Using Landscape Lighting to Show Off Yard
and Garden Projects

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A good landscaping project adds up to twenty percent to a property value, and outdoor lighting fixtures are often a main component of a project; without landscape lighting, you can only see your work half of the time. Exterior lighting fixtures illuminate your deck, yard, or garden for night-time use and enjoyment. Outdoor lighting is also used for security purposes or as a practical addition to walkways to help visitors navigate a yard or garden space.

Materials for Outdoor
Lighting Fixtures

If you’re choosing landscape lighting, you’ll have a lot of options in front of you. Some of the basic choices start with what kind of structure you want and what kind of materials complement your project. Remember, wood will usually need a little more maintenance over time. If you’re installing low-lying lighting for a pathway or around a house, it also helps to consider whether the exterior lighting fixtures will allow dirt to get into the electrical housing, and how easily accessible the wiring is in case the fixtures need to be repaired down the road. If you’re unsure, a landscape lighting contractor can help you decide what lighting fixtures to install and how.

Landscape lighting command and control

Another feature of your outdoor lighting will be in how you want to control its use. The old conventional style was with a light switch wired to the inside of the home, but timing systems have also become really popular, since they allow for lighting to be used even when you are away from your home. A dual system allows timed lighting with a switch over-ride, and some outdoor lighting systems even operate by remote control.

Select Your “Thousand Points of Light”

Okay, 1,000 is a little too many, but a good way to start designing an outdoor lighting system is to find all of the points that you would like to be lit up, whether it’s garden beds, walkways, exterior walls, flags, or other spots, and map them. Then consider how best to locate your fixtures to shine on these “showcase” areas. The location of your lights will have a lot to do with the materials and styles you choose for your outdoor lighting fixtures.