How to Illuminate Your Yard with Landscape Lighting

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Do you want to make your front yard or backyard more inviting? A simple way to do this is by using landscape lighting. Keeping your yard well-lit doesn’t only allow you to enjoy it both during the day and at night, but sufficient lighting drives away pests and rodents as well. Adding lighting fixtures in your yard, however, isn’t as straightforward as you might imagine. This guide is meant to help you do the necessary preparations and choose the perfect landscape lighting you’ll love in 2020.

Identify the purpose of adding landscape lighting

Before you go shopping for landscape lighting, you should first determine why you want to light up your yard. Do you want the kind of lighting that sets a romantic mood for dinner dates? Is there a dark area you want to illuminate for security concerns? Or perhaps you need to light up the path that leads to your garden? Answering these questions allows you to narrow down your list so you won’t feel lost when it comes time to shop.

Make a sketch

This seems troublesome, but a sketch of your yard makes it easier to envision how landscape lighting can create the transformation you have in mind. Be sure to add sketches of any existing lights, trees, shrubs, buildings, benches, vegetation, and decorations. Take note that all of these reflect and absorb light, so they will have an impact on the new lighting fixtures you plan on installing. There are lots of outdoor lighting ideas to make the most of the space that you can do.

Plan where the landscape lighting will go

Now that you have a clear idea of the purpose behind landscape lighting, it’s time to decide where they should go. A pole-type lamp proves perfect for illuminating a bench in your yard. Hiding lighting under shrubs sets the perfect mood for romantic dinner dates. Small lighting fixtures can be added to the path leading to your garden, marking its boundaries to guide users along the way.

Set a budget

Now that you have a clear idea of the purpose and the incredible benefits of landscape lighting. it’s time to decide where they should go. A pole-type lamp proves perfect for illuminating a bench in your yard. Hiding lighting under shrubs sets the perfect mood for romantic dinner dates. Small lighting fixtures can be added to the path leading to your garden, marking its boundaries to guide users along the way.

Best Landscape Lighting Options

Mounting Lights

If you want an efficient lighting fixture that offers excellent area coverage, then mounting lights should rank on top of your list. These lights are designed to focus light from the top to the bottom. You can place them on top of poles, trees, or other tall structures.

Fairy Lights

Perhaps the most popular type of backyard lighting is fairy lights. What makes them an attractive option is that they double as decorative pieces in your yard. They come in a range of styles and sizes, so you can choose based on your unique requirements. In Houston outdoor lighting are perfect for filling in gap areas that need more lighting.

Lanterns

If you want something a little more traditional, then lanterns are a worthy consideration. Many lanterns today are lit by LED candles. They offer a timeless appeal that can transform lawns and patios in an instant.

Highlighting Borders

Highlighting backyard borders is a growing trend, and you might want to do the same in your yard. Your best option here is to use LED strips, which can make your yard look larger than it is when installed in the right places. They’re energy-efficient as well, so you wouldn’t have to worry about ramping up your bills even when several strips are installed. Be sure to get the waterproof variety.

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Outdoor Lighting Can Enhance Your Houston Home’s Appearance

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Landscape Lighting In Houston Can Make Your Home Look More Beautiful & Safe

Outdoor lighting can make a big difference in the appearance of your home after the sun goes down. Creating a well-designed lighting plan for your outdoor space can make your home seem more inviting at night.

Lighting up a landscape involves more than just sticking a few lights in the ground. A lot of times, people mistakenly believe that they can take on outdoor lighting projects themselves. As a general rule of thumb, however, working with a professional is usually a far better option. A skilled landscape lighting designer can create a plan that beautifully enhances your home and your outdoor space. Best of all, they can usually do it for a fraction of what you would have spent if you tried to do it yourself. The right outdoor lighting can transform your space, creating a safer and more attractive home.

The Top Reasons To Install Landscape Lighting

  • It makes your home more attractive by brightening up your outdoor space and enhancing key features in your landscape.
  • Good outdoor lighting increases safety.
  • Professionally-designed landscape lighting can transform your outdoor space, making it feel much more like a resort.
  • Landscape lighting can boost the resale value of your property.
  • Well-lit properties are less likely to be burglarized than properties with dark outdoor spaces.
  • Lighting can help keep unwanted pests like insects at bay.
  • You can work with a professional to create a lighting design that you love that still fits within your budget.

Landscape Lighting Can Make Your Home Much More Beautiful

Imagine how much more inviting your home would seem after dark if the pathway or sidewalk leading up to your entry was beautifully lit. Not only does this type of lighting improve safety by making it easier to see where you are walking but it also makes your home more attractive and welcoming.

Up-lighting can be used to enhance the features of your landscape or your home’s architecture. Lights like these can be placed next to walls, under windows, or near trees or shrubs. After dark, these lights draw attention to special features in your outdoor space, making your home look much more beautiful.

Like many other home-improvement projects, adding landscape lighting can boost the resale value of your home. Buyers are naturally drawn to properties that have this type of lighting in place. When people are shopping for a new home, they often visit after dark. If your home is beautifully lit, it will make it seem much more appealing to potential buyers, increasing the likelihood that you will get an offer right away.

Turn To Robert Huff Landscape Illumination For Landscape Lighting In The Houston Area

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination has been serving customers in the Houston area for more than three decades. Our outdoor lighting company, which is properly licensed and insured, is based in Houston. We also provide services for customers in Austin, Texas and the surrounding area. All of our team members put the needs of our customers first, helping to ensure that you get a beautifully-designed lighting plan that is attractive, practical, and reasonably priced. When you work with our company, you can rest easy, knowing that you are in good hands. We work hard to ensure that every customer is fully satisfied with the results we provide. Allow us to transform your outdoor space into something more beautiful today.

Contact or call Robert Huff Landscape Illumination lighting professionals now for a FREE estimate! Visit our blog for more related articles.

A Guide For Hiring A Houston Landscape Lighting Expert

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Things To Consider When Looking For A Landscape Lighting Professional In Houston

You have taken care of everything to ensure your home and landscape look their best. All that is left is the outdoor lighting that will illuminate and accentuate your landscape while providing some extra security. Working with a landscape lighting expert is recommended, but you need to choose the right expert to help you decide on your needs, budget and lighting desires. Before you start looking for an expert, there are some questions you need to ask yourself.

What Is The Purpose Of Having Outdoor Lighting Installed?

Think about the sole purpose of having the lighting. You might be looking to update the landscape or enhance a special feature. You may want to add security to your landscape along the paths and patio.

What Is Your Budget?

The budget is very important when it comes to landscape lighting. However, you will want to get the best for your purpose. Some companies have very affordable options on the market, but they will not always be the best quality.

What Look Are You Aiming For?

Do you want to illuminate the entrance to your home with pathway lights or do you want some LED lights for trees and bushes? There may be another purpose for the lighting that will help you determine what you want and need from your lights.

The Purposes Of Outdoor Lighting

There are a lot of reasons why you will want to install outdoor lighting. If you have a commercial property, you might need them for added security. Landscape lighting can deter potential criminal activity around your business. If you travel often for business, the lighting can also increase the safety for when you return.

While the location is often the most important aspect of real estate, landscape lighting can help with curb appeal. If you have a beautiful landscape you have spent a lot of time on, you will want to highlight it with low-voltage LED lights. If you have a water feature, you can use reflecting pool lights to make it stand out. The lighting can also be practical as you illuminate stairs leading to our home.

Water feature lighting is not restricted to fountains as pools and ponds can also benefit from the right lighting. An outdoor lighting expert will be able to design and install lighting that enhances the water feature without being too harsh. Creating a soft glow around the water feature can create a different atmosphere to space and invite you to spend more time outside.

The most practical purpose of outdoor lighting is to illuminate a pathway. When you are coming home or if you have guests over, you want them to be safe as they move around the house. Pathway lighting is the best way to ensure this as the lights guide people toward the house and you never have to worry about someone slipping on a paving stone because they did not see it correctly.

What To Look For In A Landscape Lighting Expert

Once you have considered your lighting needs, you need to look for a lighting expert to help you. As you will not buy a home without some research, you should not hire a lighting expert without doing your homework. The expert should not only have experience installing light fixtures, but they also need to know how to make them look good. Experts need to have knowledge of design and understand how lighting can provide the security you want.

When you research the experts in your area, you should consider the warranty offered on the lights they install. This will be the warranty offered on their work and not the manufacturer’s warranty. Any reputable expert will offer a prolonged or lifetime warranty on their work.

The expert should also be willing to work with you from the design phase to beyond the end of the project. They will want your home to look as beautiful as you have envisioned it. They also want to highlight all the hard work you have done to get your landscape looking its best.

While it is important that the expert and their team are skilled, they should also be creative in their design for your property. To determine their creativity, you should look at past work they have done. A creative approach can completely change the lighting design.

You also need to see how well they know their products and what to look for when installing outdoor lighting. They should consider light pollution and detail the steps they can take to reduce this. They should also understand what lighting works best with the plants you have as well as the features in your landscape.

When looking at their experience, you should try to find out how many commercial and residential landscapes they have worked on. Their website should provide you with some of this information and testimonials from past clients. The website also needs to detail the services that they offer.

The last step you should take when choosing an expert is to talk to people who have worked with them. People who have good experiences will be more likely to refer the company to people they know. Getting recommendations from friends and family is a good start, but you can also look online for reviews. Many experts have a list of references who you can contact, but they are unlikely to have any issues with the service provided.

If you want to spend more time in the outside space of your home, you need to look at hiring a landscape lighting expert. They can also help with the lighting around commercial properties. The expert should ask you about the purpose of the lighting or help you work through everything to determine your needs. Before you hire anyone, you should research them and consider an appointment to get to know them better.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

What Is The Best Landscape Lighting and it’s Different Types

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Residential exterior lighting can turn a basic landscape into a masterpiece that everyone marvels at. However, lighting up your landscape of choice, be it your backyard, front yard, or outdoor garden, can be a daunting task especially if you have never done this kind of work before. But, there is no reason to fear or panic as this does not have to be the case. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of choosing the best landscape lighting for your property. We’ll highlight different types of landscape lighting setups and how you can use them to give your landscape a total makeover.

Landscape Lighting 101

The first lesson you need to learn about landscape lighting aside from knowing what are the best outdoor lights is that in many cases, less is more. This means that you can essentially light up everything you want without investing in tons of lights that will cause your power bill to skyrocket. Simply put, don’t wash your yard out with lights while trying to spice it up. This will only make it look work. You need to play around with both the light and the dark. This is how shadows take form and things that were otherwise hidden come into the light. A well-lit landscape can help you create a sense of comfort, security, and tranquility in your property.

What To Light and What Not To Light

When playing around with the light and the dark, you’ll need to figure out what to light in your yard and what not to light. Choosing an outdoor light fixture for your house is not easy. To achieve this, you’ll first need to identify specific features in your landscape that you like. It can be anything from a pond to a particular tree. You can use lights to highlight these features and sought to show them off. You can add intrigue to sections of your landscape that are often ignored or avoided. This section can be anything from a simple stone wall to a dull footpath. Highlight these sections can give them an entirely new personality especially at night.

Another factor you should consider is functionality. Certain parts of your landscape may need to be lit for purely functional reasons. These can be areas such as staircases, and footpaths. You’ll need to be able to see these things at night to be able to conveniently move about your yard at night. Also, entryways and exits should be adequately lit yo allow guests and family members to safely and conveniently access your home. You can create a warm and welcoming mood in your property by simply using certain types of landscape lights on your entryways and exits.

Types of Landscape Lighting

Now that you have established what you want to light up, the next step is choosing the specific type of lights you will use. Below are various types of lighting fixtures you can use for landscape lighting.

Path Lights

Probably the most popular type of landscape lighting, path lights are small light posts that are spread out along a footpath to illuminate the walkway. These lights can also be used to frame out space or feature in your landscape. They can also be configured around a pool or along a driveway.

Up Lighting

This is a lighting setup that’s commonly used together with trees and other tall structures to create drama. You can use this type of landscape lighting to highlight large and exotic trees in your compounds.

Silhouette Lighting

Silhouette lights give an amazing effect for highlighting features that are otherwise hidden during the day. You only need to place these lights behinds the objects or features you want to highlight and boom, they will become visible for all to see.

Shadow Lighting

This type of lighting is the opposite of silhouette lighting. Here, the lights are placed in front of the object or feature that you want to highlight. For this lighting setup, you will need to have a flat surface such as a wall behind the object being illuminated so that proper shadows can be formed.

Moon Lighting

This is a special type of landscape lighting that can transform your yard. The light source is usually positioned high up in trees while aimed downwards. The light washes down the branches and illuminates the ground below.

Now you have a few ideas of some landscape lighting options you can use to spice up your yard. You can now go forth and transform your landscape into a masterpiece. You can look around to visit stores and ask how much does it cost for landscape lighting.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

Outdoor Lighting Is Essential For Your Landscape Design In Houston

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5 Great Reasons Why Your Houston Landscape Design Needs Outdoor Lighting

If you ask most homeowners, they’ll tell you that outdoor lighting is probably the greatest feature of their landscape design. Whether its automated pool lights, small faerie lights, decorative lanterns, or a simple garden post lamp, fixtures like these help a landscape have a welcoming feeling to it.

Having said that, a few homeowners don’t bother with installing outdoor lighting. They just don’t get it, or they want to save money. What they’re missing out on is how landscape lighting does so much more than helping out the best features of a yard. Keep reading to learn 5 good reasons why you can take advantage of outdoor lighting:

1. Illumination For Your Outdoor Living

Creating an outdoor living space is a great thing to do, but it only really works if it’s designed for maximum enjoyment. Your value here goes to waste if you’re not deliberate about it. Whether you create a patio, barbecue island, or a full outdoor kitchen, you have a great place for entertaining, spending time with family, or just getting some fresh air in the safety of your own home. However, not having the right lighting can ruin things. If your landscape design has outdoor lights included from the start, then you get the chance to manage your lighting. This gives you influence and even control over the ambiance and mood of your outdoor space. Fire the lighting all the way up for a festive party, or dim it down for some quiet romance and intimacy.

2. Remember That Safety Comes First

The installation of outdoor lighting isn’t just an aesthetic matter, but also a safety issue. No matter how well you wind up memorizing your yard layout, or even how flat your outdoor walkway is, you still need to see each step you take when crossing your landscape when it’s night-time. It’s not a wise decision to rely on the light you get from your neighbors or street lights when strolling through your yard.

3. Prevent Unwanted Visitors

Criminals and burglars usually do their work at night, and there’s a reason for that. Breaking the law in the middle of the day draws attention. If the sun’s light keeps them away during the day, it would stand to reason that a well-lit landscape would also ward off intruders during the night. That logic holds true, as serious illumination discourages those you don’t want around from coming onto your property, given that they’re more likely to get recorded and/or noticed, so they can be dealt with appropriately.

4. More Curb Appeal Can Mean More Value

Many homeowners sink time and money into home renovations so they can have a better property market value. Landscape design and lighting is no exception to this. As a general rule of thumb, upgrades and enhancements typically boost the property value of your home and yard. Nearly half of prospective homeowners looking to buy consider outdoor lighting as a crucial home feature, listing this technical addition as a ‘desirable quality’ that they look for.

5. Highlight Your Landscape Features

Do you have a few distinct statement pieces across your landscape? If you do, then you certainly would like to highlight those features. On the other hand, a landscape cluttered up with too much attention-grabbing decor might spread the visual attention of visitors too thin. Outdoor lighting is useful in spotlighting specific areas or features that you’d like visitors to really notice, be it a hedge labyrinth, a Japanese garden, or an ornate fountain.

Call or contact us today if you require any information. Please feel free to visit our blog for more related articles.

Landscape Lighting In Houston: How Important Is It?

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Top Reasons Why Investing To A Houston Landscape Lighting Is Awesome

Landscaping is an essential feature of your home’s exterior, from the plants to the hardscape features. However, one important aspect of landscaping that a majority of homeowners tend to underestimate is landscape lighting. In case you are searching for ways to enhance the appearance of your home, then you should consider landscape lighting, which is a very cost-effective way of achieving this. In addition to giving your home a spectacular look, lighting also offers many other benefits. The following are some of the reasons why landscaping lighting is important for yards and gardens.

Enhanced Security

FBI crime reports indicate that the possibility of a home burglary is about one in five. A home intrusion compromises the safety of your family and can also lead to the loss of your prized possessions. Chances of a home intrusion are often higher when your home seems easy to break into. Lighting makes burglars feel exposed and vulnerable as your home becomes lighted up. With outdoor lighting, you will also be able to identify strangers who might be outside your home easily. There is a wide range of landscape lightings on the market; for example, garden lamp posts and pathway lighting can be used to enhance the security of your home as well as to increase the aesthetic appeal.

Ever wondered why thieves and squatters usually perform their deeds at night? Engaging in illegal activities in broad daylight will definitely catch the attention of others. Similarly, misbehaving in lit areas is also very unwise. Hence, when you have a properly lit backyard, intruders or prowlers near your home will think twice before attempting anything illegal. Furthermore, if your lights are bright enough, neighbors and other people near your home will be able to see them and take the necessary action.

Improved Curb Appeal

One great benefit of installing landscape lighting is that it significantly enhances your home’s curb appeal. You can utilize landscape lighting to showcase the best architectural features of your home. Do this by conveniently positioning your light fixtures and pointing their light to the direction of the features that you want to showcase. For instance, wall washers are designed to glaze textured wall surfaces with light. These types of lights create shadows and highlights on the wall. You can also use lighting to highlight various garden features, for example, trellis or gazebo.

Many individuals undertake home renovations and landscape design projects in an effort to increase their property’s market value. In general, depending on several factors, additions and upgrades can increase your property value. Since outdoor lighting is a technical addition, approximately half of potential home buyers will consider it an important home feature. As a matter of fact, around 49% of potential homebuyers actually consider it a “desirable quality” when looking for a home.

When you correctly install your outdoor lighting so that it complements your overall property, you significantly enhance your curb appeal and possibly your home’s market value.

Reduce The Risks Of Trips & Falls

In addition to keeping burglars at bay, illuminating your landscape also helps to avoid injuries. Landscape lightings installed along walkways and driveways ensure that you and your guests safely make their way into your home. This is especially beneficial at night when there is a high risk of trips and falls. What’s more frustrating than coming back home from a hard day at work just to find out that you’ve locked yourself out of your front door and have to use the backyard door? When you don’t have a flashlight, making your way through the dark yard can be very hard, especially considering that you have to avoid stepping on the plants and flowers. With landscape lighting, particularly solar lights along pathways, you will be able to easily make your way through the yard without putting yourself at harm or ruining your landscaping.

Same as outdoor lights are important for aesthetics; they are just as important for safety. Regardless of whether you are able to memorize your backyard correctly or if your walkways are smooth or not, whenever you are walking through your landscape at night, having the ability to see each step you are about to take is essential. It isn’t wise at all to rely on street lights or the light that might be coming from your neighbors home as you to attempt to navigate your yard.

For a safer and more effective solution, consider installing lamp posts or path lights along your walkways.

Enjoy The Outdoors More

In case your home has a swimming pool, a fire pit, or an impeccable outdoor dining area, outdoor lights enable you to enjoy these great features during the night the same as you would during the day. With landscape lighting, you minimize the risks of an injury when you go for a dive in your pool at night. This means that you get to make the most out of your backyard and enjoy more quality time with friends and family.

Landscape lighting not only influences the mood of your guests and enhances the safety and curb appeal of your home, but it also increases its market value. Keep in mind that a landscape that is properly maintained is a key selling feature, and with landscape lighting, the value will only increase. There is a wide range of landscape lighting options available, such as the creation of lighting spots that include dimmers, timers, and motion sensors. It doesn’t matter if you desire the look of warm pathway lights, antique gas lamps replicas or even spotlights used to highlight the architecture of your home, in case you are looking for ways to enhance the appeal of your home, then landscaping lighting offers a great solution.

You should never overlook outdoor lighting in landscape design. When you install the right kind of outdoor lighting for your unique kind of layout, it can be very beneficial, effective, and also generally appealing to look at.

Get in touch with Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting for additional ideas on how landscape lighting can be an essential feature of your home in our master-planned community.

Visit our blog to discover more tips and tricks. Call or contact us today for more information!

Helpful Ideas To Choosing A Landscape Lighting Designer In Houston

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10 Tips To Do Before Hiring A Houston Landscape Lighting Designer

When you think about the ideal landscape lighting for your outdoor spaces you might be imagining dramatic uplighting that showcases the most attractive features of your home. Or maybe you have thought about artistic moonlighting that creates dappled shadows across either your driveway or a patio.

Yet these are just ideas and your more challenging task still remains. This includes hiring a professional designer that is able to successfully create a landscape-lighting wonderland for your garden.

Installing a landscape-lighting system of the highest quality takes artistry, experience, and skill. You cannot afford to just use anybody for this type of job. This is the reason why it is so important that you know exactly what you should be looking for before you hire the right type of landscape-lighting contractor.

Here is a list of our 10 top tips that you can use to find the best landscape-lighting designer for your project!

1. Ask The Contractor About Their Qualifications & Experience

Experience is what turns someone that is good at something into an expert, and this is an important consideration when it comes to hiring landscape lighting designers. It is also important to make sure the designer has attended training in association with this specialization and that they are licensed.

2. Review Photos Of The Lighting Projects That This Company Has Already Worked On

Are the stunning photos that are promoted on their website actually their work? Qualified contractors will always have impressive galleries that showcase the work they have recently done.

3. Check On References

The skilled landscape lighting designers will happily provide you with references from satisfied clients that are able to recommend the company.

4. Make Sure That The Designer Is Prepared To Work With You

This project should be seen as a type of partnership. You should not get the feeling that it is their way or no way. An experienced designer will work with you to find out about your lifestyle and your ideas for the project. In this way, you can be sure that you will end up with the type of lighting system that you want.

5. Inquire Whether Lighting Is Their Only Focus

You are not looking for a jack-of-all-trades for a lighting project. You need an expert that is skilled and experienced when it comes to landscape lighting and someone that focuses on this line of work all the time. For example, if your car started giving you transmission problems, you would not take the car to your local tire shop.

6. Ask The Designer About The Quality Of The Materials That They Plan To Use

This is a very important consideration. The end result for your landscape-lighting system will only be of the best quality when quality parts have been used.

The designer should be using quality components that are crafted from copper and brass, and not low-quality composite, aluminum, or plastic.

As soon as the lighting system is in place, it is exposed to the elements. Water can seep into fixtures of low-quality, it can also result in rotting sockets or even cause the wires to corrode. Insects can also make a home in your fixtures when they are not sealed properly.

You also need to find out how the designer plans to connect the light fixtures to the wiring which will run to a power source. Pierce connectors and wire nut should not go underground, yet many of the systems for landscape lighting use these anyway. The pierce-point connections that run to a mainline can start to loosen and can corrode at the pierce points. This is why quality really matters.

7. Communication Is Essential

Is the designer prepared to keep you constantly in the loop throughout the duration of the project? Will they also tell you when they arrive as well as when they have completed the project? You also need to make sure they are prepared to follow up with you to ensure everything is working and that it meets up to your expectations.

8. Only Sign A Contract That Covers All The Details

The designer needs to include everything that he/she plans to do. This should include a payment schedule, deadlines, and the materials that will be used. If any changes are made to the landscape lighting schedule this needs to include a “change order” in writing that will also cover the new costs, materials, and work.

9. Ask The Designer About The Warranty That They Provide

The lighting system you have installed should have a guarantee that covers at least 2 to 5 years. Try and find a contractor that offers lifetime warranties that will cover the installation and fixtures.

10. Ensure That The Designer Is Available In The Future To Service Your Landscape Lighting System

You want the LED lighting system to still look great like it did 2 to 8 years down the line.

Design Outdoor Lighting That Is Able To Reflect Your Lifestyle

One thing that we really enjoy when it comes to this type of work is the relationships that we develop with our clients. We enjoy finding out about your opinions and thoughts, exchanging suggestions and ideas, and staying in contact with our customers throughout these processes.

We start each of our potential client relationships by asking “Why do you want landscape lighting?” We also ask you about what you would like to achieve from the project, about your current lifestyle, and how you utilize your outdoor areas. We listen very closely to what you have to say. Once we have an understanding of what a client wants, we are able to create a system according to what they need and want. Clients notice how we pay attention to all the details when we conduct a walkthrough of the property. We also make sketches and jot down detailed notes at these meetings.

Customized Landscape Lighting Design Services

The styles that we use for our designs for landscape lighting are unique like our clients are. With every new client, we help each new dream to turn into a reality. The overall goal for most clients is to ensure their properties appear dramatic and striking when the sun goes down.

The Advantages Of Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting not only provides elegance and beauty but also assists with improving your overall security for your home. When areas around your home are well lit, it can help to deter criminals. LED landscape lighting can also significantly increase the overall value of your property in Austin or Houston, and make the home a lot more appealing if you ever decide to sell.

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination Is The Best Name In Houston Landscape Lighting

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination is backed by three decades of experience in landscape lighting in the area of Houston. Our company is a fully insured and licensed outdoor lighting business, based in Houston, TX. We also provide our outdoor lighting services in Austin, TX. Our friendly and professional team of commercial and outdoor residential lighting contractors work alongside you to guarantee custom lighting designs that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and affordable. We consistently maintain high levels of responsibility and professional care on every project that we undertake. You can always expect superior quality services from start to finish, as we turn something ordinary and plain into something magnificent.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

Houston LED Landscape Lights: Is It Good For Outdoor Lighting Purposes?

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Reasons To Use LED Landscape Lights For Outdoor Lighting In Houston

An LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor that emits light. Light is produced when current flows in the semiconductor recombining with electron holes, hence releasing photon energy. LEDs are known to produce light in different spectrums and light. The color of light emitted is however dependent on the number of electrons needed to release energy across the bandgap. For white light, a layer of light-emitting phosphor or multiple semiconductors have to be used on the semiconductor device.

LED lights are common in both indoor and outdoor lighting. LED landscape lighting makes the perfect choice if looking for durability, energy efficiency, and even adaptability. When compared to other types of lighting, LED landscape lighting is far more beneficial and versatile, a reason many people are making the switch.

In addition to making it easy to keep your outdoors well lit, LED lights are relatively easy to maintain and don’t attract high lighting bills. That said, LED lights will help keep the landscape looking great without needing regular maintenance, as well as keep everyone around safe. Many city landscape designers choose to use this type of lighting in an attempt to not only make the city beautiful but safe for all.

While LEDs come in handy in landscape lighting, it would be advisable to choose the right type of LEDs for the job. Some of the factors you ought to consider when selecting LEDs include output light options, the specific project, and lighting design, among other preferences. Discussed below are some of the advantages and reasons you should consider using LED landscape lighting.

1. Compatibility With Detection Controls

LED landscape lighting systems can be attached to sensors and other control systems making it easy to control the intensity of light, as well as adjust brightness when needed. In addition to this, these systems can be programmed to turn on when the system doesn’t detect natural light, with the intensity increasing as the night progresses. In addition to this, the LEDs will dim progressively as daylight starts setting in in the morning.

There is a wide variety of high-quality LED landscape lighting system controls and products on the market that one can choose from. As mentioned earlier, most of these systems are compatible with various systems and can be programmed as per the client’s needs. As an added advantage, no manual intervention is required to switch the lights on or off. As long as the systems are programmed well, you can focus on other things knowing everything will work as desired. You also never have to worry about substantial energy bills either.

2. Adaptability & Flexibility To Various Landscapes

The LED lighting is very flexible and can be used in almost any landscape design. The LEDs are not only easy to install but can also be extended over time covering the entire landscape as per your wishes. As an added advantage, LEDs can be set to various moods. This is because you can switch from one color to another at the touch of a button. All that is needed to make this possible is to ensure you have the proper landscape lighting design, and a few low-voltage LED transformers if covering an extensive landscape.

Most landscape designers will start small then expand their focus over time. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can use LED landscape lighting for whatever designs you have. It’s worth noting that LED lighting systems make it possible to expand an existing line without necessarily starting over. This thus means you can make the landscape much safer with efficient lighting.

Unlike most light sources that emit lots of heat, LEDs emit very little heat in the form of IR. That said, you can be assured none of your fabrics or sensitive objects will be damaged by heat radiated by the same. Much of the heat produced by the LEDs is dispersed through its base.

3. They Are Perfect For Hard To Reach Areas & Spaces

You can control light intensity from these LEDs by lowering the forward current or by pulse-width modulation. This is the reason they are slowly becoming popular on car headlights. They also produce a stroboscopic effect when viewed from a distance, a factor that makes them stand out from other types of light.

LED lights can be installed in areas you would have considered impossible for a light fixture to be installed. LED landscape lights can, therefore, be used to light up the outdoors creating a backdrop for guests and strangers, especially at night. These come in handy when holding an outdoor event such as a party among other celebrations.

LED lights require minimal to no maintenance once installed. That said, you can have the lights installed and even leave them for years without turning them on. You won’t even have to replace the LEDs when you come back or need to use them. This is the reason why installing them in hard to reach areas won’t be a problem. That said, you can be assured of many years of service and longevity once the LED landscape lights are installed.

4. They Are An Energy-Efficient Option

LEDs are presumably the most energy-efficient landscape lighting options on the market today. These elements use up a fraction of what incandescent and even fluorescents use. You therefore never have to worry about substantial energy bills from keeping your landscape well-lit and looking beautiful at night. According to consumer reports, LED landscape lighting is at least 90% more energy-efficient as compared to other lighting options. As an added advantage, LEDs have a longer shelf life as well. They are capable of lasting up to 100,000 hours before requiring a replacement. This, therefore, saves you both time and money in terms of energy bills and replacements

5. LED Landscape Lights Are Eco-Friendly

If concerned about energy efficiency and particularly careful about your carbon footprint, you can then rest assured that LED lights are environmentally safe. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs do not contain mercury or any other harmful compound. They are also 100% recyclable.

From the facts and benefits outlined above, it is evident that LEDs are the perfect choice for landscape lighting. In addition to their versatility and durability, you will be saving lots of money in energy bills and maintenance.

Call or contact us today if you require any information. Please feel free to visit our blog for more related articles.

Helpful Ideas To Investing In Houston Outdoor Lighting

Posted by Robert Huff on

7 Tips To Help You Get It Right When Investing In Outdoor Lighting

With summer now here with us, you most likely are gearing up to enjoying the great outdoors. Your backyard may become your favorite place to chill in when you are at home or when hosting your friends for lunch or dinner. Therefore, the fun should not stop when the sun sets because you do not have any outdoor lighting.

When investing in the outdoor lights, keep in mind that the lighting options are not created the same. Moreover, setting up the lights involves more than installing them on the walls or hanging string lights from the roof. You should strive to create an elegant ambiance, and this demands that you choose the right lighting fixture.

1. Include These Types

When planning the lighting, you need to account for three basic types: task, ambiance, and accent. That means you need to pick the right kind of lights for each of the three. The task lighting will be the lights you install to illuminate the walkway, deck, driveway, patio, and the security lights. The ambiance lighting will be what you fit on the walls, posts, and string from the roof. As for the accent lighting, you will be working with lights that enhance your landscaping; this can include options such as spotlights.

2. Calculate

Before heading out to buy the outdoor lights, you should know how many fixtures you need and which kind. For this, you will need to get a pen and paper and do some calculations. You will take the square footage of your yard and multiply it by 1.5 to estimate the required total wattage. Therefore, a 100sq. feet area will need 150watts.

3. Make Your Pick In Advance

After doing your calculations and figuring the wattage, you then will focus on the type of lighting fixtures you need. You will take into account their size and installation position before you go to buy them. You will need to draw a template of the layout on paper and use it to determine the placement of each light. For instance, for the patio at the back or the front porch, you will position the wall lights a height that is one-third that of the door.

4. Use LEDs

LEDs that the best investment when it comes to lighting up your backyard. The lights are cost-effective, less energy demanding, and last longer than the incandescent or halogen bulbs. Moreover, LEDs need little to no maintenance.

5. Seek Inspiration Inside Your Home

If you feel lost when figuring out the layout plan for the outdoor lights or what to pick, you can get some idea from inside your house and the arrangement of your outdoor space. Look at the garden and how the pathways flow, consider the size and design of your patio and then image what lighting fixtures will accentuate them. If you are thinking of creating a lit area of your outdoor dinners, then get some inspirations from your dining or living rooms.

6. Use Subtle Light For Entertainment Areas

Bright spotlights will be a distraction to your guests when they are seated enjoying their outdoor meal. As such, you should consider installing lamps with a soft glow. Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to lighting up the outdoor dining areas, and the lights should be installed to give indirect lighting. Pendants, ceiling fans that have light kits, and lanterns are excellent options worth considering.

7. Think About Security

Lastly, remember that outdoor lighting is not just about enhancing the aesthetics of your yard. They also should help secure your home. Given this, you need fixtures that will ensure that all entry points are well lit. For instance, you can install wall lanterns on either side of the garage and a single lamp above the main door to light up the front porch. You can fit spotlights on the eaves of your roof at selected sides of the house that are in the shadows.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

Ideal Things To Do To Correctly Investing In Outdoor Lighting In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

7 Tips To Help You Get It Right When Investing In Houston Outdoor Lighting

With summer now here with us, you most likely are gearing up to enjoying the great outdoors. Your backyard may become your favorite place to chill in when you are at home or when hosting your friends for lunch or dinner. Therefore, the fun should not stop when the sun sets because you do not have any outdoor lighting.

When investing in the outdoor lights, keep in mind that the lighting options are not created the same. Moreover, setting up the lights involves more than installing them on the walls or hanging string lights from the roof. You should strive to create an elegant ambiance, and this demands that you choose the right lighting fixture.

1. Include These Types

When planning the lighting, you need to account for three basic types: task, ambiance, and accent. That means you need to pick the right kind of lights for each of the three. The task lighting will be the lights you install to illuminate the walkway, deck, driveway, patio, and the security lights. The ambiance lighting will be what you fit on the walls, posts, and string from the roof. As for the accent lighting, you will be working with lights that enhance your landscaping; this can include options such as spotlights.

2. Calculate

Before heading out to buy the outdoor lights, you should know how many fixtures you need and which kind. For this, you will need to get a pen and paper and do some calculations. You will take the square footage of your yard and multiply it by 1.5 to estimate the required total wattage. Therefore, a 100sq. feet area will need 150watts.

3. Make Your Pick In Advance

After doing your calculations and figuring the wattage, you then will focus on the type of lighting fixtures you need. You will take into account their size and installation position before you go to buy them. You will need to draw a template of the layout on paper and use it to determine the placement of each light. For instance, for the patio at the back or the front porch, you will position the wall lights a height that is one-third that of the door.

4. Use LEDs

LEDs that the best investment when it comes to lighting up your backyard. The lights are cost-effective, less energy demanding, and last longer than the incandescent or halogen bulbs. Moreover, LEDs need little to no maintenance.

5. Seek Inspiration Inside Your Home

If you feel lost when figuring out the layout plan for the outdoor lights or what to pick, you can get some idea from inside your house and the arrangement of your outdoor space. Look at the garden and how the pathways flow, consider the size and design of your patio and then image what lighting fixtures will accentuate them. If you are thinking of creating a lit area of your outdoor dinners, then get some inspirations from your dining or living rooms.

6. Use Subtle Light For Entertainment Areas

Bright spotlights will be a distraction to your guests when they are seated enjoying their outdoor meal. As such, you should consider installing lamps with a soft glow. Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to lighting up the outdoor dining areas, and the lights should be installed to give indirect lighting. Pendants, ceiling fans that have light kits, and lanterns are excellent options worth considering.

7. Think About Security

Lastly, remember that outdoor lighting is not just about enhancing the aesthetics of your yard. They also should help secure your home. Given this, you need fixtures that will ensure that all entry points are well lit. For instance, you can install wall lanterns on either side of the garage and a single lamp above the main door to light up the front porch. You can fit spotlights on the eaves of your roof at selected sides of the house that are in the shadows.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!