Illuminate your garden with landscape lighting. As the temperatures continue to rise, summer is the season for evening outdoor entertaining. From sunset garden parties to backyard socials, landscape lighting is perfect for creating a welcoming ambiance, showing off your garden’s highlights and keeping guests safe.
Learn more about how proper landscape lighting can transform your backyard with these tips and tricks.
Light the Way
Be sure to light walkways and steps. This will help keep you and your guests safe by increasing visibility. Add variety to the lights, rather than placing them in a straight path, to create a more aesthetically pleasing design. There are a variety of ways this can be achieved, such as staggering lights, camouflaging the fixtures or incorporating lights into the surrounding structures like stairs or gates.
Stay Low
Opt for low-voltage, energy-efficient lightbulbs. This will not only reduce glare but will help you cut down on energy usage. When selecting bulbs for landscape lighting, look for options in the 40 – 75 watts range. This will help you avoid the dreaded “stadium lighting” which can make landscapes look washed out and flat.
Embrace Warmth
To create a welcoming environment — and show off your garden in its full glory — use warm lights. All lightbulbs have a color temperature, which refers to the warmth or coolness of the light. Cooler temperatures appear bluer and look best in bright light, such as midday. On the other hand, warmer temperatures create a more yellow or amber glow, which is ideal for outdoor landscape lighting.
Hit the High Points
When lighting large plants, such as trees or hanging vines, be sure to illuminate them from top to bottom. One popular option for lighting trees and other tall plants is using downlights. These often small, unobtrusive lights can be positioned in high branches or in a nearby structure and angled to point light down the length of the plant.
Are you ready to welcome the summer night soirees? Let Prewett, Read & Associates light the way to elevated outdoor entertaining. Talk to landscape architects today to learn more about how we can transform your backyard with landscape lighting.