Walking into a garden of glowing shrubs and flowers is something that seems to be taken out of the movies. At night, an outdoor landscape can become a peaceful resting place or simply a feast for the eyes. Gardens, patios and even driveways are beautiful when illuminated artistically using landscape lighting.
Lighting up the yard can be done in two ways: by using either fire or electricity. Illuminating gardens and other outdoor areas have been done for a long time, initially using torches and then oil lamps as time went by. These days, solar energy is now utilized to decrease utility costs and allow for guilt-free garden illumination.
The lights that are now available are numerous. They include LED lamps and torches. Most of the time they are powered by underground electrical wiring, though there are also battery-operated varieties. These days, batteries can be recharged using solar panels that make the most out of daylight.
Commonly called LED lights, light-emitting diodes are very energy efficient because they have low power consumption. In these days when staying in the budget is of prime importance, making a significant reduction in utility bills is of great help. LED bulbs use only 10 percent of the energy used to power halogen bulbs. Another advantage of this kind of home lighting is that the bulbs can last longer. Their life span can last up to more than 12 times the regular bulb. They don’t contain any mercury, making a safer and more economical choice for use in the garden.
Going Solar, Going Green
Solar-powered lights can be costly, but there is good reason people should look into their long-term benefits. Eventually, the electricity bill will catch up with what initially might have been saved from buying and supplying power to conventional bulbs. In installing mains-powered varieties, an electrician should be employed to make sure the wires are safely configured. This will be unnecessary in using free-standing solar-powered lights. Hanging solar lanterns are also available. Another good thing about them is that they are easily relocated, allowing the owner to try out other lighting position options.
Basic Lighting Techniques
There are so many ways to utilize brightness in order to highlight and accentuate the natural setting outside the home. When used on a row of trees or shrubs, this technique can be used to create an illusion of depth for a dramatic corridor effect. Two canned lights can be focused on a tree to emphasize its height. A wall can be used to cast an interesting shadow that can make the tree appear smaller than it really is. These are only three of the most common uses of outdoor light.
Solar vs Low Voltage Lights
When it comes to using electricity, either solar lights or mains-powered bulbs can be used.
Solar bulbs can be purchased individually or in packs. They are very easy to install. Making an artwork out of them only involves using stakes that are anchored to the ground or screws that can be attached to poles or fences.
Low Voltage systems tend to be brighter though because they don’t consume too much electricity, they have higher wattage than solar lights. They also give more security to the home because they give more illumination. A low voltage kit is composed of bulbs, wire and a transformer. One just needs a grounded exterior outlet that automatically shut down if there is anything abnormal in the system. An electrician can be consulted if the house does not have one of these.
Landscape lighting gives aesthetic value to a house and can also help in keeping it safe because of higher visibility. Different techniques are worth the time and effort to create an eye-catching home improvement.