The basic elements of landscape lighting are the light fixtures themselves, which come in a wide variety of styles and light options – including different colors of light!  The fun really begins when selecting light patterns and colors.  For example, if you have a dark area that you want to lighten, put a bright white spot light on it.  If you have a garden path – or walkway to the door, for that matter – use soft pathway lighting that shows the way.  Not only will this help keep foot traffic where it belongs, but it adds safety as well.

Additional safety can be a major reason to enhance your home with landscape lighting.  As mentioned, illuminating walkways is great.  If you have stairs, you can also shed some light on the hand rails.  Security experts agree that a home which can be approached in the dark is more likely to be burglarized than one which has adequate lighting in the front.  And landscape lighting is an ideal way to attractively provide that light in and around the bushes.

Also, as much as creating a safe, inviting, and welcome atmosphere for you and your guests, landscape lighting will also create a safe, uninviting, and unwelcoming atmosphere for anyone with nefarious intentions.

Types of Landscape Lighting

Types of landscape lighting can be categorized by shape, hidden or visible unit and by the voltage needed to power it.  The voltage can be 12 or 120 volts.  It can be supplied by solar power or house/business current.  The lighting can be white or colored in spectrum.

The shape can be a spot light or a floodlight.  It can be used for security or for showing off the landscape or the house. 

The operation of the landscape light can be manually controlled or made automatic by sunlight sensing devices.  Both have there uses and are the choice of the owner.  Area lighting for general affect is one of many choices available to the owner.  Another choice would be being able to control where the light is aimed so as to light a limited area.

Landscape lighting comes in above ground mounting or in ground displays while pathway lighting can use either.  Lighting to show off trees or plants can be used to create a beautiful night display of the landscape. 

Patio lighting using landscape lighting is getting two uses for the price of one. A patio needs light at night to be used safely.  Landscape lighting will do the job without the harsh affect of direct lighting from a floodlight.

Landscape lighting can be used safely around a pool so the boarder is distinct after dark.  This is a way to add beauty and safety at the same time.

The use of landscape lighting is limited only by the owner’s imagination.