Getting started with a Landscape Lighting Project
Want your house to stand out and shine? We are here to help.
When thinking of landscape lighting ask yourself:
- What do I love about my yard?
- Is there a structure or feature I want to illuminate more?
- When and where is security lighting important?
Now, let's make a plan based off what you love about your home.
A transformer can convert the 120v electrical currently supplied from your house down to the 12v needed for each low voltage landscape lighting fixtures in your lawn! This is typically supplied in lower voltage (12 Volts) spread out through several different lights.
Consider purchasing a transformer that has voltage capability greater than your initial needs to ensure that any additional landscape lights can be added easily at a later date. Voltage drop causes unevenly lit fixtures and premature bulb burnout so plan ahead.
After determining the wattage and the number of fixtures, you will need a certain length of wire to properly power your landscape lighting.
Common wires for landscape lighting are 10-, 12-, 14-, or 16-gauge wires. We recommend 12-gauge or 10-gauge wire for long distances. This is to prevent voltage drop
Landscape Fixture Types:
Choosing the correct fixture can be intimidating but here are some basic rules to help in the decision making.
Accent trees, create silhouettes and illuminate drastic features with our most versatile fixtures.
Embed in driveways, walkways, patios and more – the incredibly durable construction is easy to install in any hardscaping material and is designed to withstand the elements, car tires and foot traffic.
Decorative fixtures and finish options deliver architectural beauty for any home space, while adding essential light around walkways, entryways, patios and more.
Decorative and functional, deck and patio lights are optimized for all-weather performance and deliver clean, even light.
Tree Lighting
Uplighting trees is dramatic and can create a focal point for the entire landscape lighting design. By comparison, downlighting is subtle and can create an inviting outdoor living space. Uplighting and downlighting can be used together on the same tree for maximum effect, or they can be used separately on different trees.
UPLIGHTING
Uplighting trees is an art form that the landscape lighting contractor learns with time. Further, no two trees are the same, and how the tree is situated within the landscape design will affect how you illuminate it. Still, there are some basic rules that are helpful to refer to when you are lighting any tree in a landscape.
Let's talk about lamps/bulbs:
Thin and Thick of it
Beam spread is all about width. How wide are the trees, plants or other focal points you’d like to illuminate? A tall, thin tree requires a narrower beam spread. Don’t think about beam spread without considering LED lighting. It offers a sharper, more precise beam edge and keeps the light focused where you want it
- Surroundings with warmer colors, like brown or cedar
- Natural-colored walls or stonework
- Foliage with red, orange or yellow tones (ex: highlighting oak trees)
- Surroundings with dark materials, like deep slate, black or gray
- Foliage with blue or purple tones (ex: highlighting blue spruce trees)
What is Lumens?
Formerly referred to as wattage. Lumens is the new way lighting is expressed. It’s the amount of light and the way it’s measured – it’s the unit of measurement for the brightness of light.
Related Articles:
Getting started with a Landscape Lighting Project
What are the variations between different types of LED lamps?
RGBW Color Changing MR16 Options For Landscape Lighting
WAC Landscape Lighting: Enhancing Your Outdoor Space
Benefits of Landscape Lighting
Wrapping around the Christmas Tree
Shedding Light on the Best Products for Mounting Outdoor Downlighting
Leave a comment