With the summers approaching, the outdoors are a popular choice to hang out and relax in the evenings after a long day of work or for a house party with friends and family on the weekends. A well thought out lighting design scheme can create just the right ambience for your outdoor spaces, bringing in the necessary warmth to enhance the experience. Outdoor lighting is often overlooked and generally comprises merely general lighting provided by the ceiling or wall fixtures. However, good lighting can transform the outdoor spaces by accentuating their potential many folds, making them the preferred spots within your homes. We know that choosing the right lighting for your outdoors can be challenging and confusing, do not worry, we got you covered! Here are 4 ways to pick the best outdoor lighting for your home.
Lighting follows Function
A good lighting design is always layered in the form of – ambient, task, and accent lighting while taking into account the function and placement of the luminaires. Whether you want to illuminate the area as a whole, highlight the landscape, use lighting as a way-finding tool, as a means of security or for accentuating sculptures and water features in your garden; each function will individually determine the type of lighting and luminaries to be used. Ceiling or wall lights, along with sconces are popular and ideal for providing ambient lighting, the recessed floor lights, bollards, or floor-mounted spotlights beautifully accentuate important elements like pathways, decks, or steps, while LED fibre optic lights can be used for decorative purposes and add a splash of colourful wonder to your landscape features. Thus, it is crucial to consider the function, purpose and placement of lighting before choosing the fixtures.
Security comes First
With the outdoors comes one of the most important aspects to be addressed in lighting design – Security. While lighting plays a huge role in creating an ambience and mood for your exteriors, it can be a key benefactor in providing you with the much-needed vigilance for your home. Be sure there is ample light at all the entry points, garage, pathways, and steps. For the purpose of additional security, it is advisable to light up the sides of the house in the shadows, with recessed or ceiling mounted spotlights on the eaves of your homes. Remember, ‘a well-lit home is a safe home.’
Check the Weather rating
A bit of technical information can make the process of choosing exterior lights easier and extremely fruitful, and we are here to provide you with exactly that. Since outdoor lights are exposed to different weather conditions around the year, they are built to withstand these changes and are approved with a weather rating. When choosing outdoor lighting, check for the IP rating (Ingress Protection Mark), which indicates how well protected the luminaire is against factors such as dust, water, and the changing weather. Generally, a higher IP value in lights would suggest better protection against extreme weather conditions and hence are an ideal choice for your exterior spaces.
Energy efficiency and Low maintenance are a must
All lighting must ideally be energy efficient and low on maintenance, but that applies all the more for outdoor lighting. No one is fond of constantly changing the light bulbs or catering to the wear and tear of the installed fixtures, in which case it is significant to choose lights that go on for long and are maintenance-free. Pick LEDs, Solar-powered lights or fixtures with similar lighting technology, that consume less energy and have a longer life span than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. A wise choice of this kind would ensure a brightly lit home for an extended time period.
There you go! With these insightful outdoor lighting tips, you are almost a lighting expert yourself and are well equipped to make better lighting choices for your outdoors, which would not only enhance your outdoor experience but also set your home apart from the rest.