How to Design Landscape Lighting in 5 Easy Steps
“I want to light up my yard, but don’t know where to start.” Ah. How to design landscape lighting around your home. This is a common problem. Before you install landscape lighting, you need some way to plan it out. So if this is your first time, or you are looking for new ideas, read on! This article will explain how to design landscape lighting in 5 easy steps.
At night, landscape lighting adds all the drama, beauty, and appeal to your home exterior. Here are five steps for creating distinct, functional lighting designs. These are sure to make your property look its best when the sun goes down.
Step 1: Get Your Landscape Lighting Ideas on Paper
Select key focal points throughout the day and at night. Do you have a favorite oak tree in your yard? What about a tropical palm, or a magnificent group of juniper bushes? Are you lacking any kind of trees or plant focal areas? No problem. What about a hardscape features like a stone wall? How about a water feature or even a pool? These are all fantastic ideas that provide a sense of what to search for with landscape focal points.
These are the main visual features, and the first level of light in the landscape. Modern exterior lighting is a great complement to other parts of the landscape. These area include walkways through a garden, deck areas, porches, and driveways. Need some inspiration? Check out these amazing outdoor lighting projects!
Step 2: Mock Up Your Landscape Lighting Ideas
Can’t draw? No problem. Grab a legal bad and start sketching as basic as possible. Draw the perimeter of your yard. This will be pretty easy, right? It’s most likely a square or rectangle. Next, X off some areas that represent decks, benches, trees, shrubs or vegetation. Anything significance in your yard that you need to work with.
Highlight all of the key focal points identified in Step 1, as well as the approximate height and length of those items. Any existing landscape illumination should be drawn in. In the subsequent steps, you’ll have to decide between a 120V or 12V landscape lighting system.
Step 3: Choose Your Landscape Lighting Fixtures
Choosing the right fixtures for each designated location in your design is important. The two most important questions to consider are: What type of lighting system do you already have, if any? The other question is how big is your layout?
Do you have WAC Lighting for accent, flood, and in-ground landscaping fixtures? This can control color, beam width, and brightness levels.
This type of lighting manufactures 2 volts — 120V and 12V landscape systems. There are two construction options for WAC lighting. Those options are solid die cast brass and k-alloy aluminum. The choices are a cast-brass finish or a brushed steel one. Both choices finish in in bronze, with die cast solid brass available. This helps corrosion issues. We have a lot of these problems living around so much water in Annapolis. The next think you need to think about is a power source.
Landscape Lighting in Annapolis, Maryland
Power sources can be expensive and tedious. If your landscape already has a 120V system in place, or if the fixtures will be close to the house near an outdoor power outlet, then you are good to go. But, a low voltage 12V system the way to go. Why? It’s a centralized power source that is a lot easier (and cheaper) to deal with in the long run.
Step 4: Lighting Fixtures and Spacing
Spacing is somewhat subjective. In general, most landscape lighting products include 6 feet of lead wire. Keep that in mind when thinking about your grand plan.
Step 5: Power Supplies and Final Concept
The final stage is to bring your landscape lighting design to reality. If you chose a 12V low-voltage system most likely it will run from a single source and extend. Most transformers will connect into a regular receptacle outlet. Select the proper transformer size. You might need a little help here. In general, look for maximum wattage capacity ranging from 75 to 600 watts. This is based on the fixture runs and number of fixtures in your project. It’s a good idea to leave space for future growth so you can show off a tree or create a garden feature. Put a little thought into where you want to position your landscape lighting. This helps avoid wasting energy. Another way to save money is to include a timer on your lights. This will ensure that you landscape lights will switch on and off automatically.
Save money with cutting edge technologies and energy efficient LEDs. Paradise Landscape and Hardscape specializes in creating beautiful outdoor living spaces in Annapolis, MD. Not only are our lighting systems beautiful, they make your space safe at night.
Team Paradise creates beautiful outdoor living spaces with landscape lighting services
Do you already have landscape lighting and want to save MONEY on your energy bill and tired of changing bulbs 2 or 3 times a year? We have the solution for you. LED retrofit keeps your existing fixtures and changes your bulbs to LED. LED retrofit can save you up to 95% on your energy costs for your landscape lighting.
Having professionals install LED outdoor lighting for your home creates a unique look. It is also an added security feature. We offer a variety of lighting services such as:
- Tree, pathway, and house lighting
- Lighting for your pool or hot tub area
- Decorative lighting to spotlight unique property features
- Holiday and party lighting
Our experienced team of professionals can handle any project, large or small. We have the knowledge and manpower to install, repair, and suggest the best fitting LED outdoor lighting for your home or business.
We hope this article shed a little light on how to design landscape lighting in your yard. If you need a hand, give us a call 443-808-0885 or fill out our Free Estimate Request form by clicking the button below.
