The LED One Corporation team has several ideas to help you choose outdoor lighting for your home. Lighting your home in the evening can change your home from lackluster to enchanting. It can set the atmosphere and tone of your home and is a key element to make your home feel welcoming to those who come to visit.
Before planning and installing lighting, walk around your home at dusk to see what areas need some light. Take note of existing lighting and light that may be already spilling onto your property from sources such as street lights. If you have a deck, patio, or swimming pool, lighting will make those spaces a more enjoyable place to spend time.
Things to Consider When Planning
- For maximum impact choose an area of your home as the focal point. For most homes this will be the entryway, however, it could also be an area with architectural or textural interest. An overhead light in a deep porch is very welcoming.
- Layer lighting by using a variety of lights. Step lights, post lights, bollards, floodlights, spotlights, and LED ropes are different ways of lighting to accomplish the look you want. Remember to take into consideration light that will spill out of your interior windows at night.
- Lighting can be used for safety, security, as well as enhancement. For safety and security purposes, your entryway, steps, and path should all have lighting. Using lights along a pathway guides people to the front doorway and makes them feel welcome. If your property is large, for security purposes consider floodlights on the corners.
What Kind of Light Should I Look For
- Your eyes see light at night differently than light at daytime. For the best effect, your lighting should be about as bright as a full moon.
- Use Warm lighting. Lights that run 2700 Kelvins to 3000 Kelvins will give your home a warm, natural look. The Kelvin measurement is shown on the light bulbs package information. Lighting in this range will give your living areas such as your deck or patio a relaxing and comfortable feel.
- Use ‘down’ lighting to give a moonlight effect. An example of this is putting a light in the upper part of the tree, so the light is cast downward. Downward lighting is usually has a soft and natural feel.
- Use ‘up’ lighting to draw attention to landscape features and architecture or stonework. Put lights at the base of a tree and shining it upwards, or placing the light a short distance from the area can give interesting shadows.
- Use solar lights or LED lights to save energy and cut down on maintenance and bulb replacement. Use a timer to conserve energy and check the UL rating to be sure they are suitable for outdoor installation.
Things to Avoid
- Do not use colored lighting. You are trying to accent your home, not put on a light show.
- To prevent a ‘runway effect’ with your path lighting, add some lighting behind landscaping or plants along the path.
- Avoid having outside lighting shine into a window of your home.
- Motion sensors should be used in security areas only.
- Don’t shine lights on ugly areas like downspouts or gutters.
Stop Light Pollution
- Aim lights to where they are needed
- Use reflectors and shields to focus light where it is wanted
- Use dimmers, timers, or motion sensors to turn the lights on when needed
- Softer lights create enough light. Lights that are too bright look harsh.
Call Us for Help
There is a wide range of style choices and options for easy DIY installation. The LED One Corporation team hopes these tips will help make your home a welcoming and safe place and deter intruders as well. With some thought and planning your home will be a welcoming place, people look forward to coming. Give us a call for help!