When it comes to highlighting some of the best features of your landscape, it’s important to choose areas that really draw the eye in. Whether it’s the front of your property or an outdoor living space in your backyard, you can enhance your favorite aspects with outdoor lighting.
That said, knowing where to place landscape lights is easier said than done. As such, here are some of the best areas to consider shining your landscaping lights to turn your outdoor space into a whole new world.
8 Best Places for Landscape Lighting
Whether you want to highlight distinct garden features or illuminate walkways, knowing where to place landscaping lights is essential. With that in mind, here is our landscape lighting placement guide:
1. Architecture
Utilize various forms of lighting, such as downlighting and uplighting, to show off the unique architecture of your home or office building. This will enhance your curb appeal, deter unwanted guests, and illuminate the best outdoor features of your home. For maximum results, highlight architectural elements like columns, archways, front entries, and stone facades.
2. Water Features
Whether it’s a fountain or a bird bath, make sure your water features get the attention they deserve with lighting that enhances their look at night. If you’ve invested in a great water feature for your home, make sure it can always be seen and enjoyed! Shining a light on your water feature with ambient lighting will not only make it a beautiful attraction, but it will also make it safer to enjoy.
3. Walkways
You shouldn’t have to be worried about tripping while you walk through your landscape at night. Create a beautiful setting for you and your guests with walkway lighting that enhances the path and produces a memorable look.
There are a variety of lighting fixtures that can be used along your walkway. The typical path light is a simple yet effective option. You can alternatively use path lights such as custom-designed bollards, creating dramatic shadows and patterns of light onto the hardscapes.
Top Tip: If you want to learn more about pathway lighting, read this guide to choosing the right path lights.
4. Outdoor Living Spaces
With thoughtful landscape spotlight placement, you can create a welcoming atmosphere and set the mood for your outdoor living area. Outdoor kitchens, patios, or dining spaces require ample lighting to ensure you can see what you’re doing. You and your guests will be able to enjoy your outdoor space at night without compromising on the mood of your space.
A Landscape Lighting Designer will be able to work with you to create just the right amount of illumination for your space. Bistro lights and tiki torch path lights are options for a soft glow without glare.
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5. Lighting Pool Areas
Pool lighting will provide safety and a custom experience in your backyard. Try color-changing LED lights to tailor your poolscape for a mood or theme. Choose blue for a peaceful late-night swim or orange hues for a fun-filled event.
If the lights in your pool don’t do enough to create the feel you’re going for, enhance the look of your pool area with moonlighting, tree lights, or ground recessed lights.
6. Fireplaces and Fire Pits
Although you may think that a fireplace or fire pit will give off enough light, it’s prudent to install lighting in the surrounding space for safety and added effect. Placing outdoor lighting in an area helps enhance the architectural features of your fireplace, showing off the beauty of this landscape feature even when it’s not being used.
Illuminate the stonework of your fireplace to create an elegant focal point in your yard, or use lighting to play off of the shadows that plants and trees create in your space.
7. Lighting Your Trees
Some of the most beautiful parts of any landscape are the trees. Trees are typically seen as assets to any property. In fact, Michigan University found that stunning, well-kept trees can increase property value anywhere from 6% to 11%.
Whether it is their massive size or colorful leaves, tree lighting can focus attention on a tree’s high visual impact. Give them center stage with proper lighting that filters through the leaves, helping draw attention and showcase the tree’s natural beauty year-round.
8. Mailboxes
It’s all about first impressions, right? If you’ve got a great mailbox or building number sign, help it stand out with a little bit of light! Guests pulling up or even passersby will be impressed by the attention to detail you’ve given to the entrance of your property.
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Tips to Remember When You Place Landscape Lighting
Before choosing what you want to illuminate, here are some expert landscape lighting tips:
9 Top Landscape Lighting Techniques
- Highlighting — Put emphasis on architectural details with floodlights or spotlights.
- Silhouetting — Placing spotlights or well-lights behind objects for dramatic effect.
- Washing — Uses floodlights to cast an even, gentle light at an indirect angle.
- Uplighting — Uses spotlights or well-lights at the base of objects.
- Downlighting — Used to mimic natural light by shining onto objects below it.
- Shadowing — Uses spotlights, floodlights, or well-lights to create a shadow behind an object.
- Moonlighting — Creates a moonlike effect by placing spotlights high up in trees angled downward.
- Accent lighting — Generally a hidden fixture that uses narrow spotlights to emphasize specific features.
- In-grading — Lights that are embedded into the ground at the same level as the surrounding area.
5 Things to Remember When Placing Lighting Fixtures
- Desired outcome — Keep in mind what you are hoping to achieve from your lighting setup.
- Time of day — Natural lighting will altar how effective your lighting system is.
- Budget — Ensure you finalize your budget and understand what can be done with this in mind.
- Focus on key features — Consider focusing on key aspects of your space, such as water features, outdoor sculptures, or feature walls.
- Layer your lighting — Layering your lighting can take your garden space to the next level. Consult your installers and designers beforehand to understand the strategic placement of your lights.
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FAQs About Where to Place Landscape Lighting
It’s time to have a quick look at some of the most common questions and answers about where to place outdoor lights.
What Is the Best Height for Outdoor Wall Lights?
This is dependent on the desired effect. However, for front doors and entryways, it’s generally best for your outdoor sconces to be around 66 and 72 inches above the floor.
How Do You Position Landscape Lights on Trees?
From our experience, placing your fixtures at the base of tree trunks shining up towards the tree canopy creates the most dramatic effect.
How to Zone Landscape Lighting?
Generally, the best process is to group fixtures placed close together along a single line from the transformer. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about the zoning of your outdoor lights if you choose to use Lighthouse Outdoor Lights for your installation.
Final Thoughts on Where to Put Landscape Lights
If you would like more information about shining a light on the best features of your landscape, reach out to Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting. We will help you customize your lighting design to enhance your property with light.