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3 Outdoor Lighting Mistakes to Avoid

3 Outdoor Lighting Mistakes to Avoid

Homeowners install outdoor lights for a multitude of reasons. Outdoor lighting makes it easier and safer for people to find their way around their property at night. It deters potential thieves and intruders and enables owners to highlight their properties’ most beautiful landscaping and architectural features. Not only does outdoor lighting make a huge difference in the way a yard looks, but it also allows owners to make the most of their outdoor living space well past sunset. However, all too often, outdoor lighting is installed without any proper planning, so in today’s blog post, we’ll go over the three most common lighting mistakes that homeowners make and provide you with outdoor lighting tips to help you achieve the best results.

Mistake #1: Focussing on the Lighting Fixtures Rather Than the Light Itself

While it’s easy to get carried away with the plethora of gorgeous light fixtures that you can choose from nowadays, remember that first, you need to determine what you would like to achieve by adding outdoor lighting to your property, in other words, your set your goals. Decide what it is that you want to illuminate, for instance, the trees, shrubs or architectural features you want passersby to marvel at. Then, decide how you want to achieve that look, or what lighting techniques will work best. Do you want to create a silhouette to add intrigue or would you rather shine the light directly on the feature? Only then can you start choosing the appropriate fixtures that will help you achieve that look.

Mistake #2: Placing Too Many Lights in One Area

Many homeowners end up overlighting some parts of their yards such as driveways and pathways, neglecting other areas. This results in an unbalanced and lopsided look, which does not look appealing. While it is necessary, for practical purposes and safety concerns, to have an adequately-lit driveway and pathway to your front door, when planning exterior lighting, one of the helpful outdoor lighting tips that professionals follow is to aim for an even distribution throughout your property. Your shrubs, trees, and decorative features don’t have to add curb appeal only during the day. With the help of lighting features such as spotlights, you can highlight and enjoy their beauty even at night.

Mistake #3: Overusing One Lighting Technique or Feature

Homeowners who are not well-versed in the different lighting techniques and fixtures that are available to work with end up overusing one particular type of fixture, for instance, floodlights or spotlights, resulting in a lack of variety and contrast that looks dull and unidimensional. One of the outdoor lighting tips to keep in mind is to incorporate various types light fixtures and play with shadows to add depth and get a richer, more dramatic feel.

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