subject: Summer And Outdoor Lighting And How To Light Your Garden Effectively [print this page] Summer is fast approaching and for the next few months we can all enjoy the hot weather by sitting out in our gardens entertaining guests and having BBQs. Outdoor lighting can make the world of difference to how much time you spend in your garden this summer. Of course during the day when the sun is out that is fine no lighting is needed there but when the sun starts to go down and its get dark you have no choice but to then go and sit inside. By implementing outdoor lighting to your garden and house exterior you can enjoy your garden and the summer evening all night long.
Options of Outdoor Lighting
There are many different types of outdoor lighting to choose from such as decking lighting, spot lights, drive over lights, posts, bollards, lanterns, and so on. If you are looking to add outdoor lighting in time for the summer you may want to think about where you will be sitting in the garden. For example if you will spend most of your time on the paved area at the bottom of the garden then there is no point placing a light on the house wall because it will be to far away to make a difference. If you intend to stay on the decking then incorporate decking lightings, some decking lights need to be built into the decking whilst it is being installed but there are many that can be added on afterwards. If you have dogs or other pets who use the garden you may want to go for the floor lighting option this may be safer for the animals and you won't run the risk of the lighting becoming damaged.
Another aspect of outdoor lighting is security. Placing lights on the outside of your home deters thieves and robbers and also makes you feel safer by being able to see outside and around your home even in the dark. You can even have the lights placed on sensor which means they will come on due to any movement.
Many people hire landscape experts and gardeners to develop a plan for the lighting of their garden but you can easily do this yourself and save yourself the expense. By following some simple guidelines and tips you can create the perfect level and positioning of lighting that will transform your garden magically.
The first action to take is to draft out a plan of your garden on paper, try and make everything to scale so you can clearly see what you are dealing with. On the plan mark where you will be sitting in the garden such as on the patio, the decking, the bottom of the garden where the table and chairs are set out, and so on. This gives you a plan of where you will need the lighting to be which will help you choose what type of garden lighting to go for.
Be careful not to over illuminate your garden with unnatural lighting, you want to maximize the natural light of the moon but add accent lighting with electrical lights. Always light the pathways in your garden, you may have one or two paths around the garden, placing lighting along these will give your garden depth as well it being safe for people in the garden.
The great aspect of lighting your garden is that you can choose what you want to draw attention to and what it is you want to hide. If you have particular areas in your garden you like you can add lighting fixtures here and keep the unwanted areas dark so they will not be in seen at night time. If you are unsure about which areas you should be showing off have a look around your garden and pin point dramatic trees such as at the base of the truck or maybe around your herb garden. Placing these details on your plan before you start in the garden will help you see if the lighting is spaced evenly and everything is placed correctly.
