Bad lighting design is something that can make even the most beautiful landscape feel boring or even dangerous at night while good lighting design comes from the adoption of several lighting strategies that help the landscape become a safe and vibrant place once night falls. Here are five outdoor lighting solutions that take your landscape design to the next level in Flat Rock, MI.
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Choose Light-Emitting Diodes
While the technology of traditional light bulbs has improved little in the past century, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have become the light source of choice for many applications. Because of their advanced leaps in technology, LEDs deliver better quality light; they are also more adaptable, and more energy-efficient than any traditional light bulb.
LEDs are built small and due to this, they produce much more light from a smaller unit but without the energy loss (traditional bulbs convert most of their energy to heat). LEDs focus that energy without losing brightness at small distances. For this reason, LEDs can be used creatively throughout your landscape, and require minimal replacements over time. Best of all, they can even change color or easily follow a program or automatic timer. The versatility of LEDs will be a huge benefit to your landscape.
Ground & Surface Lighting
Keeping your walkways, patio, driveway and pool deck well illuminated at night is an absolute necessity to ensure safety and security. Lights from high above need a considerable amount of energy to spread across a large distance, so much of that light energy is wasted. Placing landscape lights low to the ground will help focus their energy, thus reducing energy costs. Small LED fixtures can be arranged around the borders of all your walking and driving surfaces. This approach adds softer, more pleasing light that safely illuminates surfaces and keeps direct light below eye level, and reduces the amount of potentially dangerous shadows that could obscure walking obstacles.
Using Landscape Features
The features within your landscape can often make wonderful housing for light fixtures. Masonry features such as retaining walls or pillars could be the ideal location for LED light fixtures - a design scheme that has the potential for luxurious resort-like elegance. Other features such as trees and rock outcroppings will help create a layered effect - spotlighting some features while using a wash technique on others (avoid using spotlights only; a variety of lighting techniques is always advised to help your landscape become vividly stunning at night).
Illuminating the Pool and Water Features
Nothing adds drama to a night time landscape like illuminating a pool or a water feature. The way that water refracts light can amplify your backyard’s atmosphere, whether it’s a fun-filled party or a quiet zen-like night by yourself. Placing submersible lighting in your pool will create an ethereal blue glow that washes over the surrounding landscape. Shining lights through waterfalls or fountains will show the water’s movement in shadow form, making a constant show of motion that dazzles guests and creates a stunning backdrop for your backyard activities.
Festive String Lighting
For one of the easiest and most effective lighting techniques, look no further than string lighting. This simple strategy automatically makes every party seem more fun and beautiful. You’ll get some of the quickest and best results with this strategy. Again, less is more - today’s string lights are very bright!
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