3 Essential Layers For Outdoor Lighting

3 Essential Layers For Outdoor Lighting

Whether you want to entertain on weekends, create greater curb appeal, or provide a safe place for the teens to hang out after dark, layering your outdoor lighting allows for a variety of uses for a variety of spaces. While it’s likely not your intent to have your yard look like Times Square, you want people to be safe and feel welcome in your outdoor space as well. Layered lighting creates atmosphere, ambiance, and highlights accent features.

Ambient Lighting
This type of lighting is the backdrop for your outdoor landscape lighting. Providing just enough light to chat with friends or sit outside with a glass of wine, ambient lighting provides enough illumination for comfort. Ambient lighting may be a ceiling fixture in a covered porch, accent lights on pillars, or overhead string lights over a patio table or outdoor kitchen.

Some stop with ambient lighting, but there’s so much more you can do to make the most of your yard or curb appeal after dark.

Task Lighting
Task lighting is geared for a specific activity such as security lights for a garage or pathway. Vehicle headlights usually are sufficient for safety on a driveway, but what about the path to the house, garage, or back yard? Have an elevated path or walkway? Would a guest find their way comfortably? Are there areas that, for security, you feel need more light?

Task lighting isn’t only about pathways and security. How about some extra light over the barbeque, pergola, under counter tops, or stairs? This additional layer supports functional purposes in any space.

Accent Lighting
Finally, accent lighting is like wardrobe accessories. Sure, you could go without them but they’re what get you noticed. Underwater lighting options for ponds, pools, and fountains create fabulous rippling water lights. Is there a tree with interesting limbs or shadows? What about special features like pillars and posts, vases, art, or other unique yard features. And don’t forget the house! The most expensive aspect of your entire yard, don’t let the house go dark after the sun goes down!  

A professional outdoor lighting expert will help you consider the various angles each accent requires, can recommend optimal spacing and create visual impact. If everything is highlighted, then nothing is highlighted. When selecting specific features to highlight, less is more. Lighting is more effective and dramatic if not used to fill in every corner of your yard.

Ottawa’s Landscape Lighting Experts
Landscape lightings adds visual interest to your home while simultaneously making it safer and increasing its property value. If you would like to discuss your landscape lighting project, or request a free estimate, contact us today!