Using landscape lighting is a good way to increase property value of your home. Ask any real estate agent and they will tell you that curb appeal plays a lot into how your home is viewed by visitors and passers-by. Similarly, a dark or poorly lit landscape can detract from an otherwise lovely home. So many homeowners will opt to install landscape lighting.
Since most landscape lighting is easy for the average homeowner to install, they sometimes go out, buy the outdoor lights (usually focusing on solar outdoor lighting) and then they slap them down haphazardly in their landscape without a thought as to what forms of lighting are available and desirable for the types of landscape they possess.
There are three basic types, or forms, of landscape lighting. These types are general lighting, accent lighting and task lighting. Most successful landscape lighting designs will incorporate a version of all three forms of lighting. However, depending upon your particular landscape and your budget, you may opt for one or all three forms.
Lets take a look at the three basic types of landscape lighting;
General lighting is used for a very basic purpose when placing your landscape lighting. It is designed for use in open spaces and meant to illuminate wide swaths of areas. This form of lighting is most practical when seeking to provide security for a particular area of your landscape. It can also be used to light entire patios and decks with patio lights. This type of lighting is usually placed in the open for all to see and usually is employed using ceiling lights and floor lamps.
If General Lighting is used for illuminating wide areas, Task Lighting is used for illuminating small, concentrated areas. The idea for task lighting is to allow for darkness to pervade an area except for the landscape lighting which will be employed to highlight a particular area. One type of task lighting is the basic table lamp. Task lighting, like general lighting is typically used out in the open so visitors can see the light source.
Accent lighting is the most widely used form when installing landscape lighting. It is used to enhance the design of a landscape and showcase a particular part of it. Accent lighting differs from task lighting and general lighting in that this form of landscape lighting remains hidden from view. The outdoor lights are hidden behind bushes, plants and trees and provide a natural ambiance to the architecture of the landscape. Another aspect of accent lighting is that many manufacturers are making accent lights so they resemble natural shapes (rocks, logs, etc…) so they “blend in” with the landscape.
Knowing what types of lighting are used for the particular type of outdoor lights will help you decide which lighting options to pursue and will enhance your chances for landscape lighting success. Much like anything else in life, if you plan your landscape lighting project ahead, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years to come.
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