Increasing Curb Appeal with Outdoor Lighting
Think about all the decisions that go into designing the exterior of a home. Brick or stone? Stucco or siding? Materials, colors, textures, styles. There are literally hundreds of details that create the final design of your home. Why allow these to go unseen at night?
The beauty of your home doesn’t have to go unnoticed after dark.
There are many reasons to consider installing a custom outdoor lighting system. For example, outdoor lighting improves the functionality, safety, and security of your home and property. But let’s take a moment and look beyond the technical benefits. Let’s consider the aesthetic and design aspects of landscape lighting. A well-designed outdoor lighting system will literally transform the exterior of your home.
Here are 5 ways to increase curb appeal with outdoor lighting.
Accent or Spot Lighting
When creating your outdoor lighting design, start by selecting focal points throughout your property. Maybe you want to highlight a water feature, statue, or a particularly beautiful tree? Ideally, these points of interest should be evenly spaced and thoughtfully positioned to create visual balance when lit. With accent or spot lighting, you will focus a controlled, intense beam of light at an object. In effect, this will create sparkling islands of interest throughout your property.
Architectural Uplighting
Uplighting is the placement of individual light sources at the base of architectural details or points of interest. Strategically placed uplights are extremely versatile and will highlight architectural features of your home. While placement of the fixtures is always important, light intensity and beam range should also be considered. All these factors will ultimately affect the design outcome and mood of your lighting system. For example, uplighting can wash a wall in light or bring out the texture of a stone surface. High intensity, narrow beamed lights will create drama while low intensity, wide beamed lights will create a soft glow. A thoughtfully planned and well-executed outdoor lighting system will truly make the best features of your home shine.
Moonlit Downlighting
With outdoor lighting, the goal is to always create lighting that looks and feels natural. Downlights achieve this by simulating natural moonlight. Instead of lighting from below, downlights light from above. Fixtures mounted high in trees, for example, will allow the light to naturally shine through the branches and leaves, gently illuminating the ground below. This type of lighting is most often used in areas that need low-level lighting such as driveways, lawns, and patios. Downlights can also be mounted under gutters, soffits, gazebos, and arbors. While downlighting is often overlooked by homeowners and lighting specialists alike, it can add a beautiful layer of natural light to your design.
Functional Lighting
Functional lighting ensures that you and your guests can navigate safely through your property and outdoor living spaces. Consider lighting paths, stairs, decks, fences, archways, and gates. Beyond functionality, these lights will add depth to your outdoor space and visually connect points of interest throughout your property.
Landscape Lighting
It is always important to incorporate lighting into your overall landscape design. This will ensure that your functional lighting needs are met and that your outdoor lighting adds visual interest to your home. Consider, for example, how light can give prominence to certain features while drawing attention away from others. While light itself can be beautiful, also consider how shadows and silhouettes can add interest to an area. Finally, consider how light can add to your landscape by creating a more cohesive look that transitions flawlessly from day to night.
Designing a lighting system that is as beautiful as it is functional takes time. The result, however, is more than worth the effort.
Thinking about hiring a professional landscape lighting company?
At Limelight, outdoor lighting is all we do. We offer design, installation, and maintenance services and would love to help you design a system that makes the most of your landscape — day and night. Getting started is simple. Call Limelight Outdoor Lighting at (704) 989-3635 or schedule a free consultation through our website.