Guide to Landscape Lighting Design: How to Light Your Yard

Lighting plays an important role in setting the scene for photographers, filmmakers, and theater directors. Come nightfall, the same principle applies to landscapes.

The way we light up outdoor spaces at night can have a big impact on how people experience them. It can make them feel safe, establish focal points, set a mood, and help people enjoy being outside well into the evening.

What are the different types of lights used in a landscape? To include a lighting system in a landscape design, it is important to first understand the purpose of the lighting and then choose fixtures that will compliment the overall design. In most cases, the lighting should be hidden so that it doesn’t draw attention away from the landscape itself.

What are some questions you might have about lighting in your Yardzen landscape design? We will look at a few examples of lighting in Yardzen landscape designs and answer these questions.

PLANNING

PLAN EARLY

When creating a garden, it is important to consider where you will place your lighting in order to avoid having to move them later. Before beginning the design process, you should have a clear idea of where you want light to be located.

After you have determined which features and plants you would like in your garden, you can start to design the effects and choose the light fittings. However, it is important to keep in mind that without power, you will not be able to have any light.

You need to calculate how much lighting you need.

To find out how much wattage you need to power your desired light, use this quick calculation: multiply the square footage of the area you want to light by 1.5. For example, if you want to light an area of 100 square feet, you would need 150 watts.

When choosing fixtures, be mindful of the size of your space and take measurements. This way, you can avoid choosing fixtures that are too large.

You can use a paper template to plan your lighting and review the size before buying.

The size of an outdoor wall light should be about one third the height of the door for either the front porch or the back patio.

Your lighting should be made of high-quality and durable materials that can withstand all types of weather conditions.

LIGHTING PRINCIPLES

Light has intensity, or quantity emitted, and colour.

The number on the packaging of a particular lightbulb indicates its color on the Kelvin scale, with 1800K being very red and 7500K being a bluish-white.

Outdoor lighting issues differ from those of indoor light. Light reflection is not as much of an issue outdoors because most surfaces are dark and do not reflect light well. However, it is more important to consider position and shielding when installing outdoor landscape lighting to prevent glare.

Glare is a problem when a light source is too big or too bright, causing reflected light to enter people’s eyes and potentially blinding them.

Outdoor landscape lighting needs to take into account both direct and indirect light.

A landscape light that is directly outdoors will mostly brighten the object it is directed at and not the surroundings. The indirect light reflects off of the surrounding surfaces to create a soft wash of light.

PLACEMENT

There are some places where outdoor lighting is an absolute must. Essential landscape lighting areas include:

The importance of a well-lit path cannot be understated. Not only does it make visitors feel welcome, but it also makes walking more secure. High illumination isn’t necessary, and downlights will prevent glare. Pavers that are individually lit can also be used to light a pathway.

There should be a light placed to each side of a door or overhead at the front, back, and side entry doors.

One option for lighting up your driveway is low-voltage landscape lighting. This type of lighting is usually easier to install and uses less energy than other options.

Risers and treads should both be lit for safety.

The way you light your deck or patio can create specific task areas, like an outdoor kitchen or grilling spot, as well as spaces for railings and seating. Uplighting can be used to create an indirect lighting effect on a deck or patio by pointing the light upward on an umbrella or deck overhang.

Highlighting an interesting built element in the outdoor landscape with lighting is a good way to make it stand out.

TYPES OF LIGHTING

Whether indoors or outdoors, lighting is generally divided into three layers based on function:

Overall lighting is a term used to describe the type of lighting that is used to illuminate an entire area or space. This can be done using a variety of different methods, such as overhead lighting, floodlights, or even natural light.

Task lighting is a type of lighting used to illuminate a specific area in order to perform a certain task. This could involve lighting a path in order to see where you are going, or providing light to a work area in order to see what you are doing. This type of lighting includes lights that show you the way, as well as lights that make your deck or yard safe and secure.

Accent lighting: Accent lighting draws attention to an object or area. This is usually accomplished with spotlights or floodlights. If you want accent outdoor lighting, you can buy landscape kits and spotlights.

There are several ways to create ambient lighting, such as hanging lights, post lights, or wall lights.

LIGHTBULBS

There are a number of lightbulbs that can be used for outdoor light fixtures.

The light emitted by incandescent bulbs is attractive but they do not last long and use more electricity than other types of bulbs.

Halogen bulbs are an improvement on incandescent bulbs, usually lasting longer and using less energy.

Fluorescent bulbs are produced in a more pleasing color range, have a longer lifespan, and are more energy efficient.

LED landscape lighting may be more expensive, but the lightbulb costs have decreased and they have a very long lifespan.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING TYPES

Spike lights: Good for garden beds where you want to uplight plants or specific features.
Bollard lights: Great for lighting paths or driveways.
Spotlights: Good for shooting light up the trunk of a tree or highlighting architectural features.
Projection lights: Useful for creating interest and playful patterns on walls and ground surfaces.
Strip lights: These versatile lights can be used to wash light across steps, backlight garden beds, illuminate areas under built-in seats, barbecues or along a deck.
Sculptural lights: Think playful or interesting fittings that are a feature in themselves, such as hurricane lamps and LED balls.
Festoon lights: Use these to create a twinkling canopy and highlight an entertaining area.
A range of landscape lighting fixtures, including wall fixtures, sconces, portable lamps, chandeliers, and ceiling fans, is available for nearly every spot.

Before using any outdoor fixtures, make sure they are weather resistant and designed for outdoor use.

OUTDOOR LIGHT POLLUTION

brightness that is unwanted and causes problems

To avoid excess light pollution from your landscape lighting:

Aim lights carefully. Position lights at night and check their position frequently.
Shield bulbs. Use fixtures that have reflectors and shielding to concentrate light where you want it.
Minimize wattage. Higher wattage will create harsher light without improving aesthetics or increasing safety. Low-wattage bulbs are often enough to provide illumination.
Control the light. Separately zoned lights with timers, controls, dimmers, or motion sensors will turn on lights only when needed or enable them to be turned down as necessary.

HANDY TIPS

POWER

If your landscape lights are located near a building that already has electricity, it will be easy to connect them to your home’s wiring system. Solar landscape lights are a great option if you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to power your outdoor lights.

TAKE A LOOK FROM INSIDE YOUR HOME.

Escaping to your backyard should mean relaxation, not more stress from having to choose the right lighting. This guide can help you make decisions on which lighting to choose and how to place it around your yard so you can finally enjoy your outdoor oasis. When considering the outdoor areas of your home, think about how they look from the inside. This will help you decide what changes, if any, you want to make. If you want your room to appear bigger, try placing lights in your garden or around shrubbery that can be seen from your living or dining room. Having a view of the outside at night will make your room seem more expansive. . Solar outdoor lighting is a quick and easy way to update your garden’s style. Path lighting is a good option for garden areas.

USE SUBTLE LIGHT FOR ENTERTAINING.

Use lighting that gives a soft glow for your outdoor meal so that your dinner guests don’t feel like they are under a bright spotlight.

If you’re trying to create a more relaxed vibe in your outdoor dining area, consider adding some indirect lighting. This type of lighting is more subtle than direct lighting, and can help create a more peaceful atmosphere.

The outdoor lanterns, pendants, and ceiling fans with light kits create an inviting atmosphere for seating and dining areas.

If you have these fixtures in your home, it’s a good idea to use a dimmer with them. You can turn the light up to full brightness when you’re cooking or preparing food, and then dim it down when you’re eating or relaxing.

THINK ABOUT SECURITY.

The right outdoor lighting can provide your home with ambience as well as security.

Be sure to have all entrances to your home well lit.

Install a wall lantern on each side of the garage door, or a single fixture above the door. To add security, you can place spotlights on your eaves or use wall lanterns at side doors, windows, and garages.

Types of Landscape and Outdoor Lighting

Path Lights

Path lights are commonly used to light up paths in a landscape design. They are vertical fixtures that cast light downward, and are shin-height.

Path lights is a type of lighting that is used to help people see along the entire length of a path. Brightness should not change dramatically, but rather remain relatively even to allow for safe movement and to avoid sudden shifts from light to dark.

Path Light Tips:

One every 15 feet is a good rule of thumb for spacing, though the brightness and distance of illumination vary from fixture to fixture. Check the manufacturer’s recommended spacing when it is available.
A light on one side is usually enough. You can choose to have the lights alternating sides along the path, or sticking to one edge. Both options look great. Lights across from each other are only necessary for paths wider than 6′.
To create a lit path, start by placing lights at each end. If you need more than two fixtures, you can place them at corners or along curves in the path. For straight paths, space additional fixtures evenly.
Avoid trip hazards. This is a big problem – kicking a light that you didn’t see can hurt, and can cause you to fall. Install path lights along the front edge of planting areas or other adjacent spaces, safely out of the path of travel.
Don’t put lights on the edge of a path that’s also next to a lawn. Someone might accidentally step off the path and onto the lawn. If a path is surrounded by lawn, place path lights in such a way that they are easy to see and avoid.
Path lights are also decorative elements. Use them to draw attention to important points, or to establish a consistent pace for the eye to follow.

Uplights

Up lights are little spotlights that are often called floodlights, but they are not. They are at the bottom of things that you want to focus on, and they make the light go up. Their effect is dramatic.

A backyard designed by Yardzen in Menlo Park, CA with special lights to make trees look more interesting.

Uplights are a form of accent lighting used most to commonly light up trees or other tall elements, but they can also be used to wash a fan of light along a wall or fence – a good trick to flank entrances or mark a rhythm along a back fence.

Uplight Design Tips:

Multi-trunked specimen trees look particularly stunning with uplights. There are many sculptural species that look good when uplit, such as Palo Verde, Desert Willow, Dr. Hurd Manzanita, and Olives.
Don’t overdo it. If there are too many uplights, the scene will look messy and exaggerated. If everything is highlighted, then nothing will stand out. To create a clean and powerful look, use uplighting sparingly on a small number of key focal points.
Last one out should remember to turn off the lights. Upward-facing lights can be disruptive to local ecosystems and contribute more to light pollution than downward-facing lights. When you are outside enjoying the uplights, remember to turn them off when the evening ends.

Recessed Lights

This type of lighting involves hiding the body of the light within a wall, ground feature, or decking, so that only the framed lens is visible. They appear as a small, bright shape on or near the surface of a man-made object.

This front yard has been designed by Yardzen and features recessed lighting in the ceiling of the covered front walkway.

Recessed lighting is a common feature of modern landscape designs, appearing in the risers of stairs, on the face of concrete walls, or pointing upward along the edge of a deck.

Recessed Light Tips:

You cannot place recessed lights into existing concrete features without breaking the concrete. New concrete features can include space for recessed lighting, which can improve the look of the room.
Recessed lights work differently than path lights. In-ground recessed lights direct light upward. This light is useful for indicating the edge of a deck or path, but does not provide enough light to see the actual walking surface. We suggest using above-ground fixtures to light an entire path.

LONG TERM CONSIDERATIONS.

You’ll need to consider how your outdoor lighting will stand up to different types of weather conditions and changes in seasons.

When installing lighting in your garden, take into consideration the changes that occur in each season, such as the growth of plants. Think about how the lighting will affect your garden in each season.

Plan where you will put your lights and how they will accent your other plants and garden features Your lighting should be thought of as part of your garden. Plan where you will put your lights and how they will accentuate your other plants and garden features.