Outdoor Lighting

Backyard Lighting Tips

Sunset doesn't have to be the end of the day for enjoying your deck and yard. Smart outdoor lighting setups transform shadowy outdoor areas into engaging places to spend an evening. Enhance your outdoor living space and plan your backyard light show with these tips:

• Turn trees and shrubs into dramatic design elements by pointing outdoor lights up at the foliage or by creating silhouettes with lights placed behind trees.
• Create areas of light and dark in the yard, rather than washing the entire area in uniform light. For example, placing lights in trees and pointing them downward creates an effect similar to dappled moonlight.
• Place fixtures to specifically light stair treads. Lighting manufacturer Progress Position Lighting suggests positioning lights on alternating sides of the steps to create visual variety and more even illumination.
• Set path lights within 2 feet of the ground.
• Look for textured surfaces such as tree bark or wood shingles that can be highlighted with an angled fixture.
• Use low voltage lighting systems (12-volt), which are more resistant to water and easier for do-it-yourselfers to install. Plus, low voltage lighting is good for families because severed wires pose no electrocution threat.
• Consider hiring an outdoor lighting professional, whose insight can pay big dividends in both quality of the results and avoiding costly mistakes.