5 Top Landscape Lighting Tips from Expert Installers

Lighting indoors and out is a critical element of your home. As you know, it's a functional need for visibility, safety, and a host of reasons. And there's an aesthetic side, as lighting adds panache and flair, bringing out all the beauty and detail in a home.

Although many people like to go DIY with landscape lighting, professional designers and installers have years of training and experience in avoiding many pitfalls. In this blog, we've put together five top landscape lighting installation tips from the experts that help you think about outdoor lighting for your Atlanta, GA, home. 

SEE ALSO: 4 Tips for a Safe Fall Season with Landscape Lighting

Choose the Right Fixture

The common spotlight fixture is a fixture (pun intended) in many landscapes. But lighting designers caution against overusing it. There are many types of fixtures available for outdoor use, and one rule of thumb is to go as small and unobtrusive as possible for the job. For example, linear LED lighting is excellent for lighting steps, banisters, stone caps, and other long lines of surfaces. Small wash lights can highlight flowers in a garden bed, and recessed path lights add safety and beauty at night. Use the right fixture for the need!

Placement Is Crucial

Make sure your lights don’t get in the way of using your yard or garden. Put lights in safe locations where no one will trip over them. To the extent possible, make them almost invisible during the day. The lights may be beautiful at night, but no one wants to see many lights sticking out by day. Also, you want to avoid glare bombs where lights may be pointed at driveways, neighbors, or front entries. 

Avoid Light Pollution

Lighting can be too much of a good thing. Not every part of your yard or home needs a lighting highlight. Also, avoid the mistake of aiming lights where they might cast light into your home through windows. When using downlighting in trees, ensure your lights are well hooded, so you're not spraying light into adjoining yards and property. 

Be Aware of Light Composition

If you think of portrait photography, lighting is everything. Think of your home as a portrait with landscape lighting. Use balance when highlighting architectural features and landscaping, and avoid leaving large swaths of darkness that present an incomplete picture – it’s like lighting half a face!

Use Good Wiring and Techniques

One of the most common failures of outdoor lighting is corroded or broken wiring and connections. At a minimum, you want to bury your lighting wiring six inches deep or greater to avoid inadvertent splitting from digging and yard work. In addition, a thicker burial-grade wire is recommended to stand up to the elements for years, and connections need to be waterproofed and sealed. You should also not skimp on the wiring plan, as you may want to add or change the lighting in the future without having to add new wire runs. 

Do you want to enhance your property with custom landscape lighting? GHT Group is a full-service lighting installer with the latest indoor and outdoor lighting solutions. Get in touch with us here or start a chat below to quickly connect with one of our experts. We look forward to working with you!