Landscape lighting installation Milton ON
When choosing lights for your home, don’t forget about outdoor lighting. In Canada, we still have a good few months when we can entertain outdoors in our backyard, so if you’ve put so much effort in your indoor lighting, don’t make the exterior ones an afterthought. And year round, this exterior illumination serves a security purpose as well. So it's worthwhile to put some thought into the types and amount of outdoor lighting .
Here are some things to consider when selecting landscape lighting:
This trio of lights is a common theme throughout the home and the outdoors is no exception. Post lights, hanging lights and wall lights can serve as ambient lighting, providing a good base layer of illumination. Pathway lights, deck and security lights can serve as task lighting. And string lights, spotlights and lanterns are all examples of accent or decorative lighting. These add a pretty ambiance to your home's exterior. |
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2. Do some math
How many lumens do I need for landscape lighting? Or asked another way: What is a good wattage for outdoor lights? It depends on the square footage of your space. For a quick estimate, multiply the square footage of the area by 1.5 to give the total wattage required. So 1,000 square feet of space would need 1,500 watts in total. To convert that to lumens, multiply the watts by 15. So 1,500 watts = 22,500 lumens.
Set the mood. Go easy on the bright lights. None of your guests want a glaring spotlight on them while they’re enjoying their meal. Be generous with indirect lighting that provides a soft glow. This can be achieved with outdoor lanterns, pendants and other accent lights.
3. Use LED lighting
LED recommendations are a common theme throughout the home for good reason. They last longer, emit less heat and save energy. Plus, they're much better for the environment. Win, win and win.
4. Security
Security lighting’s main purpose is to prevent and detect crime. The main entry points should be well lit as well as above garage doors. Take a look for any dark pockets that need lighting such as stairways, and any shadows casted by large shrubs should be minimized. Post lights should be a minimum of 8 feet above the ground so as to prevent their blinding effect as you drive into your driveway.
An automatic light control system is also a good idea for saving energy and depending on the type, may help scare off intruders. Timers and motion detectors are some of the most popular ones. Timers are the most affordable and are preset to turn on and off. Motion detectors provide safety lighting and are the ones that have the most potential of deterring an intruder.
If you’re unsure of which features to install for landscape and security lighting, give us a call and we’ll help you decide what the best option for your needs are.
How many lumens do I need for landscape lighting? Or asked another way: What is a good wattage for outdoor lights? It depends on the square footage of your space. For a quick estimate, multiply the square footage of the area by 1.5 to give the total wattage required. So 1,000 square feet of space would need 1,500 watts in total. To convert that to lumens, multiply the watts by 15. So 1,500 watts = 22,500 lumens.
Set the mood. Go easy on the bright lights. None of your guests want a glaring spotlight on them while they’re enjoying their meal. Be generous with indirect lighting that provides a soft glow. This can be achieved with outdoor lanterns, pendants and other accent lights.
3. Use LED lighting
LED recommendations are a common theme throughout the home for good reason. They last longer, emit less heat and save energy. Plus, they're much better for the environment. Win, win and win.
4. Security
Security lighting’s main purpose is to prevent and detect crime. The main entry points should be well lit as well as above garage doors. Take a look for any dark pockets that need lighting such as stairways, and any shadows casted by large shrubs should be minimized. Post lights should be a minimum of 8 feet above the ground so as to prevent their blinding effect as you drive into your driveway.
An automatic light control system is also a good idea for saving energy and depending on the type, may help scare off intruders. Timers and motion detectors are some of the most popular ones. Timers are the most affordable and are preset to turn on and off. Motion detectors provide safety lighting and are the ones that have the most potential of deterring an intruder.
If you’re unsure of which features to install for landscape and security lighting, give us a call and we’ll help you decide what the best option for your needs are.
