Even if only one bulb at a time, more households are making the steady shift toward increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. However, when switching out those old incandescent bulbs with new LEDs, most people start with the interior. Of course there’s nothing wrong with this, but homeowners shouldn’t forget that the property exterior is just as much a part of the home as the interior. A small lighting modification can really add depth, texture and a warm ambiance to the patio, lawn and front porch, while saving you tons on energy consumption.
Outdoor Lighting Considerations
When it comes to outdoor lighting, less is actually more. This is because your eyes require less light in order to be able to see light and discern patterns and shadows outdoors than they do indoors. Outdoor lighting can also be divided into the following three categories:
- Overall Lighting – The overall lighting provides illumination for an entire area, section, or space.
- Task Lighting – This is lighting used for a specific purpose. A lighting fixture used for lighting a pathway is a prime example—it is designed to provide a welcoming vibe for guests as they proceed to the steps leading to your doorway.
- Accent Lighting – This is light meant to draw attention to a specific area or object. Floodlights and spotlights are examples of accent lighting that are typically used for illuminating a décor object, such as a stone monument or fountain.
Lighting Placement
The following are notable outdoor areas in which it would be optimal to incorporate some form of LED lighting.
- Paths – These are the steps leading to your front entryway. High illumination isn’t necessary; use downlights for a dimmer glow and glare reduction. This gives visitors a vibe of hospitality as they approach your property. Aside from downlights, you can also consider individually-lit pavers.
- Doorway – Each entryway should have a single downlight positioned either on the side or directly overhead. The downlight casts light solely on the door, which creates the impression that the door is beckoning you to enter.
- Stairway – Lights should be placed for safety and visibility. The fixture can be placed either on the treads or risers.
- Deck and Patios – This is an area where accent lighting can really have a major impact. While you can opt for overall lighting that illuminates the whole area, it would be more visually appealing instead to use accent lighting for specific, concentrated areas like the seating area or the barbecue pit.
- Gazebos, Trellises and Pergolas – These are all notable outdoor landmarks that can be highlighted with the addition of a lighting fixture.
Why Use LEDs for Landscape Lighting
Long-lasting efficiency is an even bigger factor with landscape lighting, since outdoor lights are usually kept on for longer periods of time. Depending on the size of the property and the number of fixtures displaced, outdoor lighting may actually account for a greater percentage of energy consumption than indoor lighting. So if any area is going to be retrofitted with LEDs, the exterior is the place to begin making the switch. With LEDs, there are also more color options, which gives you additional leeway in creating desirable depth, shade, and surface texture. In addition, outdoor LED lighting positioned at the right angle can also produce some rather impressive silhouettes in areas where trees, shrubs and décor accessories are present.
The interplay of shadow and light can really produce a vibe that feels almost magical in the twilight hours. However, haphazardly placing light fixtures outdoors without consideration paid to their hue or brightness can actually hurt the aesthetics of what would otherwise be a beautiful and tremendously appealing landscape.