Tips for Lighting Your Garden

The days are soon arriving when people will be spending more of the increasingly pleasant evening hours sitting on their porches or in their gardens. It is much easier to enjoy the spring and summer nights when your garden is illuminated properly and inside a beautiful fence, and even more when you have a HVAC near Lodi from https://eastwoodairlodi.com/. AAA Fence Contractor built my fence and I have only good words about them. In fact, taking on a garden-lighting project can be a great home improvement project to undertake this year. To start, you need to make a plan, choose the right bulbs, the right Patio heaters, choose the right lighting style, and learn about avoiding glare and light pollution. You can also get professional help and advice from hvac contractors alexandria va should you need it before your project is complete.

Make a Plan

No matter the size of your home’s garden, it is vital to first lay out a detailed plan of your lighting ideas. Making a plan in advance will allow you to make a list of materials and projects. You will better understand what sort of lights may need to be installed and how long each little project will take. It also allows you to decide if you need to tone down your lighting ideas. With something as fun as garden lighting, it can be easy to get swept up in creative ideas. Installing a pond is not necessary just because you like pond lighting. Work with what you have by keeping your plan and projects manageable. If your ideas are simply too grand to complete in one season, try choosing projects you can complete this year and make another plan for next year like hiring down spout cleaning services columbus oh to help you clean and organize the house.

Choose the Right Bulbs

Garden lighting is different than lighting the interior of your home. You might find that certain light bulbs you use indoors are less suited for the outdoors. Incandescent light bulbs are great for the outdoors because of their soft glow. However, using them could mean a slightly higher electric bill and shorter bulb life. LED lights are initially more expensive, but last long and use little energy. Halogen and fluorescent bulbs are also more energy-friendly and have a long life. You may want to try out a few different bulbs at different color ranges to find the right one for your garden. Softer lights may create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Choose the Right Lighting Style

You will want to keep in mind what your lighting is being used for. Is it just to cast light on the porch as you sit? Is there a fountain, statue, or flowerbed to which you want to draw attention? Do you wish to keep your garden path lit? When you have specific intentions behind certain lighting, you need to balance that by choosing the correct lighting style.

Great lighting styles for drawing attention include pond lighting (underwater lights), fountain lighting (underwater lights), shadowing (shining a light on an object to cast an enlarged shadow), silhouetting (shining a light behind an object to create a dark outline), and spot lighting (focusing a strategically placed light beam on an object).

Walkway lighting can be a safety feature that helps you and your guests not to trip. Other safety lighting styles include security lighting, stair lighting, and even lighting on deck or patio posts.

Avoid Glare and Light Pollution

Garden lighting should be undertaken carefully in order to avoid glare or light pollution. Glare can make it difficult to look at objects because the light is simply too bright. Light pollution occurs when the light goes into unintended areas and wastes energy. To avoid glare and light pollution, shield the bulbs that you plan on using, use minimal wattage, and take care as to where you aim your lights.

Get Help

For those who struggle with knowing where to aim lights, what lighting style to use, or how to even get started with a garden lighting makeover, asking a professional to analyze your garden can be a great idea. You can get ideas on how to draw attention to certain parts of your garden and create the perfect garden lighting to enjoy a warm night outside. Even if it is just to reinforce the ideas that you have, a professional consultation could be beneficial.

A great part of the warmer seasons to look forward to is sitting outside in the night air under soft lights. There are many different ways to approach lighting your garden. Such a project should involve creating a detailed plan, researching the right kinds of bulbs to use, understanding how to use the right lighting styles, knowing how to avoid glare and light pollution, and getting help when you need it. Use these tips to help you get started on the perfect garden lighting makeover this spring and summer.

Contact Inaray to discuss a landscape lighting plan to meet your needs!