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Outdoor Lighting Tips
1. Before attempting to create a lighting design, draw up a plan showing the location of any plants, outdoor furniture, sculptures and water features. The lighting you decide upon should relate to the way the outdoor spaces are going to be utilised.
2. There is no single exterior light fixture that is perfect for all lighting requirements in the garden. The moonlighting effect is a design method in which several light sources are blended together to create a natural-looking space.
3. If possible, try to include some exterior lighting in the overall design of your home, even if you are working on lighting the inside of the house first. It will prevent the inside surface of windows from becoming ‘black mirrors’ at night and wll provide the additional benefit of visually expanding the interior space.
4. Locate an additional switch for security lights in the main bedroom. This way there is no need to run to the front door during the night in order to turn on the outside lights should there be a disturbance.
5. Decide upon two levels of light – one for when you are inside looking out, and another for when you are actually in the garden.
6. Choose one design of adjustable shielded exterior fixture that can serve as an accent light, downlight or wall wash. Mixing fixture types will draw too much attention to the fixtures themselves. Only decorative fixtures, such as the lanterns next to the doors, should be visible.
7. Avoid using a dimmer switch for exterior lights. Standard incandescent light, when lowered, becomes more amber in colour. Green plants look unhealthy under yellow light.
8. Use a colour correcting filter (or daylight-blue) with outdoor lights, which will remove the amber quality of incandescent light. This will prevent plants from looking sickly.
9. Do not site light switches for the main rooms and landscaping just at the front door. Many people enter the family home from the garage. This is where a second set of light switches should be located.
Exterior Lighting Overview
Effective outdoor lighting has several advantages:
1. Safety. It can be treacherous walking down a dark driveway, path or steps. Simple outdoor lighting will aid you, your family, and your guests in finding your way after dark.
2. Crime prevention. Outdoor lighting is an effective way to deter unwanted intruders.
3. Beauty. Outdoor lighting can be used to illuminate your home's architecture and the surrounding landscape at night.
Landscape lighting ideas:-
There are many ways to use exterior lighting in order to brighten the outside of your home :
1. Moonlamps. These subtle path lights are covered on the top to help you, your family and guests find their step without creating a distracting glare.
2. Halogen Spotlights. These lamps provide a clear light perfect for highlighting trees and architectural details. You can switch to colored bulbs for special times of the year, or yellow insect-repellant bulbs during the summer.
3. Compact Fluorescent Lamps. Fluorescent bulbs use substantially less energy than incandescent or halogen bulbs, which can be more cost effective. In addition, they last longer than nearly any other bulb you can purchase, which makes them perfect for hard-to-reach enclosed light fixtures.
4. High-Low Light. This security light gives you more flexibility than traditional motion-detector lights and in addition is more energy-efficient. Using a photocell, the light will switch on to 30% of its full strength at dusk, it will shine at 100% when motion is detected and it will turn off at dawn. This type of light also has a "constant-on" mode.
5. Moonlighting. Attached near the top of a tree in a garden, this long-life mercury vapor lamp simulates the light of the moon. (Check your local building regulations before you consider this option.)
6. Post Lanterns. In the 1800s, gas lamps were used to light the streets. Today, safe electric models can be used to provide your home with the same old-world charm. These welcoming, energy-efficient fixtures can even be fitted with flame-shaped bulbs.
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