As the warm weather makes its first appearance homeowners start to notice details about their backyard that they want to improve. They traditionally start with cutting the grass and then begin to realize other things - like how dark their backyard becomes after dusk. In this article we tackle the biggest outdoor lighting problems and provide solutions that will ensure the backyard remains aesthetically pleasing and functional well into the night.

Decorative Lighting

While the flower garden provides an alluring atmosphere during the day, without decorative lighting at night the backyard can become just a dark black abyss. To prevent this from happening, incorporate lights in the garden or around trees to highlight the plants and give shape to the landscape.

Deck Lighting

When the weather is nice you want to be able to use your deck well into the evening. When choosing lights for the deck it’s best to choose solar lights as they provide additional safety by eliminating the use of wires.

Grazing

One of the most commonly missed opportunities when it comes to lighting is showcasing a texture. If you want to showcase a texture - whether this be a wall or a tree, then graze lighting is your best option. This form of spot light is installed close to the bottom of a straight surface with the light pointing vertically to showcase the texture.

Uplighting

Uplighting is perhaps one of the trickiest lighting techniques to integrate into a design since if it’s done improperly it can create an eery atmosphere. Since this lighting design doesn’t replicate a natural lighting source, it’s important to keep in mind that it will create a dramatic lighting effect that produces shadows. It’s best to use this style sparingly and only use it to highlight certain areas that won’t interfere with guests vision.

Down lighting

Down lighting is created easily by hanging a spot light above the ground and pointing it downwards to highlight an object or area. This lighting mimics the way natural outdoor light is created which makes it able to be easily integrated into a landscape design. If you’re interested in using this lighting then consider it for highlighting a wall fountain, hanging basket, or path under a pergola or arbor.

Task Lighting

image © Hayward Commercial Pool Products

In addition to lighting a deck to provide safety, it’s also important to focus on using heavy duty lighting for areas where you tend to spend time completing tasks such as grilling, reading, or swimming.

Pathway Lighting

One of the most common landscape lighting styles is pathway lighting since it makes walkways safer at night. With this style of lighting it’s better to stagger the lights than to align them in a straight line. The staggering of the lights helps to make them look more natural and prevents them from becoming the focal point of the walkway.

Now that you've learned how to solve your biggest outdoor lighting problems, it's time to implement lighting techniques that will enhance your backyards aesthetic and functionality.

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