaces.
The first step, as with any project, is to plan. How do you want to
use this space after dark, and what lighting will you need? Lighting
can be summarized in four categories:
- Security lighting is needed in highly vulnerable areas of
your property. Because it is bright and often motion activated, keep
it away from the living areas so that it's not distracting.
Alternatively, have your security lighting on a manual on/off switch
so that you can override automatic illumination.
- Task lighting is for performing specific activities such as
grilling or walking safely up and down steps and along paths. You
should place task lighting between your eyes and the object that
needs to be lighted and should take care that it does not glare. An
overly bright light will blind rather than guide.
- Accent lighting adds drama or can highlight an unusual
feature. Uplighting, for example can illuminate an interesting piece
of statuary. Silhouetting, achieved by placing a light between an
object and a fence or wall, dramatically displays an unusual tree or
bush.
- General or ambient lighting provides overall illumination so
that people feel comfortable and look good. The most magical of
lighting imitates what is found in nature – moonlight or starlight.
Moonlighting is produced by hanging lights in mature trees, pointing
downward to produce a dappled effect, as if the area were lit by a
full moon. The look of starlight can be achieved through the use of
flickering candles, sprinkled here and there throughout the space, or
by suspending tiny lights in the branches of a tree to create a
sparkling night time canopy. Of course, there are many other
attractive types of light – some just plain fun!
No matter what type of lighting you choose, it will be powered by one
of these sources.
- Fire is the oldest source of light and considered by some to
be the most romantic. Flames, produced by candles or oil-burning
lamps, are warm and flattering to faces, and have a hypnotic effect
that induces calm and relaxation. Firelight on reflected surfaces
such as ponds, mirrors and even gazing balls is a particularly
effective way to create atmospheric lighting and enhance the
impression of light.
- Try snaking a row of candles along a garden path or suspending them
in glass jars from branches. An array of tiki burning torches can add
an exotic touch to your patio area. Although torches are designed to
withstand a reasonable amount of wind, it's best to provide as much
protection as possible to any open flame and never leave one
unattended.
- Solar-powered lights are an easy and portable choice for
outdoor lighting. Some lights have a collector panel that can be
concealed behind shrubbery, while others contain their own energy
cell and absorb the sun's rays even on a cloudy day.
- Battery-operated and rechargeable units are also wireless and
very portable while in use.
- Line-powered or hard-wired lights are connected to the
electrical system of your home. Weatherproof lamps may be plugged
directly into an outdoor socket. Wire for lighting that is further
from the house runs through buried conduits. The most permanent of
outdoor lighting, it is also the most expensive, sometimes costing in
the tens of thousands of dollars. It should be installed by a
licensed electrician.
- Low-voltage units also connect to the electrical system of
your home, but are fitted with a transformer that reduces the
electrical current from 120 volts to a safer supply of 12 volts.
Although they are less durable than line-powered fixtures, they are
also a lot less expensive and are ideal for a small outside space
where only short cable runs are required. They are designed for an
easy do-it-yourself installation.
Whatever your light source, keep these tips in mind:
- Less is more in lighting. Be subtle: try to hide lights where
possible and use a low watt bulb.
- Avoid setting lights in straight lines up and down paths,
drives or patio edges. This "airport runway" effect is a very common
error.
- Yellow lights are unflattering to both people and plants.
Where possible, install blue-white bulbs or purchase daylight-blue
filters for your fixtures.
- Position outside lights where they are easily accessible for
changing light bulbs. Investing in long-life outdoor bulbs will make
the maintenance even easier.
- With any unit requiring electricity, use the protection of
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on all outdoor circuits.
Don't let the sun dictate the use of your outdoor space. Get outside
after dark and light up the night!
Reprinted with permission.
