Outdoor chandelier over a dining table creates a romantic space
The nights are darker and the days are colder, winter is on our doorstep. Many of us go to work in the dark and come home in the dark every day. The landscape around us has become part of a fond memory of warmer days, a place you pass through in the dark going to or from the office or just the view from your window. Does your landscape look like an uninviting black hole? However, it doesn’t need to be so.
Effective use of landscape lighting to set a scene
If you’re like so many people, you enjoy spending time outside. Many of us work inside all day and look forward to spending some time outside in the evenings, on our terraces or outdoor entertainment areas. However, in the colder months this is more difficult, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. Outdoor lighting systems provide you with the opportunity of setting a romantic mood poolside and allowing
you to safely and comfortably extend your use of a patio or landscape later into the evenings. Landscape lighting can also set a scene, a vignette to look out upon, highlighting architectural features, a tree, a wall or screen an offensive light from the neighbors. Landscape lighting looks great year round, but has more impact and is much more noticeable in the winter.
Moonlighting and uplighting on trees near a pool creates a dramatic scene while providing suitable ambient light to use the space
Outdoor lighting has many uses and can be used on residential and commercial properties alike. The addition of outdoor lighting not only provides safety, utility and security but it can also be used for beautification, screening and aesthetics. Outdoor lighting can be broken down into three categories: utility lighting, architectural lighting and landscape lighting.
Safety bollard lighting on a pathway
Utility lighting covers the most basic of outdoor lighting but is usually what most people think of when we discuss landscape lighting: lighting for safety, security and utility. An example of safety lighting is pathway lights, they are there so you can safely make your way to or from a building. An example of security lighting is pole lights in a parking lot; they are there so that people can feel safe getting to their cars. An example of utility lighting is the flood lights on your garage or house. These provide lighting for general purpose and typically have no aesthetic value. With utility lighting the color of the light and its effects has little value versus the overall quantity of light.
Subtle uplighting on the columns and door on a building will draw your eye to the entry
Architectural lighting is focused on outdoor lights that light up a building or specific architectural feature. Often architectural lighting provides many uses such as safety and security but also has a strong aesthetic sense as well. The architectural lighting is done to create a dramatic effect, highlighting a portion of a building or wall. Designed to provide accents for the most beautiful or interesting features of the home or building, say columns, an entry door or gorgeous stonework. This type of lighting can create unique or dramatic shadow effects as well. Architectural lighting often times utilizes strategically placed low voltage fixtures that can either be hidden behind shrubbery or set into the ground and will accentuate the selected features easily without creating a distraction during the daytime hours. Often times the quality and color of the light is very important in creating the desired effect. Certain types of light will make highlights pop and shadow recede while other types of light create a uniform wash. Knowing the character of each light source is important in using it effectively.
Uplighting on a brick house accentuate the texture
Landscape lighting is lighting that focuses on the landscape. It can also provide for safety and security lighting but mostly the focus is on the aesthetic value. Landscape lighting requires knowledge of lighting design and horticulture so that the proposed fixtures and lights can be installed to create the intended design effect without damaging the plantings or trees. Choosing the right light for the right type of plant is very important. For instance, some tree and shrub foliage looks wonderful with a cooler blue light (white pines and beech trees) and some plantings look much better with a warmer more yellow light (oak and scotch pine). Choosing the right light source for what you are lighting is very important.
Uplighting on a specimen tree can highlight the structure and foliage
Highlighting specimen trees with an uplight can be a very effective way to create interest in the nighttime landscape. However, it is very important to locate them effectively to make sure they are creating the desired effect. Often time the uplights are placed too close to the trunks of the trees resulting in glaring hot spots that can become a distraction. We will typically place the fixture several feet away to allow the light to diffuse more and hit the canopy of the tree.
Effective landscape lighting can eliminate fixtures from the field of view
There are several different techniques of using landscape lights and there are many different types of fixtures. Up lighting, down lighting, spot lighting and washing are the four major methods of landscape lighting. Each has a different effect in the landscape to create dramatic scenes. Landscape lighting can also be used for screening. How can light create screening? For example, if you live in a suburban area and have woods around your property, in the winter the lights from your neighbor’s house may be visible through the woods. To obscure that light, screening can accomplished in two ways: one, a larger evergreen tree placed between you and the other light or two, create a wash of light or highlight a tree in your yard between the two properties. Your eye will be drawn to the closer, brighter light and drown out the neighbor’s light.
Landscape lights can be used on many site features including walkways, paths, steps and landings. These are best lit with the fewest number of high quality fixtures to allow the minimum amount of light, to provide safe access within the property. Each path light or wall light will emit a circle of light that extends from 5 to 10 feet. It is important to select the style of fixture that complements your décor and will provide you with maximum value. When using path lights to light a walkway or driveway, avoid using too many or lining them up in a row, creating a runway effect. Alternate the lights and allow for a little more space between the fixtures to create some interest.
Floating pool lights provide light and add a whimsical element to the garden
Lighting for active use areas like pools, dining areas, outdoor kitchen & bbq can often be done with down lights out of larger trees, if they are nearby and available. Down lights or moon lighting creates large pools of soft, diffused light on the ground, while cleverly placed spotlights can light up your outdoor barbecue or kitchen. There are some new fun ways to light pool areas such as floating orbs and light up shapes. These can provide interest, and light the space. Large pole lights don’t always look good in the daytime and can be out of place in a residential landscape. Pole lights are best to be used on parking lots and roadways.
Outdoor floor lamps can be used around casual seating areas or on a patio to create a more room like feel
Traditional lights such as floor lamps and table lamps are now be made for outdoor or “wet” locations. These fixtures are designed to be left outside and are made of durable and attractive materials. These can be very useful for lighting seating areas on a deck or patio. There are also many very fun lights on the market today for a variety of uses, such as floating pool lights and different shapes (cubes, cones pyramids, etc). There are also chandeliers designed for outdoor use and fun pendant lights. Christmas lights or string lights can also provide enough light for some spaces and create a unique atmosphere. These are best used in smaller spaces where the light is sufficient. Have fun and experiment!
The light source is very important to the overall effect you are creating. Light bulbs come in many types and each has its pros and cons. Metal Halide, incandescent, fluorescent, high pressure sodium, gas flame and LED are common light sources found today. The biggest advances are in the realm of LEDs. LEDs come in a variety of sizes and light outputs. They come in a broad range of color temperatures from very cool blues to very warm yellows and everything in between. Now there are LED replacement bulbs available for most fixtures and more and more LED fixtures designed from the ground up. It is important to consider the effect you want to create and what light source gives you that effect.
Lighting can set a dramatic scene
In designing the lighting scheme, provide for a variety of fixtures to produce the affects you want but keep the style and materials similar so that they work with the surrounding architecture and style of the property. Try to place lights in subtle locations to keep lights out of direct view, so they do not shine directly into anyone’s eyes and do not interfere with the neighbors. Avoid shining into roads or windows. It is also advisable to try and reduce light pollution and keep to down lighting or cutoff fixtures as much as practicable. Balance the light throughout the property so that you do not focus on one specific spot. The lighting should be subtle and not the focus of the property, accentuate without over-illuminating features.
Once your outdoor lighting design has been finalized it is important to hire a qualified electrician to install the system. They will know how to install the system in accordance with the local building codes. A licensed electrician will also know how to correctly size the wire, determine transformer quantities and locations and help setup the proper controller for the system.
The concept of landscape lighting has expanded beyond the traditional path lights and landscape lights into innovative applications of interior concepts. Hanging lights and floor lamps can help to define an outdoor room, outdoor rated ceiling fans can provide a gentle breeze under a pergola and a fancy chandelier can be hung over your outdoor dining table. There are many fun new options on the market to light the space of your dreams. Landscape lighting is a great way to extend your appreciation and use of your property into the nighttime hours.
Simple strings of lights under a tree provide soft inviting lighting over a dining table
Not sure where to start or how to incorporate landscape lighting into your property, call Rock Spring Design Group, LLC 203•268•6979 or email us at info@rockspringdesign.com today for a free one hour consultation to start planning your upcoming landscape project. Visit us at www.rockspringdesign.com. Thank you for visiting our blog where we provide a fresh viewpoint with great information and insights on Landscape Architecture, site planning and the world of outdoor design. If you like what you see here please forward this onto your friends. Also check us out and Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockSpringDesign
Strings of lights and a hanging lamp create a cozy dining space under a pergola
