6 Key Tips For A Good Outdoor Lighting In Houston

There is certainly a lot more to outdoor lighting than you might think. When properly implemented, it can shine a light on your home and garden to make it much more presentable at night. When done improperly, it will not only be unnecessarily expensive, but it can turn out to be a complete eyesore and it can cause a lot of neighbor complaints. By knowing what to do and what not to do, you should be able to make the best possible outdoor lighting decisions for your home. Below, you will see some of the key tips that you should be implemented to ensure you are able to get the most out of your outdoor lighting efforts.

1. Outdoor Circuits

When crafting your plan, you should be figuring out the optimal starting point for your circuit. After all, the further you place a light from a transformer, the less bright it will shine. Because of this, you need to avoid overloading your circuit with lights. You want to stick to a maximum of around 100 watts per line. While your transformer should be capable of supporting your outdoor lighting requirements, try to discuss it with a professional electrician before anything.

2. Less Is Typically More

When it comes to outdoor lighting, you should adhere to the philosophy that ‘less is more.’ Because outdoor lighting should be much more subtle in nature, you don’t want to overdo it. You don’t want to light up your back yard and garden as if it’s a baseball park. Instead, stick to the ‘less is more’ philosophy and use the right outdoor light for each feature you are looking to illuminate. For instance, using smaller path lights for walkways, underwater lights for fountains, and more.

3. Aesthetically Pleasing & Safe

Avoid doing anything that is going to put you in harm’s way. Outdoor lighting is meant for the outdoors. Therefore, you want to ensure that you are using the right equipment and not putting yourself at risk for disaster with your wiring and channeling. If needed, it is always recommended to call on a professional electrician to be certain your wiring is safe and effective.

4. Energy Saving

Getting outdoor lighting may seem like an unnecessary expense or addition, it’s not that expensive. Simply find the right types of lighting and find ways to improve your lighting in your backyard and garden at an affordable price. There are plenty of ways you can do so without wasting energy including installing solar lighting. You can also use LED lighting which utilizes a lot less energy than standard bulbs.

5. Think About The Long Term

Having outdoor lighting that is going to be capable of withstanding a lot of the different weather conditions and seasons that it will be put through is key. Because of this, you want to think about your respective climate to ensure that you are choosing the right lighting for your garden. Also, think about the changes to your garden during different seasons to ensure your lighting is going to have a positive effect on the aesthetics of your garden each season. After all, your lighting will essentially become apart of your garden so you should be thinking about how it can coexist.

It’s always worth hiring a professional outdoor lighting designer in order to help you make the right decisions and to ensure your lighting is installed properly. Give us a call or contact us today if you need help with your outdoor lighting and for more pieces of information! Please feel free to visit our blog for more related topics and articles.

Outdoor Lighting Tips & Advice From Our Lighting Experts In Houston

Part 3

4. Scale

You work out what will suit your outdoor space and consider the scale of the area in question. The size and dimension of your yard will influence the plans and type of lights you will purchase. Your options could be as follows:

• Post & Pier Mount Lights: The size of these lighting fixtures will differ based on factors such as the number of bulbs. A post-mounted design stands at a height of roughly 7 feet.
• Front Porch Wall Lights: Setting up a porch wall light, fix it up at about a third the height of the door. If you are thinking of installing two of them, they should be fixed at roughly 1/4 of the door’s height.
• Ceiling & Hanging Lights: The areas (the patio, deck, or porch) you plan to install the hanging lights should be tall enough to accommodate the fixtures. Therefore, pick a design and style that is proportional to the patio, deck, or porch.

5. Maintenance

If you will have maintenance concerns and want to keep your power bills low, then solar-powered lighting systems are the way to go. As for wattage, then consider the glass-shaded bulbs that have 75 – 100 watts. If the bulbs are exposed, go for those that are below 60 watts.

Fortunately, most outdoor lighting features are designed to endure wet or damp conditions, which is another issue worth considering. The wet-rated ones are suitable for areas that are directly exposed to rain and wind. The post lights, wall lights, and motion sensor lights should be rated for wet locations.

The lights rated for damp places can be ideal for installation in areas like pergolas, patios, and other sites that are not directly exposed to rain or moisture. Hence, outdoor hanging lights are rated for damp locations.

6. Cost

With so many designs, types, sizes, and styles of outdoor lighting solutions available, it is expected for the prices of these fixtures to vary significantly. To determine the amount you will spend, you should browse different lighting fixtures and compare their costs. Keep in mind that whatever is cheap might not necessarily be a money-saving investment, and the quote prices might not include the installation costs.

Think of the amount of energy the bulbs will demand and how this will impact your ongoing costs. Furthermore, remember to check the durability of the lights to determine how often you will replace them, then factor this into the costing of your outdoor lighting.

7. Power

While solar power can be a cost-effective option, it might not suffice for your entire outdoor lighting system. Some patios, decks, and porches are best powered with electricity.

Nonetheless, you can keep the energy demand at a minimum by picking low voltage fixtures. For this, you can work with bulbs that operate at 12 volts and are easy to install or replace.

Conversely, you can opt for line voltage lighting with works with lights that use 120 volts. For this, you will have to include some safety features like a conduit and junction box to protect the wiring.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today if you need a professional lighting designer with your outdoor lighting design. Missed the first issue of this article? Click here!

Outdoor Lighting Tips & Advice From Our Lighting Experts In Houston

Part 2

2. The Variety Of Fixtures To Pick From

• Path Lights: Path lighting is one of the common elements in landscape lighting designs. The bulbs are often mounted on small posts or available as a post with built-in lights and capped with a diffuser. You can use path lights to frame out your garden and even spread out down the paths and driveway. You can install them around a pond or lining the edges of your garden.
• Ceiling Lights & Hanging Lights: They both are classified and hanging lights and are best suited for damp locations where they are not exposed to wet conditions. You can install them as a featured light or integrated them into a surface since they often have a brighter illumination. You can find hanging and ceiling lights in an array of style options and brightness levels.
• Wall Lights: They are a common feature in the front and back porch areas of most homes. The lighting features can be mounted vertically on the surfaces and tend to be durable and offer an attractive illumination. That is why most outdoor wall lights are used as decorative installations that provide an accent or ambient light that is not blinding. Consider them if you want something to light up your porch or patio.
• Post Lights & Pier Mount Lights: They are light fixtures mounted on posts or top of a structure for an overhead illumination. You will find these installed on fences, gates, entries, and even around a decking. Since the pier-mount or post lights are fixed in exposed surfaces or sections, what you pick should have an excellent wet-rating meaning they can withstand rain, moisture, and various weather conditions. The pier mount lights are somewhat similar to the post lights, but they are meant to go on top of walls or columns.
• Landscape Lights: With the landscape lights, you will have to work with fixtures that provide a low illumination. They will have a low wattage; thus, they must be set up in a small voltage system independent from the ceiling and wall lights. You can combine spot, path, and floodlights to create a layered illumination. The spotlights can be used to highlight various landscaping elements like trees, bushes, sculptural details, or unique features of the building. You achieve a seamless presentation, ensuring the good lights are recessed into the ground so that you achieve some uniformity in your hardscape and landscape setting.
• Deck & Step Lights: The deck and step lighting are installed directly into the hardscapes, working as an accent and safety features for architectural details and stairs in the dark. You can opt for them if you need fixtures that radiate entertainment spaces or down stone walls.

3. Safety & Security Concerns

As you plan the outdoor lighting design, consider how it will help enhance safety and security. You must understand your location so that you can formulate the ideal lighting system that might include Wi-Fi controlled LEDs and even motion sensor capabilities. Your primary focus should be on the entry points like the main gate, driveway, front door, and garage.

The motion sensors will help alert you of any movement, especially when you combine that feature with bright bulbs. Such a set up can help ward off intruders. When you have such concerns, you will benefit from the following options:

• Dusk To Dawn Lights: They are fitted with photo sensors that trigger them to turn on and off when the sun’s light fades, giving way for the night. The fixtures are what to get if you need a system that lights up automatically and when required.
• Motion Sensor Lights: The lights turn on when triggered by nearby movements; hence, they are best applied as security lights. You can install them in areas that have high traffic. Moreover, the best models of these lighting fixtures allow you to set the angle and range of the motion sensor, with these features varying from one model and design to the next.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today if you need a professional lighting designer with your outdoor lighting design. For the rest of this article please click here.

Outdoor Lighting Tips & Advice From Our Lighting Experts In Houston

Part 1

You can use outdoor lighting to bring your exterior facades and your yard to life. You can install fixtures for illuminating the landscape, added security, or creating a dramatic effect that enhances the aesthetics of your outdoor space. While such an installation might be somewhat a straightforward affair, much of what it entails makes this fall under the purview of an experienced landscaping architect.

Consider working with a professional that understands how the outdoor lighting works and how to integrate it with a building and its surroundings. It is not just about knowing how to find and make the most of the sweet spot between light and dark, but also taking advantage of shadows and using contrasts to create intriguing illumination solutions that make spaces look exciting.

To make sure you start on the right footing, you should work with a thought-out design that will guide your choices and ensure you achieve the desired results. Keep in mind that the fixtures you install will not only light up objects and surfaces but also add some drama to them, making them stand out.

For instance, the security lighting can light the entryways and paths leading to the house, but they can also be used to highlight the architectural features of your home. Hence, identify the areas you can shine a light on and find the most suitable lighting solutions for each. While doing this, try to understand the various types of fixtures available, comparing each against the other to come up with the perfect lighting plan. Also, think of the security levels they provide as well as their maintenance demands.

Such issues are addressed in the following guide, which aims to help ease the process for you when trying to figure out what to pick and the different ways you can illuminate your outdoor space.

1. Types Of Outdoor Lighting

• Task Lighting: Your design plan should start with the task lighting, which will brighten up the entrances and pathways. You need to install these lights to help with safety and security in your outdoors. Options include deck lighting, pathway lights, step lights, among others. If the fixtures are installed in an area where it will be exposed to the elements, consider getting those with an excellent wet-rating. Moreover, ensure the light fixture is suited for the outdoor lighting you need.
• Ambient Lighting: You need these features for your overall outdoor lighting. However, avoid going for bulbs that are too bright. Pick those that lower lumens or wattage; their illumination is adequate for dark spaces that need not be made bright at night. Post lights, wall lights, and any other options that emit a comfortable level of brightness devoid of glare, yet allowing people to see where they are walking will be an ideal choice.
• Accent Lighting: You can add some drama to your outdoors using accent lights. They help create visual interests that draw peoples towards an object or surface. Take the time to think of your doorway, paths, and landscaping, as well as other features like trees, water fountains, or planting areas when planning how you will illuminate them.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today if you need a professional lighting designer with your outdoor lighting design. Click here for the second issue of this article?