Lighting
Products
Guide To Lighting
- Bulb Enlightenment
- Energy Efficiency
- Glossary
- Lighting Room-by-Room
Exterior and Landscape Lighting
Many homeowners neglect to put the same thought and effort into their exterior lighting design that they put in their interior. When you consider all the benefits that come with a good exterior light plan, it becomes clear what a smart investment it is for both a home's value and safety. A properly lit lawn and home exterior enhances your home's architectural strengths and accentuates beautifully manicured lawns, fountains and pools at any hour of the day. It's a satisfying way to increase your property value. Additionally, lit pathways, porches and decks help visitors and family members safely navigate outside. Exterior lighting also dissuades would-be burglars who can't hide under the cover of darkness.
- Size can make or break your doorway light design. Wall lanterns should be in proportion with the doorway, but people often buy light fixtures that are too small for their door. If you're using just one lantern, make sure it's about 1/3 the height of the door; if you use two lanterns, they should be 1/4 the size of your door.
- Mount your doorway lanterns a tad higher than eye level
- When buying post mounted lanterns, err on the side of a larger fixture rather than a smaller one. Fixtures look deceptively small from distances further than 50 ft.
- Like fashion accessories, a little goes a long way with landscape lighting; refrain from installing so many lights that your lawn looks like the Vegas strip at night. Resist spontaneous temptation to add more lights by beginning with a well defined plan that pinpoints major areas you want lit and what purpose they will serve.
- Always consider your neighbors in your lighting plans; keep lights focused away from their windows.
- Tuck functional-looking lights behind trees, bushes and other areas of your yard.
- To highlight a tree at the base, use well lights that are installed in the ground and out of sight. Light will travel upward for a beautiful, atmospheric effect.
- Globe lights are excellent for ambient light around pools and hot tubs, as they cast light in all directions.
- Protect the eyes from glare with tier lights equipped with modified downward sloping shades. These are great for pathways.
- Flood lights do exactly that-flood bright light in one direction toward your object or area of choice. They're great for adding drama and the predominant light in artful landscape designs.
- Gently light your low-lying flowers and pretty shrubs with mushroom lights, which have a shade that softens light from its bulb.
- Choose long-lived halogen, fluorescent or solar powered lights when possible to cut costs, reduce pollutants and save you the hassle of constant bulb replacements.
- Keep timer lights, motion detectors and photo cell lights wired to separate switches from your manually controlled lights.
- Solar powered lights aren't just eco-friendly; they can be placed in problem areas where cable can't be run. Just keep in mind they aren't meant for powerful ambient lighting, but as decorative accents with a low cast range.
- Timers and photo-cell controlled lights are ideal for safety, as they automatically turn on while you're away on vacation or late at the office, giving would-be thieves the impression someone is home. Timers, motion detectors and photo-cell lights also make sure you come home to a brightly lit home, reducing chances of trips or fumbling for keys in the dark.
