When you think of landscaping, it’s usually mentioning flowers, bushes, grass, and garden modifications. But one thing that is often left out is how lighting plays a powerful role in putting the finishing touches on your backyard design. It also makes your backyard more pleasant at night and makes it more inviting. Since we’re spending more time at home, your backyard is a great place to relax without having to go anywhere.
Classic lighting accents
There is no shortage of the kinds of lighting devices that are used in your backyard. Some are battery-powered while others are solar-powered. Many of the better designs are powered by electricity. But no matter how you’ve decorated your backyard, most of the simplest ideas are among the easiest. Think about the classic look of string lights and how they tend to make any backyard appear classic and appealing.
Draping lights along the tops of fences, or stringing them randomly on tree branches invoke a festive feeling too. Without having to make drastic lighting designs, many backyard lights tend to have a special classic feel when they appear less planned. Lighting that is built-into stairs, walls, walkways, and is otherwise installed odes have a visual difference. Planned lighting is done using careful design.
Randomly placed lights have more of a home-like and human feel that everyone can relate to. Here are some great examples that you probably have seen before.
- Tea lights
- Portable lights
- Solar lawn lamps
- Portable lanterns
- Path lamps
- Color-changing LED lights
Improved security for your home
Let’s be honest about something that is getting to be more common these days. We don’t live in that world where we can leave the back door unlocked anymore. Perhaps there was a time that it used to be that people were open and friendly with their neighbors. Society is changing and we have seen more and more attention being placed on home security. But for the most part, security always starts with preventative measures.
This is why light is one of the oldest deterrents that will never fail for preventing burglary or theft in your home. No thief wants to be spotted in a well-lit area, since there might be a chance they’ll get caught. Adding lights in your backyard boosts the level of security even if these lights are used for mood lighting. This is why many homes also add motion detectors on top of this.
All-weather safe
Anything that you put outside is going to be exposed to the weather. This will include rainy weather, and that can be bad for certain types of lighting. This is why you need to use lights that are rated for wet weather. Even when it comes to snow and cold weather, filament-based lights can burn-out faster than the newer technologies. It’s often better to use LED lighting, as these lights are better at resisting water.
Many of the solar and battery-operated lights are already waterproof, so it really matters to find plug-in lights that are rated all-weather. It should be approved for rainy weather so you don’t have to worry if they get wet.
LED lighting benefits
Without a doubt, LED lighting is appealing to homeowners because they are great at using less electricity. But many other benefits go with LEDs that make them ideal for your backyard. The option to change colors is more common now and allows light to adjust to any color using smartphone apps or remote control. It’s also a well-known fact that LED lights last longer than other lights.
Choosing a quality backyard light
With more and more people shopping online, sites like eBay and Amazon are common hubs for finding a bargain. The problem with these sites is the level of quality since many of these items are often imports. This isn’t always a bad thing, but many items that come from China can also be fire hazards. Look for a quality brand that’s been certified with safety testing. You’ll often see this placed on products that are certified with UL are CE certifications.
The tell-tale sign that you should also look for is the client reviews that tell you how good the product is. This is especially helpful on Amazon where you can immediately see if that product is worth your money or not. Just don’t buy lighting products that seem to be a deal that doesn’t have good reviews.
Enhance your own safety
It should never be an issue that your backyard is a physical risk to you and your family. The design of some backyards can include stairs that are built on a terrace or slope. This means you have to watch your step if you’re moving around at night. What may look like decorative lighting is cleverly disguised as safety lighting. This is more common on pathways and areas that include steps and stairs.
Even when there are steps for raised decks, you can never have enough lighting around steps, curbs, or uneven surfaces. You can also prevent injuries by stepping or slamming your food into decorative rocks or planters in your garden getaway. It’s also helpful that plants and flowers that you could easily step on are properly illuminated. And yet once again, you can still get away with the visual appeal of how pretty accent lighting looks at night.
In closing
Outdoor lighting is also not going to cost you a lot of money. Unless you’re making an upgrade to include outdoor decks and walkways, lighting can be built-in to these features. This takes careful planning and can be costly if you aren’t looking for economical lighting solutions. But the personal touches you can give your own garden and backyard will all have that special touch.
You can get plenty of ideas from the internet and DIY video on Youtube. With sites like Pinterest and DIY Wiki websites, you can easily get plenty of cost-effective ideas that don’t cost much at all.
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