September 10, 2021
Landscape lighting, smart and wired, often not included in an original residential landscape plan, is a great way to enhance your property. Not only does outdoor landscape lighting increase your curb appeal but highlighting the unique features of the home’s architecture and shining light on distinct plantings can transform your landscape into a thing of beauty during the night.
Outdoor lighting is essential to making sure safety is the top priority. Extending the use of your outdoor entertaining and outdoor living areas into the evening hours can be dangerous unless you properly illuminate paths, walkways, cooking areas and stairs. If you want to enjoy the visual aspects of your space, having landscape lighting for your water features, pools, spas, and plantings can really make them stand out. Not all properties are created equal, and some fixtures may work well for certain properties but may not work well for others. We are ready to help you choose the best landscape lighting for your needs. Let this article be your guide to selecting lighting fixtures and outdoor lighting ideas and that best accommodate your unique property.
In order to determine the best landscaping lighting for you, it’s important to think about how you use the space. Not all landscapes are created equal, and each landscape will have different uses and requirements. Most outdoor lighting will be low-voltage because it’s safe to work with and not as expensive. Most outdoor landscape lighting systems will include a transformer, cables, stakes, fixture housings, and bulbs.
Energy-efficient lighting has come a long way. There are so many outdoor lighting options when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. LED Solar landscape lighting uses solar cells and batteries and come in a variety of different types of fixtures. The best part about using solar yard lights is there is often no electric wiring necessary, making this a very DIY friendly option! Timers are another great way to be energy-efficient with your lighting. Using a photocell for your bistro lighting will turn them on when it gets dark and then off again when the sun comes up. If you want to be even more precise, having a timer set to a specific window is a great way to save energy. For more information on energy-efficient lighting, click here!
If you are looking for some good backyard lighting ideas, these are the most popular lighting techniques in the landscape.
1. Deciding the Purpose
In this step, it’s important to think about the space and the function. Determine which areas are particularly dark and which areas you want to visually highlight once the sun goes down. Make note of any pathways or obstacles that could be a safety hazard in the dark.
2. Ideas for Your Layout
Ideas for your layout. Inspirational images are crucial to the design process. Gather some landscape lighting ideas from other landscapes that you like and some spaces that are similar to your own.
3. Determine the Effort
Determine the effort. Depending on the number of fixtures and the complexity of the space, it’s important to determine how difficult the lighting design will be. During this step, consulting a lighting professional would be a good idea.
4. Setting a Budget
Make sure to set a budget for your project so you can determine what kind of fixtures you are able to choose from.
5. Landscape Lighting Design
Draw out the landscape starting with the perimeter and the buildings as you work inward. This will help you choose what kind of system you need for your lighting.
6. Selecting Fixtures
Make sure to choose fixtures with the correct voltage. Also consider choosing solar LED fixtures.
7. Wire Runs, Power Supplies, & Final Layout
If you chose to do a low-voltage lighting system, there will be many runs from one transformer. Your entire lighting system can operate from just one source, so in this step you are going to map out exactly where the fixtures will go, and the cables needed to extend from the transformer.
The general rule of thumb for path lights is to place them 6 feet apart for the best coverage. If you are trying to up-light one tree, generally you only need one up-light if a tree is smaller and only 2 if the tree is mature in size.
At Environmental Designs, we typically use 270 Kelvin which is a softer yellow light. This works well for landscape purposes because it’s not too bright and not too warm of a yellow.
These vary depending on the fixture and can be anywhere between 3-12 watts.
Low and high voltage landscape lighting requires different transformers.
The best way to hide the wires is to bury them. If there is a difficult area to bury under like a sidewalk, it’s best to call a professional to assist you.
There are a lot of moving parts to designing and installing an outdoor lighting system. To make sure that the system is installed and designed correctly, give us a call! We can help discuss your options and come up with some outdoor landscape lighting ideas that are perfect for your space, hassle free.
An outdoor lighting plan is a blueprint for illuminating your garden, patio, and other exterior spaces. It involves the strategic placement of lighting fixtures to both improve aesthetics and enhance security.
A good outdoor lighting plan makes your yard look great at night. It highlights special features like trees, gardens, or fountains and sets a cozy mood for gatherings with family and friends.
Lighting up your yard also keeps it safe. Well-placed lights make it hard for unwanted visitors to sneak around. They also help you and your guests see where you’re going so nobody trips or gets hurt. This guide explains how to make such an outdoor lighting plan in six steps.
You should start an outdoor lighting plan with a drawing of your yard. That helps you see the whole space at a glance and figure out where you want the lights to go.
A drawing makes it easier to spot the key features you want to highlight, like a big tree or a garden path. It also helps you avoid mistakes, like putting too many lights in one area and leaving another spot too dark.
After you’ve made a drawing of your yard, the next step is to think about your lighting goals. Common goals for outdoor lighting plans include:
Knowing your goals helps you pick the right types of lights and decide where they should go. For example, directional lights like our CAST Classic MR-16 Bullet Lights may be your best bet if you’re looking to spotlight a beautiful fountain or statue.
On the other hand, if you want to make a pathway safer to walk at night, then you might go with our Small Mushroom Path Light.
Having clear goals makes it easier to create a lighting plan that works for you.
After you’ve identified your goals, consider your specific lighting needs. Your needs will vary depending on what you want to accomplish.
For instance, if your goal is to improve safety, you’ll need to identify all the areas that could be hazardous in low light, like stairs or uneven pathways.
On the other hand, if you want to create social spaces, think about how you’ll be using the area.
Depending on the activities, you might need brighter lights for cooking but softer, more atmospheric lights for a seating area.
For highlighting architectural features or garden elements, you’ll need to consider the angle and intensity of the light. A poorly angled light can create glare or shadows, ruining the effect you were hoping to achieve. This is where ambient lighting like our Craftsman Series Bronze Deck Lights and accent lighting like the CAST Classic Wall Wash perform extremely well.
Once you’ve got a clear picture of your goals and needs, the next step is figuring out where to position your lighting fixtures. The placement of the lights impacts the appearance of your outdoor space.
When planning your outdoor lighting, practical considerations like optimal spacing and electrical capacity are crucial for achieving an effective and safe installation.
Regarding the optimal spacing for lighting fixtures:
We always recommend using a qualified lighting specialist to create your outdoor lighting plan. They’ll have the experience and knowledge needed to make the best use of your space.
The location of the transformer is another key element to consider in your outdoor lighting plan. Since transformers convert high-voltage household electricity into a lower, safer voltage for your outdoor lights, they play a crucial role in your installation.
The number of lights that can be connected to a single transformer depends on two factors: the wattage of the transformer and the combined wattage of all the connected lights.
For example, if you have a 300-watt transformer and each light fixture uses 20 watts, you can safely connect up to 15 lights (300/20 = 15).
Leave some room for flexibility. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep the total wattage of your lights at around 80% of the transformer’s capacity.
Finally, always check local building codes and consult a professional. Some localities have particular regulations regarding where to place transformers. That’s important for things like proximity to water features for pools.
The final step is determining the wire runs that connect the transformers and lighting fixtures. The layout of your wire runs should be as straightforward as possible to make maintenance easier. You can use T-connectors or hubs to streamline a complicated layout. For safety, and often by code, you should bury low-voltage wires around 6 inches under the ground. That is deep enough that you won’t have to worry about hitting a wire when gardening. Two other important considerations are the length of wire runs and the thickness, or gauge, of the wire. These two considerations are closely connected. Longer runs of wire may result in a voltage drop, leading to dimmer lights at the far end of the circuit. Meanwhile, the wire’s thickness, or gauge, impacts how efficiently electricity is carried.
A thicker wire carries electricity more efficiently over longer distances—standard gauges for outdoor lighting range from 12 gauge to 16 gauge, with 12 gauge being suitable for longer runs.
When choosing your wire, consider CAST No-Ox® Marine-Grade Tin-Coated Landscape Lighting Wire as a premium option. Its high corrosion resistance ensures long-lasting performance. It also retains conductivity longer than all copper wire. The wire comes in various gauges and is available in spools of both 250- and 500-feet.
The wiring method you choose plays a crucial role in both the functionality and reliability of your outdoor lighting plan. Understanding your options is critical to creating an efficient and safe outdoor lighting plan.
The daisy chain method is one of the simplest ways to wire outdoor lighting fixtures. In this setup, each light is connected in a series, one right after the other. This configuration makes for easy installation, as you simply connect each new fixture to the last one in the line, forming a “chain.”
However, the daisy chain method has a drawback: It can result in a voltage drop toward the end of the chain, causing the lights to dim. This happens because the electrical current has to travel a longer distance as it moves down the line, losing some of its strength along the way.
A daisy chain is best suited for shorter runs or low-wattage lighting setups.
In the hub method, multiple lights are connected to a single junction point, or “hub,” which is then connected directly to the power source. This setup allows for a more consistent voltage supply to each lighting fixture, helping to avoid the issue of voltage drop common in daisy chain configurations.
While the hub method may require more wiring and potentially more hubs, depending on the layout, it often results in a more reliable and efficient lighting system. The hub method ensures each light receives consistent power, maintaining uniform brightness across all fixtures.
The T method offers a compromise between the daisy chain and hub methods. In this setup, fixtures are connected in a “T” shape, with a main wire running from the transformer to a central point in the lighting layout. From this central point, secondary wires extend like branches of a tree to each fixture.
The T method minimizes voltage drop by keeping wire runs relatively short and direct, making it a suitable choice for medium-sized installations. It also allows for a little more design flexibility, as fixtures can be easily added or adjusted along any of the “arms.” The method does require careful planning, though.
The combination method blends elements from the daisy chain, hub, and T methods to create a customized wiring solution tailored to the unique requirements of your outdoor lighting project. This approach is good for complex or large-scale installations.
The main advantage of the combination method is its adaptability. You can optimize voltage distribution, ease of installation, and future scalability in one layout.
There you have it. That’s how to plan your outdoor lighting. Once again, we recommend working with an expert for the best results. You also want to buy durable products that will last for years to come to ensure outdoor lighting fixtures last.
Our lighting fixtures are not just designed to meet your immediate needs; they’re built to stand the test of time. Crafted for durability and timeless appeal, our products offer an unbeatable combination of reliability and aesthetic versatility. You can review our Classic and Craftsman ranges directly on the site or contact our friendly team for more information.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of louver type lighting fixture, rgb panel light, Waterproof Ceiling Light. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.