Getting the most out of your property includes how you delegate certain spaces to different purposes at day and night. This could be in the form of atmosphere for a dining area, subtle lighting in a space for relaxation, safety lighting at an area around a fire feature, or task lighting at the outdoor kitchen. Lighting your outdoor spaces at night helps friends and family get the most out of your backyard. You can extend the use of your outdoor space with these 7 outdoor lighting ideas in New Boston and Grosse Ile, MI.
Focus on Safety and Security
The majority of lighting problems involve different levels of safety and security. Some outdoor lights are meant for keeping the property secure while others are meant for creating a safe walking area. Place light fixtures near the ground so that they stay out of eye contact when someone is walking while adequately illuminating the walking area. Make sure to give some light to perpetually dark areas around walls and shrubs to alleviate potential security concerns.
Less is More
When we look out onto a dark landscape, it’s easy to think that a lot of lighting will be necessary to make it safe and welcoming. Actually, the light from one single bulb emits a lot of light - especially when you compare it to no light further out in the landscape. The key is to keep the magic of the night, while being safe. We recommend starting with a relatively conservative approach of “less is more” - you can always add solar-powered path lights or plug-in string lights if you feel you need more light.
Layering Your Lights
With such a wide range of light fixtures and technologies available, there are more ways to light your landscape than ever. What you shouldn’t do is use just one or two styles to light an entire backyard. This will put too much focus in too few areas while neglecting other areas, producing a harsh contrast between illuminated and dark areas. Instead, use a few different styles in each area that do multiple functions such as: highlighting impressive landscape features, providing a safe walking environment, and making the area feel welcoming and beautiful.
Solar-Powered Path Lighting
In addition to adequately lighting your walkways, consider the energy savings of using solar-powered path lights. As efficient as LEDs are, taking some of your energy use off the grid is an eco-friendly choice.
Highlighting Impressive Features
There are likely some parts of your landscape that you’ll want to show off at night. Use spotlights to put these features front and center in the view of your outdoor living space. This might be a statue, tree, impressive outdoor fireplace, or a particularly striking rock – whatever is beautiful during the day could become strikingly dramatic at night.
Using Vertical Surfaces
Spotlights are not typically thought of as lights that produce visual texture. The reflective properties of light allow light to scatter whenever it hits a flat surface such as a wall. This light will wash over the surrounding area and produce ambient light, increasing depth perception and making a dark area feel more welcoming.
Amplifying the Party Atmosphere
A surefire way to help improve the party atmosphere is by installing string lights above your patio and walkways. These simple light fixtures make a world of difference in making a place feel fun and welcoming. They provide an excellent amount of light and can be adaptable to many different design styles.
