5 Landscape Lighting Tips and Tricks for Your Houston Home
The right landscape lighting can instantly transform your Houston home by adding ambiance and enhancing the safety and security of your outdoor space. Finding the right placement and lights for your landscaping can be tricky, but these six tips can help.
- Light the Path to Your Door
When guests arrive after dark, you want them to find your front door and get there safely. Lighting the path to your door will make your home welcoming and illuminate any tripping hazards that may be in their way.
Avoid placing your lights in a straight line. Stagger them along the path to create a more welcoming and pleasing look. Choose non-glaring fixtures that direct the light downward. Not only is this more aesthetically pleasing, but it also illuminates the walkway more thoroughly so that guests arrive safely.
- Go for Solar
Whenever possible, choose solar lights. Not only will they save you money on your electric bill, but you also have more freedom when it comes to placement. As long as the solar panel gets some sunlight during the day, you can place your light anywhere you want in your landscaping.
Plus, solar lights come on automatically once the sun goes down, so you don’t have to worry about turning them on manually.
Solar lights come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find ones that complement your home’s architecture and surrounding foliage.
- Choose a Lighting Focal Point
To create drama and add interest to your outdoor space, choose a lighting focal point, such as a tree or another interesting element of your landscaping. A well-placed spotlight will draw attention to beautiful elements of your landscaping while brightening up the space and creating a welcoming glow.
Position your spotlights so that the beam is focused up and away from windows or your neighbor’s yard.
Lights can also create beauty and drama when placed in and around pools, waterfalls, and other water features.
- Go for Layered Lighting in Patio or Deck Areas
Outdoor entertaining is more enjoyable when your space is well-lit. Strategically placed lighting will create a cozy glow and the perfect ambiance for entertaining.
Stagger lighting along the perimeter of the deck or patio area for safety. Placing lighting throughout the entertaining area will ensure that guests can linger, spread out, and enjoy some conversation without sitting in the dark.
- Try Smart Lighting
Smart lighting allows you to control your outdoor lighting right from your smartphone or a tablet. Using a free app, you can program your lights to turn on or off at certain times of the day or to illuminate certain areas of your yard on demand. Some smart lights can change colors with the tap of a button.
A smart lighting solution can save you money on energy costs and give you more control over your lighting schedule.
Installing landscape lighting can be a challenge for the everyday homeowner and should be handled by a professional.
Contact Cut Above Landscaping and Irrigation in Houston, TX for help with your home’s outdoor lighting.