Your landscape is a blend of beautiful scenery for you to enjoy during the day, but why limit your outside areas to just daytime enjoyment? The right outdoor lighting can transform your landscape into a comfortable, usable space on a warm summer evening. These seven landscape lighting techniques for a dramatic landscape design in Troy, MI, will help you create any mood you choose in your outdoor space, to appreciate it anytime of the day or night.
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The ability to enjoy your yard anytime you choose is an important element of making your home your own. With the right landscape lighting, you can come home after a long day at work to get the most out of the spaces that you would otherwise only get to enjoy in the daytime. There are countless options for both the function and style of your landscape lighting, so that you can find a look that suits your needs.
Balance Function and Art
First, determine the function of your lighting. Think about sections of your landscape—the front yard, side yards, and backyard—and their different lighting requirements for creating user-friendly and safe spaces. For example, the lights used to accent your gardens and softly illuminate your back patio will be different from the lights that are used to brighten a walkway and front door. Once you know your needs for landscape lighting, also consider the artistry of using lights to highlight textures, bring attention to focal points, and set the right mood for the different areas around your house.
Choosing Colors of Light
Thoughtfully placed landscape lighting has the incredible ability to create just the right atmosphere, whether you are looking for an energetic and fun environment with different colored lights or a calm and tranquil ambiance with cool, soft lighting. Explore the options of warm or cool light, as well as different colored lights, for all of the techniques described below.
Uplighting and Downlighting
Choose between a soft, ambient light or a full-bodied spotlight to feature the vertical components of your landscape. Uplights or downlights can be used to shine on elements such as trees, water features, retaining walls, garden sculptures, your home’s siding, or the outdoor fireplace. Uplighting will accentuate the textures of your landscape features, and downlighting will display your favorite features even on a moonless night.
Silhouetting
Uplights can be used to create an eye-catching silhouetting technique that will accentuate interesting trees or structures in your yard. Get creative with placing a silhouette against the siding of your house or a fence.
Moonlighting
Moonlights, soft lights that are placed high up in trees or structures, create a soft and welcoming scene by imitating the soft glow of the moon. Lights that emit a cool color are most common and realistic for this type of lighting. Your yard will bathe in a soft, calming glow that you can enjoy while you relax throughout the evening.
Accent Lighting
The right accent lighting gives your landscaping both an attractive appeal and the promise of safety when you are arriving home in the evening or enjoying the great outdoors at night. Lights to line your walkway, decorative lanterns, and small lights throughout garden beds are all popular options to add style and safety to your outdoor spaces.
Submersible Lights
For yards with a pond, pool, or fountain, submersible lighting accents your water features so that they can be enjoyed anytime. Enjoy the serenity of water rippling in the light, or take a quiet nighttime dip on a summer night.
Whether you’re looking for safety features and convenience, a calming mood or an extra stylistic flair, there are countless choices for modern landscape lighting. LED lighting is an efficient way to achieve the style and purpose that is right for you, and solar powered lights are also becoming increasingly popular.
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