Different Types of Outdoor Lights for Different Lighting Needs

We should pay serious attention to the types of lamps we are installing in our outdoor space. Whether the lamp is for our front yard or our back yard, it has to be up to standard because this can make or break the beauty of your outdoor space.

Making the right choice is also imperative when it comes to promoting security at home. Your home will become less of a target for prowling burglars if your outdoor space is well-lit as this shows passers-by that the space is extensively used.

Flood lights are some of the most preferred outdoor lamps today. They are lamp fixtures that do their work by illuminating a large area of your outdoor space. If you are on a tight budget and you require fixtures that will work really hard at keeping your backyard well-lit, this could be a good option to try.

There are lots of decorative types of fixtures as well. They can be used as outside wall lights or to accentuate pretty garden ornaments. Standard wall lights and sconces are two types of wall light available. You can put them on your porch or on the pillars of your porch. They will not only brighten up your porch but work in enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the outdoor space.

To accompany outside wall lights, you also need ceiling lights. This leads you to a range of choices including pendant lights, chandelier lights and track lights. They are not only a good idea for the indoors. They are also perfect as lights for outdoor spaces if you want to inject more beauty in a space. Pendant lights and chandelier lights offer more decadent lighting solutions. If you are fond of dining out or having a romantic dinner in your porch, this is definitely a great choice. For those who often hold parties in their porch or even deck, try track lights.

Step lighting is an indispensable outdoor lighting option. At night, the pathway of your home needs to be properly illuminated. This is true especially if you have steep and craggy pathways or you have a stairway going up to your porch. The good news is you can find step lighting fixtures today equipped with sensors. These are dual-purpose lighting equipments that also double up as security and burglar alarm systems. It is a wonderful garden lighting fixture that you should consider installing.

Fan lights are another type of deck or porch lighting fixture with double functions. They can be used as lighting fixtures or fans. During those warm, summer days, you can use its fan feature to cool down your outdoor space a bit.

Post and pathway lights illuminate your pathway but unlike step lighting, these lighting fixtures are taller. Not only do they function as pathway lighting but also as additional lighting for your outdoor space. They add beauty. You can have them installed in various places of your outdoor space or just in front of your gate. You can choose from vintage inspired post lights that resemble those seen in the Eighteenth or Nineteenth centuries. They add more charm to the room.

Outdoor Lighting - Brightening Up Your Evenings

Winters are times to have a fireplace gathering inside the house whereas in summers people want to have outdoor parties as they are more enjoyable and more fun. Summer parties can be organized in your porch area, patio or garden area depending on the kind of gathering you want to have-small or large. Like our interiors, we should also have our exteriors well decorated to make the evening more exciting. The right kind of outdoor lighting helps enhancing the exterior look and also provides safety. Even if you do not have enough space still you can have a chance to decorate your pathway to make the exterior look more beautiful and set the mood for party.

When researching for the kind of light you would want for your whole area, you will be surprise to find that the option and variety is endless. You can find them in many shapes, sizes and designs adding warmth and illuminating the area. Depending on the way you mount them the whole looks get impacted. Post mount lights are the one which are mounted on a column or a post. Other kind of mount lights are wall mount, bracket mount, hanging mount lights etc.

Placement of the light also has impact of the complete outlook making it more fabulous. For example for a bracket mount you can choose option like scroll brackets, gooseneck brackets, flower brackets and if you want to create a French look you can always go for the moustache bracket with the ends curled up.

Depending on the area you would want to cover, you will have to accordingly choose the fixtures. You can have a vague idea on how many outdoor lighting would be just enough and also you can buy them as per your budget also.

You can either opt for a natural gas or an electrical source to light up. But in order to have the electrical option you first have to know if the area you are planning to cover has electrical wiring done for the output. Also if the climate is moist it is highly recommended to opt for natural gas lighting system.

Depending on your preference you can either pick a modern or an antique lighting. Modern lighting feature clean lines and are generally are silver or black. On the other hand the antique look is all about aged look with more natural colors like copper and brass.

Just by experimenting a little bit you can give the area a completely new look. The guest will also appreciate your efforts and enjoy it more. Mixing and matching various styles to create a completely different look is a very good way of creating uniqueness

You are not restricted or limited to pick from just few option. The outdoor lighting can be found in different sizes and styles. When planning to use electrical outlets keep in mind that it should be safe especially for the kids. Brightening up your evening and making it more enjoyable and fun is just not a difficult task and all of us can accomplish it.

Outdoor Lighting Keeps the Fun Going All Night Long

Once an afterthought, today's exterior spaces are becoming an extension of the interior of the home. Not only does a well-conceived outdoor space increase the comfort of the home, but it can also increase the home's value.

One of the keys to creating a superior outdoor escape is lighting. While any deck or patio can serve admirably in the daytime or even twilight, only those with outdoor lighting can truly own the night.

If you are thinking about adding lighting outdoors, you'll probably want to do some planning. lighting is not a haphazard activity - you want to make sure that the lighting is appropriate, covers the spaces you want, and doesn't leave any dark spots, especially near stairs or transitions between different levels of a deck.

Installing lights not only increases the usefulness of your property, but also the safety of your home. And, with the low wattage fixtures coming out on the market and the growing number of solar powered lights, installing lighting is also cost effective.

If you have a deck or patio, you may want to consider recessed lights. These are installed right into the floor and are flush, giving you dramatic lighting that adds resale value to the home. These can be costly to install, however, largely because you'll need to hire an electrician. But the visual impact and curb appeal is worth it.

Another good option for outdoor lighting is to put lights on the post caps around the deck. These can be extremely decorative in the daytime and will cast a lovely light on the deck without it being too bright or obtrusive. Alternately, you can go with lights mounted on the posts themselves, either down at the deck level to provide lighting along the surface or a little higher up to illuminate the entire deck.

If you have tall posts, you can go with lanterns for outdoor lighting. These work really well around the edge of a deck or patio or around the pool or hot tub.

If the wiring of the deck is a roadblock to outdoor lighting for your home, consider the growing number of solar lights coming onto the market.

The great thing about solar lighting is that you don't need to dig trenches or hire an electrician. Each light has its on photovoltaic cells that take in the sunlight during the day and stores it as energy in a battery.

These are easy to install your elf and usually they can be set to turn on automatically as the sun sets, so you don't even have to remember to turn them on at night.

While these were originally created for landscaping, they are increasingly finding their way onto decks and patios, particularly smaller ones where the lower wattage of these lights is sufficient.

Solar light technology is in a state of flux right now, with newer, more efficient and even brighter lights coming to market weekly.

Outdoor lighting is something of an art. You want to create different levels of lighting, not only to create focal points, but also to enhance the natural beauty of your home and deemphasize those areas that are more utilitarian.

For instance, you can choose to use solar lights along walkways to add a soft light for safety and to draw visitors to the front door of the home or to a pool, spa or garden area behind the home. Floodlights are great for security, especially when connected to motion detectors. You can put dimmers on deck lights, allowing you to adjust the mood, going from soft lighting for a romantic evening to brighter levels for a party.

If you don't know where to start, you may want to call in a lighting specialist or landscaper to help you plan your lighting strategies so that you won't be disappointed or left in the dark because you didn't consider all your options.

Outdoor Lighting Fixtures to Make Your Home Look Beautiful

If you are looking for the perfect outdoor lighting fixtures to give your home a fabulous look, then do not despair. A trip to your favorite lighting store or a casual search on the Internet will reveal that there are hundreds of beautiful designs and many categories of outdoor lighting fixtures available. A great looking lighting fixture should be unique and possess exclusive looks that will blend with your home décor and match your living standards.

These days, such lighting fixtures are available in a variety of styles and fixtures. Before you go and buy a fixture, you might want to decide how many you actually need for your home. It may be tough to decide which ones you actually need, but you can take a detour of your exteriors to see how many fixtures your home actually needs. You may need as little as two fixtures to as many as ten or twelve fixtures to get the right looks and effect. This actually depends upon how big your outdoors is and you need to consider the money that you can afford for this job.

Before actually heading off to make the purchase, it is advisable to consider whether you would go in for the conventional light bulbs such as incandescent or fluorescent bulbs or would like to go in for gas-powered lighting. Many owners influenced by traditional and time-honored designs like to opt for gas-powered lighting instead of electrically operated fixtures. Some of the more popular outdoor lighting fixtures are mentioned below, so it becomes easy for you to select the right kind of fixtures for your home.

Outdoor Ceiling Lights

These lights are very attractive and since they are designed for installing outside homes, they are very fashionable and are designed with high quality brass, nickel, and other eye catching metallic or wooden finishes. Since they are kept on for a long period especially after sunset, they tend to contribute to the energy bills significantly, so if you are sensitive to electric bills, then you need to buy a product that consumes less electricity. These usually come with a form of protection that protects them from moisture or any outdoor damage. A huge variety of outdoor ceiling lights is available on the market, or even on the Internet, so selecting the right one for these houses is not difficult.

Outdoor wall lights

These lights go on your exterior wall rather than your ceiling. They make the exterior of your home look beautiful and full of imagination. Outdoor wall sconces come under this category and have the capability of making your exterior look just brilliant along with providing the necessary level of security. Other outdoor lighting such as outdoor security lighting is also important for your home due to the ever-increasing number of burglaries. The same can be said about motion sensor lights, which switch on whenever they detect any motion. You can also install exterior flush lights that increase the beauty of your home at night.

outdoor landscape lighting

If your home has outdoors that can be landscaped, then why not take this opportunity to install landscape lights. This art of landscape lighting can change the entire look of the area outside your living space. Outdoor path lights are also a part of outdoor landscape lighting and you can easily beautify your pathway or your driveway. You can even install outdoor deck lights to light up your deck or patio. These lights essentially add a brilliant look to your home outdoors and are available in a variety of sizes and different colors. They have the capability of creating any mood one pleases. Being the latest craze among home decorators, it is essential that your outdoors have landscape lighting too. Other familiar landscaping lights are accent lights and directional landscape lights that add their own unique beauty to your landscaping efforts.

Outdoor Post Lamps

These are yet another beautiful and magnificent choice for your outdoors. Outdoor post lamps are a little different from pilaster-mounted lamps, but both are equally good alternatives for lighting up your outdoors. These lamps can easily light up your mood after sunset and the surrounding environments that you live in. Yet another popular choice of outdoor post lamps is street lantern lights that have a unique glint in them that make them pretty and delightful. With outdoor post lights, you can light up your home outdoors beautifully and you can even control your lighting costs if you are careful about wattage and other factors. Surely, you can feel blissful with the right outdoor post lamps.

How Outdoor Lighting Can Improve The Look of Your Yard

There are a number of things you can do to improve the look and feel of your yard, unfortunately some of them can be quite expensive. Adding a fixed outdoor fireplace or terraced landscaping can add a lot of character and create a new look, but these things are out of range for many homeowners, especially in the current economy. Using the right mix of outdoor lighting is often a more affordable way to enhance the look and feel of your yard.

Benefits of Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting can make your outdoor space more usable in the evenings. Adding a nice, warm light can make your yard or patio look cozy. It can enhance the look of any landscaping you already have in your yard and highlight certain plants or designs. But it can also provide a nice light for you to enjoy while you are outside, making it easier for you to use and enjoy your outdoor space after the sun sets.

Patio lights along with a sitting area, like a patio table, and a few plants can help create a nice place to spend an evening with friends, or with a good book. Landscaping lights can help highlight the areas of your yard you've spent time beautifying so they are visible at night as well.

But outdoor lights also offer a great way to provide added security to your home. Potential burglars or vandals are much less likely to approach a home that has good outdoor lighting. They prefer the protection they get from dark windows and doors where they are less likely to be seen.

Finding The Right Lights

You can easily find outdoor lights online or at home improvement and garden stores. There are plenty of designs and styles from which to choose, but before you make any final decisions it is important to decide what you want from these lights. Do you want bright, security lights or do you want a softer, warm light?

Installation is another important factor to consider. While lights may be inexpensive the installation may not be, so factor that into your decision as well. If you want something low maintenance and easy to install you may want to consider solar lights, but make sure they will be in an area where they are exposed to the sun for at least a couple of hours every day so they will store enough energy to work properly.

Why You Should Choose Solar Powered Outdoor Lighting

Whether you need to light up the path to your front door, set up some kind of romantic ambiance on your back porch or deck, or even emergency security lights, you should really consider solar powered outdoor lighting. Solar outdoor lighting can come in a wide variety of different styles, from lights that are lamp posts for the driveway, to fancy string lights for the deck, and just about anything in between.

There are many different reasons to choose solar powered outdoor lighting, as an alternative to conventional outdoor lighting systems. At the top of the list is the fact that they are powered by small photovoltaic cells that absorb the energy from the sun and convert it to low voltage electricity. This means that you never have to use your power to make them work. They store the energy in small built in batteries, releasing it when the sun goes down. Depending on the actual model, and the kind of bulbs used, you will have continuous light for up to ten or twelve hours.

Because they are self contained, solar powered outdoor lighting will still come on, even in a power outage. No more coming home at night during a storm and not being able to see up your walk, or struggling to find the right door key. They even have security outdoor lighting with solar power. Motion sensitive solar lights are even offered. No more worries about your security lighting going out during a storm either.

Solar powered outdoor lighting has other advantages as well. Because they don't need any external power source, they can be used anywhere you might need a little extra outdoor lighting. There are lights that can be set up in the garden, on the back porch or patio, and even far away in the yard. There is no need to run a power cord, or keep it from getting messed up in the weather.

Most of all, buying solar powered outdoor lighting saves the planet. These lighting systems use the power of the sun, the most renewable natural resource. They don't draw any power from your home, so you won't have to worry about higher electric bills. They don't put out any exhaust, so they don't harm the environment.

Many of these outdoor solar powered lighting systems are completely affordable, and fully self contained. You can buy stake lights, which go directly into the ground wherever you need them. They have small solar panels in the top, and release the energy at night automatically. Many now use high intensity but low energy LED bulbs, extending use time dramatically. These just need to be place where they can absorb the most sun over the day. Other solar lighting systems use a separate panel, mounted where they will get the most sunlight during the day. These are good for the porch or patio, with the panel mounted directly on the roof or a post.

When it comes to using solar powered outdoor lighting, there are some things you should consider. For walkways, poorly lit stairs, and dark entries, you should use the post, hanging, or wall mounted lights. These lighting products will light these areas the best. When it comes to ambient outdoor lighting, there are string lights, as well as a variety of different, unique styles to choose from. There are solar powered lights that look like candles, others that are in fun shapes, like rocks. These give off a soft inviting glow, and used in groups can offer a soft atmosphere.

Uses and Style of Garden Lighting

For dramatic style and effect garden lighting has become almost an art form. Knowing where to put subtle lighting as opposed to dramatic lighting can create effects that can lead to awe inspired compliments.

Inexpensive solar lights placed at the garden's edge or within flower bedding can illuminate the beauty of the blooms and give the garden depth. Solar lights are also environmentally friendly. They can also be moved easily until you find the right configuration for your space.

String lighting added to tree limbs can give the tree an eye catching appeal especially in winter months when it is barren of any leaves.

Floating solar lights added to a pond or swimming pool give an ambiance to a well lit garden. There are several styles available including balls and lily pads.

Up lighting placed at the base of a tree or structure such as a statue can give a dramatic effect as well as add security to the area.

Down lighting placed on the eaves overhang of a house can give not only security but highlight the bushes, shrubs, and plants that surround the home.

Recessed lighting can illuminate from the ground up and can give safety to walkways, stairs, and accent smaller plants from beneath.

Overhead lighting can be used to provide a focal point on a patio or deck to a table or seating area; and/or, container garden that you have used to define the space.

When placing lights among plants be sure to consider how much (if any) heat the lights might create. Some plants may not be able to tolerate heat producing lights. Check with your nursery or lighting specialist if you are not sure about the correct lighting for specific garden areas.