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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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