Optimizing And Updating Your Houston Outdoor Lighting System

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How To Convert Your Houston Outdoor Lighting System From Halogen Into LED

There are numerous reasons why you may want to consider converting your outdoor lighting system to LED lamps from halogen lamps: you might want to reduce your energy bills, or maybe expand your current outdoor lighting system, or perhaps you would just like to reduce the amount of routine maintenance that you need to do. Whatever the case may be, there are no disadvantages to using LED lamps as part of your outdoor lighting system. for inspiration or examples of LED’s used in outdoor lighting systems, take a look at Our Work!

Use LED To Save Money

It is amazing how much your energy bill can be reduced by using LED lamps. Less electricity is used by LED lamps compared to traditional halogen lamps. Typically low-wattage LED outdoor lights use 80-90 percent less electricity compared to halogen systems. The reason why less electricity is used is LED lights reduce your outdoor system’s overall electrical load. For a majority of outdoor lighting systems, when they are converted to LED it takes the load off of the operational costs of the outdoor lighting system. In most cases, The average electrical bill for an outdoor lighting system using LED can be reduced down to $3-$5 a month.

Reduce Routine Maintenance and Lamp Replacement

The overall costs of routine maintenance and replacing lamps are also reduced when you switch over to LED. With halogen systems, lamps must be replaced about once a year. You need to take into consideration the cost of replacing each lamp every year and the cost of every individual lamp. However, if you switch to LED lamps, it eliminates how often you have replaced your system’s lamps. A majority of reputable LED lamps in today’s marketplace are rated to last for 10 years at least and have a 5-year replacement warranty. That is because high quality LED lamps are designed to last. Although LED lamps might be more expensive upfront, they actually pay off very fast. One thing that needs to be noted is that switching over to LED lamp doesn’t completely eliminate needing to service the system and maintain its optimal operating condition.

Provide Your System With More Lights

When your lighting system is converted from halogen lamps over to LED lamps it also takes off an electrical load from your overall lighting system, which allows room for additional lights. Allow me to explain this further. Any lighting system has a set amount of wattage that it can handle, which will depend on the kind of transformer it has. For example, a 300-watt transformer is restricted to being able to support 200 watts without tripping and possibly overloading the system. With halogen systems, 20-35 watts is used by each lamp. With a maximum 260 watt capacity, a halogen system only is able to support 8-13 fixtures or lamps without possibly overloading. Theoretically, if the same 300-watt transformer is taken, and 4 watt LED lamps are used rather than 20-watt halogen lamps, the same system will be able to support 65 fixtures or lamps rather than 13 (when properly designed). If you retrofit your existing halogen system with LED lamps, that will reduce how much electricity is used. When a load is taken off of your system through LED lamps there is more room for adding fixtures without needing a bigger transformer. It is very important to understand there are numerous things that need to be taken into consideration if you would like to add more lights to your system after retrofitting it with LED lamps. Are your lines properly balanced? How will voltage drops affect more lights being added? How long will your wire runs be? Each system is uniquely engineered and needs to be approached in a different way. Consulting with your lighting specialist regarding LED lights as well as other lighting solutions is always a good idea.

Contact us or call today to revolutionize your space.

How Many Lumens Do I Need for Houston Outdoor Lighting?

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How To Choose The Right Lights For Houston Residential Outdoor Lighting

At Robert Huff Illumination we help you navigate the ins and outs of all facets for your residential outdoor lighting needs. The intensity of a light is measured with a unit called a lumen. This is something you should pay attention to when checking the specs of a lightbulb or other lighting solution. The ideal amount of lumens for your outdoor lighting will vary in function of the type of lighting you need. Step lights, path lights, and hardscape or landscape lighting are typically used to create a soft atmosphere. There is no need to invest in bright lights for these uses, but you need to make sure your step and path lights will be bright enough so you can easily so the ground. The recommended range goes from 50 to 200 lumens for these lights. Some lights such as motion sensor lights or pond and pool lights need to be more visible for safety reasons. Look for lights in the 200 to 700 lumens range depending on the size of the area you want these lights to cover. Lastly, floodlights are used to light up a broad area and should be very noticeable, even from afar. You will want to look for lights in the 700 to 1,300 lumens range for this use.

LEDs or CFLs?

Should you get LED or CFL lights for your outdoor lighting system? LED lighting is a popular option and will probably be more adapted to your needs. Here is what you need to know about these two options. CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Light. This technology relies on a filament that is heated up and becomes incandescent thanks to electric current. The downside of this technology is that exposure to extreme temperatures considerably reduces the lifespan of the filament inside of the bulb. The other downside of this technology is that it can take a few minutes for the filament to heat up and emit the full range of lumens of the bulb. LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes. These lights use small diodes rather than filaments. The diodes don’t emit any heat and are more resistant to extreme temperatures. They emit the full range of lumens right away. The biggest advantage of LED lights is that they use a lot less energy. In fact, a CFL bulb typically uses twice the amount of energy of an LED light with a similar lumen range. You should easily get the number of lumens you need for your outdoor lighting system with low-wattage LED lights and save money on your energy bills. The lifespan of LED lights is another advantage. An LED light will typically last five times longer than a CFL bulb. CFL might seem like the best option due to their lower initial price. However, the prices of LED lights have been decreasing and both technologies are available in a somewhat similar price range.

Other Features To Consider For Houston Residential Outdoor Lighting

There are a few features you should consider when choosing an outside lighting system. Start by looking at the lux of a light. The lux represents the amount of light per square meter. This spec will give you an idea of the size of the area that a single light bulb can cover. Keep in mind that one lux is based on how much illumination you can get by standing three feet away from a candle. Pay attention to the wattage of a light. A 200-watt bulb will use 200 watts per second of use. A light with a high wattage will result in higher electricity bills. If you want to install several high-wattage lights, think about hiring an electrician to install a new outdoor system. Get in touch with us if you need help with choosing the best lights for your outdoor lighting system! Also, be sure to take a look at other examples of our work, and slide on by our blog for a little inspiration!

Whether it’s residential outdoor lighting or commercial, lighting a patio, or custom lightscaping your whole yard, Robert Huff Illuminations has you covered. Feel free to call us or contact us today to see how we can help illuminate you.

How To Optimize Your Houston Exterior Lighting Pt. 1

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Great Tips For Enhancing Your Outdoor Environment – Houston Landscape Lighting How To Pt. 1

Here at Robert Huff Illumination, we receive numerous requests and questions from customers who are intimidated by landscaping and exterior lighting. However, assisting customers with adding value to their properties through the use of Houston residential outdoor lighting is my specialty, and I know many ways to make our customers’ outdoor areas – gardens, decks, backyards, front yards – look fantastic through the use of outdoor lighting techniques and fixtures.

The bottom line is that outdoor lighting doesn’t have to be a confusing or overwhelming project. You can make it as detailed or as simple as you would like it to be. After reviewing the following basics, also check out the ideas I have for putting them into practice – these are all things that you can do right now to enhance your outdoor areas.

My goal in writing this “Basics of Landscape Lighting” guide is to get some of the key outdoor lighting concepts introduced that you can get implemented immediately. To make it even more helpful, I will be using specific examples to illustrate the principles behind the concepts. That will provide you with plenty of information to starting thinking about what will work the best in your outdoor environment and how you can use lighting to create a beautiful outdoor area.

Some of the common questions that I get are “I would like to give my yard some extra life and would like to use lighting to do that. What do I need to know before I begin? Where do I start, and what should I do?” When you are considering how to best design your exterior landscape lighting, one of the most important things that you need to understand is that less is often more Since the eye is drawn into areas that have the highest level of visual contrast, you don’t necessarily need a lot of lighting fixtures in order to create an effect that is very beautiful. We also have a great blog to pull ideas from.

Once you have the fundamental “less is often more” concept in mind, your next step is to figure out what you would like to light. Do don’t want to light up your entire yard so that it resembles a Las Vegas casino. If you try to highlight everything, then nothing is going to be special or stand out. Instead, you should think about which features you would like to show off, and then determine how you are planning on using specific outdoor areas. Choose a few selected features, make sure they are lighted well (in terms of fixture placement, appropriate beam spread, and light quality), and then think about how you would like to fill other areas in.

Make sure you consider the perspective that you will be looking from and viewing objects when you are thinking about lighting. For example, if you will be featuring a tree that is seen from every side, then one accent light is not going to give you the effect that you desire. You are going to need to have other lights on the other viewable sides as well.

Browse our Landscape Lighting Selection

How much light is needed for creating a nice outdoor environment?

Not too much if you just want to light objects in your yard. Just like with desk mounted, small task lamps, a little can go quite a long way when a small amount of light is placed exactly where it is needed. If overall light levels are kept low, then the contrast in between shadow and light of a highlighted outdoor feature will create a very dramatic effect.

For a favorite outdoor reading area, you can place a spot over a pergola or in a tree, and then direct the light over your shoulder and down. For outdoor entertaining and dining, you don’t need lots of light. There are numerous ways that you can use light to create a fun summer entertainment center, especially in Houston. Ultimately, what you want to do is create a relaxed and casual mood for your outdoor area.

Be sure to contact us or give us a call for all your Outdoor Lighting needs, also read the conclusion of this article!

Illuminate Your Houston Property With Landscape Lighting

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How to Effectively Illuminate Your Property Using Landscape Lighting

You can create a beautiful landscape that can be enjoyed after dark with the latest innovative Houston Landscape Lighting solutions. Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting is the best Houston landscape lighting company in town! We have the experience, knowledge, and testimonials to show for it. We offer high-quality outdoor lighting services for residential and commercial properties in Houston, Texas

What Do You Want to Accomplish With Landscape Lighting?

Before you invest in Houston Landscape Lighting services, you need to determine the areas that you are going to want to illuminate and the mood that you are trying to create for your home. Do you want to create a soft, romantic mood? Do you want to illuminate the dark areas of your landscape for security purposes? Maybe you have a path that you want to illuminate and mark the boundaries. Finally, you may have a water feature like a pond that you want to draw interest to.

Sketch Out Your Yard With Houston Landscape Lighting

After you have determined what you are trying to accomplish, you need to do a simple sketch of your landscape. In the sketch, make sure to include all buildings, benches, shrubbery, trees, gardens, water features and existing lighting. It is important to realize that the vegetation and decorations in your landscape will either absorb light or reflect it. Finally, estimate the height of all foliage and decor and notate it on your sketch.

Determine Where Your Landscape Lighting Should Be Placed

You will need to decide where your landscape lights should go by matching your reason for illuminating your yard with the foliage and decor in your yard. If you want to illuminate a bench, you may want to use a lamppost. If, on the other hand, you want to create soft romantic lighting, you may want to place landscape lighting under shrubs to create interest. For pathways, opt for stake lights placed along one or both sides of the pathway. Finally, a spotlight can illuminate a water feature. To view, some of out Houston landscape lighting projects click here.

Decide How Much Work You Are Willing To Do

Houston Landscape Lighting can be difficult to install if you are using 120-volt lighting. The wiring must be buried 18 inches deep and encased in conduit to prevent water from getting to the wiring. A licensed electrician must install the electrical components. If you are using low-voltage landscape lighting, you may need an outdoor receptacle and a transformer. The transformer converts the voltage from 120 volts down to 12 volts. Finally, solar-powered landscape lights are the easiest because there are no wiring or chords to deal with. In order to maximize the lighting power of a solar light, it must be positioned so the photovoltaic cell receives plenty of sunlight throughout the day.

Setting a Budget For Houston Landscape Lighting Services

The most expensive lights are high-voltage landscape lights. These cost upwards of $100 or more for each light. In addition to this, you will have the cost of hiring an electrical contractor to install and wire the lights. A lower cost option is low-voltage landscape lights. These can range from $30 to $300 per light; however, they can easily be installed by a handy homeowner. Finally, the least expensive and easiest option is solar lights. Solar lights rely on the sun for power, using its photovoltaic device. There are no installation costs. The cost for this type of landscape lighting will be limited to the price of the solar landscape lights. If you are trying to illuminate an area that has a lot of shade through the day, the solar light will not receive enough sunlight to adequately power the lights. One way to counteract this is to install a solar panel in a bright area of your yard and run wiring to your solar lights. Robert Huff is the leading Houston landscape lighting company to receive recognition for their outstanding work! Make sure to check us out.

Setting Up Your Landscape Lights

If you want to illuminate a single item like a bush, gazing ball, fountain or statue, you may only need a few landscape lights with lower intensity bulbs. Doing this rather than one large spotlight will prevent harsh shadows. Place smaller lights at various angles and various distances to highlight your item. Opt for landscape lights along garden paths and space them equally along the path to ensure the pathway remains illuminated. Finally, opt for blue tinted lights to create a moonlight inspired mood in your garden.

For more insight, check out the Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting blog. If you want to speak with a professional about Houston landscape lighting services, contact us by giving us a call at (713)-861-2000

Maximize Illumination With Houston Lighting Fixtures

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Is It Time To Upgrade Your Houston Lighting Fixtures

You can supercharge your Houston lighting fixtures by overhauling your exterior fixtures with LEDs. By doing this, you’ll slash your energy usage and you’ll have more illumination. With that said, when was the last time you noticed your exterior lighting or have done something with it? The chances are it’s been a long time since you’ve upgraded your exterior lighting, and your fixtures might be eating up energy. Besides that, your current lighting might not look good and might not be as safe as they were when you first bought them. Now is the time to consider getting rid of metal luminaries or high-pressure sodium luminaries and replacing them with LEDs. Doing this will improve the exterior of your home or business, as well as reduce operational costs. Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting is the #1 Houston Lighting Fixtures company to provide you with the best services in town.

Attractive Houston Lighting Fixtures

You can easily spot exterior lighting that isn’t attractive, as it features shadows, glare and/or an amber color. When you step foot onto a property with poor lighting, you look all over the place for things that you can trip over or you look over your shoulder. There are many check-boxes that outdoor lighting has to fulfill. For example, exterior lighting should minimize shadows and glare. It should improve both situational awareness, navigation, light up areas to improve footage that surveillance cameras take. It should also enable facial recognition. Balancing those objectives is tricky enough. When you add other things into the mix, things become even trickier. This includes low maintenance costs, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting will take care of your lighting needs for your residential and commercial property. We are available to speak with you when you are ready.

Test Out Houston Lighting Fixtures

The good news is you can easily tell if your exterior lighting isn’t that good. Test out how well you can recognize a face at a distance and leave your keys somewhere on the property and see if you can find them. If you find such tasks to be difficult to complete, then it’s time to upgrade your lighting. It’s a good idea to use a light level meter, which can help you determine where shortcomings are. Your residential property will stand out with Houston lighting fixtures.

Houston Lighting Fixtures

Outdoor lighting is more than numbers. You can have all the lighting in the world, but if it’s not functioning the way it’s supposed to be, then it’s not doing any good just sitting there. This is why you should do a quick lighting audit. You want to become familiar with what the IES recommends to illuminate values before doing the audit. When the time comes to upgrade your fixtures, you want to take a look at what control options are available. With the right setup, you can enjoy features such as maintenance alerts, step dimming and color temperature you can tune. LEDs’ lifespans do not become reduced with such controls. LED fixtures can easily be controlled with wireless tech, and this means there’s no need to mess around with additional wiring when the time comes to replace fixtures.

To learn more about Houston lighting fixtures services, check out our website & our blog. For any questions or concerns, give us a  Call today.

Wrap Your Trees With Outdoor Lights To Make Your Houston TX Home Pop!

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Achieving Impressive Effects For Your Home Through Tree Outdoor Lighting In Houston TX

Most of us can identify the particular features of the properties that we adore. My home’s stone facade is what I favor, but my sister would say her garden space is the ideal space. A large number of folks point to landscaped areas as their true loves, with trees being among the most important elements.

Decorate Your Trees With Lights

When it comes to outdoor lighting schemes, the attention paid to trees is paramount. Trees are critical parts of any yard space, given that they add tremendous amounts of curb appeal while also improving the environmental air quality. The sense of serenity provided by trees is difficult to match, and almost everyone finds them extremely appealing. Training some artfully placed lighting on one or more main trees is a great way to achieve a dramatic and impressive look. Generally speaking, three primary methods of lighting trees exist, namely moonlighting, spotlighting and shadowing. Robert Huff is the best outdoor home lighting Houston TX company that you will find. We are driven by results.

Outdoor Tree Spotlights

Perhaps the most evident and intuitive method of lighting a tree is that of spotlighting. It works well for large trees situated on a piece of property. Though substantial trees are stunning during the day, they tend to diminish in their impact after sundown. In order to make such a tree a focal point at any time of the day, spotlighting can fit the bill.

Tree Spotlighting Techniques

Spotlighting techniques utilize fixtures that are placed at the tree’s base and tilted upward toward the foliage. With lighting set level to the ground, it is possible to send beams through the branches as well as along the length of the trunk. A slightly less obvious method is that of moonlight. The objective here is to mimic the look of the light that comes down from the moon. As such, fixtures are placed up high within the tree branches themselves and tilted downward through them. The beams of light are less bright in relation to the trunk, but the shadows that are cast along the ground are breathtaking indeed. This technique is especially effective in garden spaces and seating areas.

Landscape Spotlights For Your Home

The final method of lighting to be discussed is known as shadowing. While the tree is certainly the focus, the shadows it is capable of making also take center stage. Shadowing strategies make sense when a tree is set just in front of a structure, lending a sense of needed depth. Fixtures are set to the front of the tree itself and tilted in such a way as to send the shadow to the best possible spot. As you collaborate with the providers of the outdoor home lighting Houston TX residents trust most, take the time necessary to explain which trees you would love to see lit in dramatic fashion. The team will do what it takes to bring your vision to life.

If you are interested in speaking with an outdoor home lighting Houston tx professional, call us today or contact us for more information. If you want to see related content please check out our blog.

Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Helps to Increase the Value of Your Houston Residential Property

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Houston Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting For Your Residential House

Many homeowners are looking for ways to increase their home’s value while also increasing the aesthetic value of their home. Although the homeowner may not intend on selling their home anytime soon, the homeowner including low voltage outdoor lighting can help increase the functionality, look and value of their property. Installing outdoor lighting helps to illuminate walkways and define areas in and around the lawn. Houston residential outdoor lighting will help you determine the best outdoor lighting solutions for your property. We also service commercial properties as well.

Key Areas to Install Residential Lighting

Installing outdoor lighting is one of the best ways to improve the look and functionality of your outdoor areas. One of the prime locations for outdoor lighting is your deck. The low voltage outdoor lights will illuminate and enhance the beauty of a wood deck. Outdoor lighting is designed to illuminate the area without attracting a lot of insects and is durable enough to withstand Houston’s harsh summers and winters. To speak with a professional please call us today.

Creative Lighting Options for Your Deck

There are several lighting options that you can choose for your deck, including recessed deck lights. Although recessed lights tend to be a little more expensive, they can add significant curb appeal and value to your home. Recessed deck lights are made from durable plastic and can be installed in the floor or along the steps of your deck to help illuminate your deck.

Post Cap Lights for Your Deck

If you have a railing around your deck, you may want to add deck post cap lights. These lights add a romantic glow and a decorative touch to your deck. Additionally, the light will illuminate the bottom portion of the post to create interest. Deck post cap lights can be mounted on top of your post or recessed into the top of your posts.

Deck Lanterns

Another option for your deck that can increase the curb appeal and value of your home is deck lanterns. Deck lanterns are a perfect choice if you have a covered deck. Deck lanterns add a touch of class and can be installed in the ceiling instead of plastic patio lights. The lanterns are available in numerous styles, so you will be able to find one that fits perfectly with your home’s exterior.

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting

Rober Huff Outdoor lighting should only be installed by a Houston residential outdoor lighting specialist. To ensure you get the best fixture possible at an affordable price, you will need to shop around and find reputable sources. Rober Huff has a record of providing homeowners with quality outdoor lighting solutions that maximize the beauty and value of a home.

Outdoor Lighting Options that Match Your Home’s Appearance

A residential home looks best when the outdoor lighting options match the home’s appearance. Choosing the right type of outdoor lighting can help to increase the curb appeal of your home as well as the value of your home. Therefore, it is best to talk to a Houston residential outdoor lighting specialist.

For more information on our Houston residential outdoor lighting services at Robert Huff, contact us today or check out our blog for more related articles.

Add Outdoor Security Lighting To Your Houston Home

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Feel Safer With Outdoor Security Lighting For Your Home 

Houston outdoor lighting works hard to educate homeowners on the numerous benefits that outdoor lighting offers. One of the primary reasons to install outdoor lighting is to increase the security in and around your home. Well, lit exterior areas can help to discourage intruders. Certain areas of your home can benefit from exterior motion sensing lights to help illuminate the area should a person step in the range of the motion sensor. In addition to increasing the security of your home, security lighting can also increase your home’s curb appeal. When you are designing your outdoor lighting, you want to include lights that beautify your home as well as increase the security of your home.

Houston Outdoor Lighting Can Make Your Home Feel Safer

It is recommended that the entire front of the home be well lit. This includes the facade, the walkways, and porches. Well, the lit home appears lived in and can prevent an intruder from trying to break in. A burglar will not want to stand on a front porch that is lit up and pick a lock. Anyone passing by can see them! This is why including plenty of outdoor lighting can help to minimize the risk of a break in. Robert Huff is the #1 Houston Outdoor Lighting Company to services the surrounding areas in the big city.

No More Breaking In

If the entire front of the home cannot be lit, you need to focus on ensuring that all entryways are lit. Lit entryways dissuade unwanted guests from breaking into your home and walking away with your valuable possessions. Lighting the outdoor living spaces of your home offers several benefits. First, it will allow you to enjoy your porches, patios, and decks after dark. Secondly, it encourages you to slip away and enjoy the outdoors more often. It also can create a feeling that the interior spaces of your home are larger. Finally, illuminating the outdoor areas of your home will prevent people from trying to hide outdoors where people cannot see them. Check out our Houston outdoor lighting projects that have been completed at Robert Huff.

From Darkness Comes Light

Some properties have areas around the home that are naturally darker than other areas. There may be areas of your property that are illuminated by a streetlight and areas of your property that are in darkness. These dark areas are the perfect place for an intruder to hide. These are the areas you should concentrate on illuminating once you have ensured that all entryways are illuminated. When you illuminate all of the dark areas on your property, intruders will pass your house by rather than taking the chance of being seen.

Sleep Better With Outdoor Lighting Home Security

Outdoor lighting is the perfect way to increase the security of your property. A Houston outdoor lighting company will help design and install the perfect outdoor lighting to increase security and curb appeal of your home. Although you want to ensure your home is secure, you also want to increase the value and curb appeal of your home. Contact us today to learn how we can make both of these work for your home.

For more information on Robert Huff’s Houston outdoor lighting services please check out our blog or contact us by calling today.

Outdoor Home Lighting: Deciduous Tree Lighting Ideas With Low Voltage In Houston TX

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4 Low Voltage Deciduous Tree Lighting Ideas From The #1 Outdoor Home Lighting Company In Houston TX

When considering lighting for large deciduous trees, there are a variety of approaches and techniques which are easy to incorporate. The correct low-voltage lighting for trees necessitates an artistic eye and a vision when it comes to what you want to experience and see at night. Outdoor Home Lighting Houston TX offers a few basic guidelines to assist you with your own creative processes. These tips are divided into 4 canons which include:

• Balance And Composition

• How To Create Depth through Layering

• Choosing The Right Trees To Accent

• Fixture Options For Different Trees

1. Balance And Composition

It is important to gain an understanding that it is not necessary to have lights shining on every aspect of your landscape. You want to achieve balance which makes it essential to take an overall view of your available space. Using an artistic approach, highlight interesting aspects around your outdoor spaces. Balance will mean to find flow which will naturally carry the gaze of the viewer around the overall scene you would like to achieve. When you find rhythm, this will result in a stunning lighting composition that your guests and you can enjoy.

2. How To Create Depth through Layering

The creation of depth using layering is one of the concepts that are harder to grasp, according to Outdoor Home Lighting Houston TX. When it comes to creating depth, in combination with composition and balance, it is essential to understand how important it is to use both shadows and light. Shadows are what add drama to the scene along with creating artistic visions. For example, using a row of 5 tree that are spaced closely apart, a great effect would be to light the middle and the 2 end trees. This technique creates intrigue, shadows, balance and drama. The element of depth is achieved in the way of lighting varying features across the landscape. Some more ideas to help your residence look beautiful are outdoor lighting design trends to help enhance your outdoor presence.

3. Choosing The Right Trees To Accent

There are specific deciduous trees that are suitable for lighting. Below is a list of the trees which manage to stand-out and are worthwhile considerations when you are making a decision on what trees in your garden you would like to accent.

• Japanese Maple

• Tri-colored Beech

• Willows

• Cherry Blossom

• Weeping Cherry

• Flowering Pear

However, these are only suggestions as every landscape will contain a variety of different features and trees. You should focus on lighting the features and trees that interest you. At the end of the day it boils down to personal preferences when it comes to deciding what aspects around your outdoor spaces seem the most captivating and which ones will work well with lighting elements.

4. Fixture Options For Different Trees

Dependent on the tree you have decided to light as well as its location, there are different ways in which to approach how you are going to light it. The general rule involves lighting the majority of trees from their cores. It may seem like a good idea to set the fixtures further back in your goal to capture the entire canopy, but you should avoid underestimating the overall impact of lighting the beauty of the tree from within. The amount of fixtures required will also vary according to tree’s size. For example, an ancient Cottonwood, will definitely need a number of lights. In most cases you will need at least 3 or more lights that surround the trunk of the tree to assist in illuminating the tree and creating the right visual impact. You can also use lighting in other locations other than just your flower beds when using the correct fixtures. For example, a large maple can be lit up with a covered well-light. The smaller trees will require a different approach. For example, an ornate and smaller tree such as the Japanese Maple works well with a well-light or other fixtures that aim at bringing the light sources down to the lower focal points. A defused lamp inside a well-light can make a tree like a Japanese Maple really pop.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

 

Top Landscape Lighting Failures In Houston

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All You Need To Know About Landscape Lighting Fails In Houston

1. Glare

Glare produced by bright direct lighting and reflection almost always destroys the ambiance needed for landscape lighting. The main idea behind adding lights to the landscape is to illuminate everything and not be a light source in itself. Ambient lighting in the landscape helps bring every aspect of the same without necessarily having to squint to see what’s there. Reducing glare by using ‘eyelids’ (the mantle surrounding the light fixture opening) is one of the best ways to reduce/block glare from the landscape. To better understand this, glare is produced when the lamp illuminates the landscape and other items directly making it impossible to discern what it is exactly. Nevertheless, using a mantle to prevent direct light but rather product passive illumination in the garden, for instance, help highlight everything properly since glare is eliminated. An ‘eyelid’ almost always comes in handy for this purpose.

2. Lack Of A Proper Plan

You need to have the forethought of how the landscape will look like after designing/installing landscape lighting. Proper planning is therefore needed to ensure the focal points are well illuminated without any glare. This means you need to turn your attention more to the lighting effect and not the fixture itself. Among other factors, you need to consider things such as beam spread and light output before buying any accessory off the shelves. Having more than one lighting fixtures to choose from could also improve your chances of picking the right one for that specific purpose. Light spread and effect should be the core factors to consider when choosing a light fixture. Fixtures with a broad light spread spectrum are mostly recommended for this purpose.

3. Abused/Misused Path Lights

Choosing the right fixture but using it for the wrong purpose or application is most definitely a fail. A good example of this is using path light fixtures in turf areas. This is because path lights cause extensive damage to turf over time. Having light fixtures in turf areas isn’t also recommended as the risk of them getting damaged is high. In addition to this, the lawn is home to dangerous equipment such as hedgers, mowers, and such.

4. Too Much Lighting

Using light fixtures too bright for the need isn’t recommended too. The main goal of having these installed is to illuminate the home for security and beauty but not to irritate your neighbors. If you can see your home several streets away, then the lighting is too much. Avoid lighting every architectural feature or tree, but rather only use the right ambiance for the same. Professionals in landscape lighting in Houston recommend less lighting for the best effect.

5. Less Than Enough Budget

Working with an inadequate budget for outdoor lighting will most likely mean low-quality lighting. This is because you will be forced to work with inferior light fixtures, hence a shoddy job. Although you may have a wide assortment of fixtures to choose from, only a few are meant for this sole purpose. Some of the fixtures may seem handy now, but not be able to last for long enough. Some of these are meant for temporary fixtures and not long-term use. Although they may seem cheap, you are more likely to spend much more on repairs as compared to what you would have spent on quality fixtures.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.