Enhancing Through Illumination
Now that I finally have the “bandwidth” to tackle my outdoor landscape lighting I’m noticing how the right lighting actually makes an outdoor space more attractive. It’s sort of like when you go to a beautiful restaurant and they have expertly thought of just the right lighting to make each diner look their best. The lighting is soft, it gently washes over the surfaces and it doesn’t stare you in the eye. The right lighting brings out your best features and lets the not so great ones stay in the dark. Landscape lighting is exactly like this!
In the mild climate I live in, most everyone entertains outside. If your landscape is shrouded in darkness you are missing out on showing off it’s beauty and your investment. If your landscape is poorly lighted you may be sending glaring light into your guests eyes or asking them to walk through your landscape in uncomfortable darkness.
Take note of your lighting: Do you see the light sources? If so, you probably have considerable glare and “hot spots” Are your pathways and stairs adequately lit? It doesn’t need to be bright, just a low even lighting in primary traffic areas is great. Are you sending a lot of light up into the sky or into your neighbors property? Many cities now have “dark sky” ordinances that cut down on light pollution. Are you taking advantage of down lighting from structures and trees? Down lighting can be an excellent, non-intrusive way to light the landscape and create ambiance. Crazyspieler