Different Types of Landscape Lighting for Your Yard
Installing landscape lighting is a great way to add character to your property at night, but it can easily get carried away and let too much lighting dampen the effect. Strategically-placed lamps are a much better approach than drowning your entire property with an obnoxious glow. In addition to the money saved on energy costs, this method allows you to create a captivating contrast of shadows and light mingling against the backdrop of the night sky.Landscape lights are as diverse as the houses they brighten, and deciding which ones are right for you can be a daunting task. The professionals at Valley Landscaping can help you understand the different types of landscape lighting available and select the best option for your yard. Reach out to a professional today to learn more by calling 410.983.6261.
Different Types of Landscape Lighting
There are two common types of landscape lighting found today: LED-powered lights and low-voltage lights. LED assemblies can be powered by solar energy or through a low-voltage hardwire. Low-voltage lighting is hardwired through a step-down transformer that condenses the 120-volt electrical supply down to a manageable 12-volts.
Spotlights
Spotlights provide you with a concentrated beam of light and are a great way to highlight specific architectural details or other significant points of interest. These lights are typically mounted in the ground but can also be mounted up high on the side of structures and trees. In addition, they come equipped with a swiveling head to allow for complete control of the direction of your lighting.
Path Lights
If you haven’t already guessed, path lights light up the walkways around your home. These lights are fixed and are generally installed every few feet along walkways or around the perimeter of driveways and flower beds.
Step Lights
This style of lighting is an integrated solution that makes climbing the stairs at night a breeze. These lights are generally installed during the deck’s construction, but there are some easy-to-mount fixtures available.
Inground Lighting
Inground lights are light fixtures that are buried level to the ground or in your landscaping to provide an upward beam of light. This tactic, not surprisingly, is known as uplighting.
Pond Lights
Whether they use halogen or LED as a source of light, pond lights are a great way to illuminate and enjoy your underwater scene any time of night. In addition, these lights are not harmful to the local ecosystem and have been proven to be a safe landscape lighting method.
Lighting Tactics
Now that you know some of the different kinds of lights available, you need to know how to use them. The following terms are often used when referring to any lighting techniques and do not only pertain to landscape lighting.
UpLighting
Uplighting is achieved by using a spotlight shining upwards and is usually placed at the base of the subject it is lighting. For example, this method is often used to highlight detail on a structure or the underside of a tall tree.
Moonlighting
Moonlighting is the opposite of up-lighting and instead shines down onto the subject rather than up. One of the most common examples of moonlighting is displayed with street lights. Moonlighting can be achieved by mounting a spotlight on the side of a building or in the canopy of a tree.
Washing
If you have a space that requires more than just ambient light and calls for brighter and more effective lighting, you can achieve this through washing. Washing is when you use a high output light with a wide beam and let it reflect off a nearby wall which will wash the entire space in light, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors even on the darkest nights of the year.
Learn More About Landscaping Aesthetics in Maryland
Valley Landscaping has the years of knowledge necessary to design the best outdoor lighting arrangements in Maryland. Contact us today at 410.983.6261 to schedule your consultation!