Normally during the day we can not use the yard because it is too sunny and it is not possible to go out like this, in fact two weeks ago we had the pergola blinds melbourne team here installing some blinds to block the sun.
When the sun goes down now we can enjoy our outdoor living space and it doesn’t have to end. Landscape lighting, from subtle accents to bold area lights add useful hours. Installing the right lights make the outdoor spaces around your Madison WI home safer, too, which is really important for real estate and decoration, which is something you can accomplish using accessories and furniture from sites as Fifthandhazel online . You don’t want to give up on your relaxing patio, gazebo or outdoor kitchen just because it’s getting dark, right?
There are benefits to lighting hardscape designs. Where do lights fit best? They’re ideal for:
- Around paver patios
- On or near retaining walls
- Along walks and driveways
- Highlighting fire pit seating areas
- In and around pergolas from pergola melbourne and gazebos
- Near any steps or stairways
Adding lighting to your outdoor living area expands the time you can use it. Strategically-located lights along pathways, stairs and steps make moving around in the dark safer, too. But that’s not all, we also take care of other aspects, such as adding Removable Bollards to your driveway, to secure your entrance.
A quick summary of the benefits of adding lighting to your landscape includes:
- Lights make it possible to enjoy your patio, deck and yard during a lot more of the day – no longer restricted to daylight hours.
- Illumination along paths and steps provide safer passage.
- Creative uses of lights provide a backdrop for plantings and add interest to your home after dark.
- Strategically-placed lights add perspective, depth and definition to your yard.
Many Landscape Lighting Techniques
Adding lights to your landscape makes it look good and makes you feel good. Adding a soft glow provides a relaxing backdrop. Traditionally, lights for patios are not designed to light up large areas. They’re for accent and subtly cast their light for affect. If you are still not sure how to remodel your backyard, on Sponzilli website you’ll find some good examples to guide you on your project.
The impact of lights on and around your patio comes through a variety of techniques. Among the most common are:
- Paver lights – ideal for walkways, patio surfaces, driveways and around pools. Mount them when a paver patio goes in or add them later. Rugged enough to taken an occasional bump, they use low-voltage bulbs and various lenses to achieve the right color, brightness and coverage.
- Retaining wall lights – for safety and a warm accent around any space using a wall. Ideal for surrounding seating areas, outdoor kitchens and fire pits. Many include textured lenses to mimic the texture or a rock wall. Using warm light to illuminate small areas without intruding on activities.
- Down lighting – often called “moonlighting” fixtures hang above the patio or landscape to provide unique shadows and wider illumination. Especially well-suited as mood lighting they can be set in a way to brighten areas without glare.
- Pathway lights – available in many styles, shapes and sizes these lights are specifically created to light your way. Usually mounted on poles or hanging from them, their overlapping circles of light lead the way.
- Stairway lights – designed to imbed in risers on stair and stone steps. Ideal for making night-time travels up and down steps safe and easy.
The goal for most outdoor lighting efforts is to see the effect of the light, not the light source. A little light goes a long way. Pathway lights are different. Get More Information here about designing some awesome pathways with use of composite decking. They come in so many unique designs they look great in sunshine, too.
Choices For Outdoor Lighting
When selecting the right lighting for your backyard you have two basic choices to make: low-voltage specialty lighting or standard house-voltage. Each has advantages. This company offers outdoor digital signage and so much more.
Low-voltage (12V) lights for landscapes – the most common option for most residential installations they are less expensive, easy for homeowners to install and they’re safe. You don’t need a licensed electrician to install low-voltage lighting. Because these systems are so popular there are more choices of fixtures than other options. Reason to choose low-voltage systems include:
- Safe and easy to install.
- Safe around kids and pets because there’s little concern for shocks or burns.
- Operates in wet areas.
- Uses cable not hard conduit.
- A wide variety of fixture and bulb choices.
- Easy to move if landscaping plans change.
House-hold line voltage (120V) lighting – best choice where security is the main reason for lighting the area. Ideal for a few, bright fixtures to light a large area. For most backyard installation the 120V system is not the first choice. Its drawbacks include:
- Must be installed by a licensed electrician.
- Requires special water-proofing treatment.
- Must be installed according to building codes – often requiring wiring buried at least 18-inches below ground or inside conduit (or both). Requires trenching tools.
- Fewer options for decorative fixtures.
- Permanent installations.
- More expensive to buy, install and use.
Both systems take advantage in advanced lighting technology including using LED bulbs. Modern LEDs use far less energy than other options and are available in several sizes. Add them to existing systems later, too.
Bright Ideas For Landscape Lighting
Lumens is the measurement of brightness for all lights. The lumens you need for your outdoor lights depends upon what you’re trying to achieve. Some fixtures allow you to adjust their output – like a dimmer switch indoors. The higher the lumen value on a bulb, the brighter the light it gives off.
There’s a color component to outdoor lights, too. And not just the use of colored bulbs. Colored light also has a temperature value. There are “cool” lights and “warm” lights. Put another way you’re measuring how “white” or how “yellow” the light is. There are no absolute rules. You might want difference effects in different areas of the yard. The Kalvin scale measures the color temperature for light. The lower the K value, the warmer the light – 2700K is an excellent choice for landscape. The higher the number the cooler and harsher the light.
Choosing the right color temperature makes a difference in the overall impact of the night-time lighting. Lighting professionals suggest:
- Staying away from extremely white, cool lights – they make things look bluish.
- Warm white (2700K) is best for landscape lighting because it’s soothing.
- 3000K lights emphasize greens and blues
When you’re planning a patio or any hardscape project contact Marvin Martinez at Martin’s Brick Pavers, 608-630-8855 or email us at www.johnl86.sg-host.com/thrive. Our experienced crews handle every detail from a professional plan to final installation. We can provide whatever your design plan calls for and make it shine with landscape lighting anywhere in the Madison WI area.