Landscape Lighting Fort Lauderdale can enhance beauty, increase safety, and add more functionality to your property. It is a great investment and upgrade to your home.
Decorative fixtures come in various shapes and styles, from chic, classic lanterns to glowing orbs. They highlight fountains, ponds, flower gardens, fences, and walls.
- Uplighting
The best landscape lighting can make your favorite trees, shrubs, and flowers stand out, even at night. It can also highlight architectural features, such as columns or a gazebo. However, it’s important to remember that uplighting can make a feature look glowing or burning, so it should be used sparingly.
When uplighting a tree, it’s essential to consider the shape of its branches and leaves. The lacy branches of a Japanese maple, the elegant trunk of a croton, or the cool multiple trunks of a Pygmy date palm can take on a new dramatic presence when professionally lit by a landscape lighting company.
Uplighting can highlight texture and structure and be as subtle or dramatic as you want. Whether using spotlights, well lights, or floodlights, they can be positioned to light up and under a feature so it glows and creates a contrast of shadows. The height at which the fixture is placed will also make a difference in how it looks. Experimenting with different heights and positions is important to find what works for your home.
A professional landscape lighting company will know how to properly position uplighting so you don’t end up with a feature that is burned out, looking unnatural, or just plain weird. Uplighting can be done in layers and is often paired with downlighting to provide the most appealing effect.
Downlighting, or “moonlighting” as it’s sometimes called, is another way to add depth to your property while adding a warm and welcoming feel. Downlighting is often used for flower beds, water features, and ground-level focal points you want to call attention to once the sun goes down.
Unlike uplighting, which can be accomplished by putting fixtures on the ground or near the surface, downlighting is typically accomplished by hiding the fixture behind or in natural elements. This can include stone, wood, and other hardscape materials. It can also be achieved by mounting the fixture above the ground atop a short post.
- Downlighting
Evening landscape lighting sets a festive tone, highlights paths and walkways for safety, and creates stunning curb appeal. It can draw attention to water features, ponds, flower gardens, and patios or showcase unique hardscape or softscape elements like trees or sculptural shrubbery. A well-lit entryway also helps welcome guests and deter break-ins by illuminating doors, windows, and other key areas.
The most common way to light up your property is by combining uplighting and downlighting techniques. Uplighting is a great way to make dramatic shadowing contrast with the bright light, while downlighting provides a gentle, more “moonlit” effect. A third technique is cross-lighting, which emphasizes both sides of a particular feature and shows it off.
Uplighting is typically done with fixtures built to be on display and highly visible, such as spotlights or wall sconces. Other fixtures that can be used to achieve this include tiki torches and bistro lights. Downlighting, however, can be accomplished using various fixtures that may or may not be displayed. This could be lighting installed in the ground, such as pathway lights or a well light, or it can be done with decorative area lights that blend in with your decor.
When choosing your lighting, choose only fixtures rated for outdoor use. A fixture not rated for outdoor use may be at risk of rusting or corroding, and it will not be able to withstand the weather conditions in your region. Low-voltage landscape lighting is usually powered by a transformer that reduces the 120-volt household current to 12, making it safe to work on. The transformer may have a specific temperature or color of light that can be chosen, allowing the homeowner to select the effect they are looking for.
Once installed, low-voltage landscape lighting is easy to maintain and can be a do-it-yourself project. Just keep the bulbs clean and clear of leaves or debris that can prevent them from operating correctly. It is also important to regularly check for burned-out bulbs, as this will not only impact the appearance of your home but also lead to dangerous and life-shortening electrical hazards.
- Ambient Lighting
While many homeowners invest in landscape lighting to accentuate their homes, it’s also important to remember that outdoor illumination makes your property safer and more welcoming for family and guests. A well-lit deck or pathway ensures people can safely navigate the outdoors after dark and reduces the risk of falls, injuries, and break-ins. Motion-sensor lights and timers can further help deter crime by alerting residents to potential intruders.
As a general rule, the light sources for most landscape lighting should be hidden from view so that only their effect is visible. However, some homeowners opt for a more decorative approach, mounting lights in lanterns or sconces that look more like indoor lighting. This trend is especially popular for front porch lighting that helps elevate the home’s aesthetic while creating a welcoming and inviting space.
Accent lighting draws the eye to a specific feature, such as a beautiful tree or water feature. This technique can also highlight a unique architectural element on the home’s exterior. This type of lighting can be particularly useful for highlighting non-uniform shapes, making it easier to show off hardscape or softscape features that aren’t as easily identifiable under natural light.
The wattage of the chosen fixture will also affect how a space is lit. For example, a low-wattage fixture is recommended to create a moonlighting effect (where the lights are mounted high and angled downward). This will avoid unwanted glare or harshness while creating an authentic moonlit feel.
When done properly, landscape lighting can transform your backyard into a functional and visually appealing area that’s as enjoyable during the day as at night. While this addition may seem like a major investment, it will add value to your home and help you make the most of your property after dark. As with any asset, working with an experienced and knowledgeable landscape lighting design team is the best way to achieve your desired results. We’re happy to share our expertise and guidance on showcasing your home’s beauty with the right landscape lighting.
- Accent Lighting
While bright landscape and cozy ambient lighting are necessary for creating a well-lit outdoor space, accent lighting is the “icing on the cake,” highlighting specific features to make them stand out. From highlighting interesting shapes or textures on trees or statues to emphasizing movement in water features, there are endless options for creating eye-catching accent lighting.
With technological advances, there are now many decorative outdoor light fixtures. Whether you prefer a classic lantern, a sleek cylinder, or an orb, there’s sure to be a fixture that will fit your vision for your landscape lighting design. The best thing to remember when choosing your accent lights is that you want them to complement the overall look of the lighting scheme. The last thing you want is for the accent lights to clash with the other outdoor lights, ruining the cohesive look you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
You can use integrated LED bulbs or separate fixtures for uplighting and accent lighting when selecting a fixture. Integrated LED lights have the light board built into the fixture, eliminating the need for different bulbs and making the installation much easier. However, if one of the integrated fixtures should fail, you’ll have to replace the entire fixture instead of just the bulb.
Another benefit of using integrated fixtures is that they’re often much smaller than traditional, single-bulb uplights. This means they can be hidden better than conventional fixtures, providing a more discreet, low-profile look for your outdoor lighting design.
Landscape lighting is one of the most popular home upgrades, increasing curb appeal, safety, and functionality. However, achieving an ideal lighting scheme requires more than just the right hardware and a great vision – proper landscape lighting installation is a craft with expert knowledge and a keen eye for detail. Contact us today to learn how we can help you transform your South Western Ontario property with landscape lighting!