Outdoor lighting can greatly improve the curb appeal of your home and how you use your garden.

 

Extend the time you can enjoy outdoor gathering places by hanging twinkling cafe lights and placing lanterns around your deck or patio. Increase safety by adding lights for stairs and pathways. Place entryway lights by the front door for an attractive view from the street and to provide a warm welcome to visitors.

 

Whether you’re looking to illuminate your entire yard or add ambiance for an evening party, these three general lighting design tips provided by Light Innovations, as well as a dozen specific lighting ideas, will make your outdoor space glow.

 

Keep outdoor lighting subtle.

 

Soft glows and warm washes of light are much more inviting than overly bright spotlights. Ditch the harsh area lights and replace them with understated, warm-toned lights.

 

Use a variety of lights in your landscape.

 

Mixing up the types of lights and their placement creates interest in a nighttime landscape. Consider ways to use wall-mounted lights, low lights for walkways, washes along walls and hanging lights for the best effect. There’s no need to go over the top — keep it subtle by using soft lighting. Here, wall-mounted lights frame the doorway, cafe lights cast a soft glow over the outdoor table, and the flicker from a fire pit gives warmth to the seating area.

 

Consider safety.

 

Grade changes, walkways, uneven surfaces, garden structures and water elements can present a potential safety issue in the dark. Lights placed to illuminate these areas can all but eliminate this danger and allow you to use your garden after dark without the risk of tripping on stairways. For example, a row of stair lights provides just enough illumination to light up the steps from the deck to the lawn.

 

When choosing outdoor lights for your home, also consider the shadows cast by the fixture itself. These entryway lights cast interesting starburst patterns on the front of the house.

 

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