There are so many ways to turn your backyard into a magical and dream-like space where you and your family can live your best lives. You want to keep the fun and excitement going well into the evening. Before you finalize plans in your landscape renovation this year, ask the question: What landscape lighting options will work best with my Canton, MI, landscape design plan for the backyard?
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Path Lighting
Landscape lighting serves to highlight the many beautiful features of your outdoor spaces. Path lights could encircle all of your masonry surfaces and illuminate them from close range. The lights would be positioned low to the ground to maximize energy efficiency and prevent glare. This technique can also highlight the textures of your masonry surfaces. You don’t have to limit low-lying path lighting to walkways, either. You can include them along the perimeter of your patio or pool deck, as well as your driveway.
Solar powered walkway lights can be an excellent option in some cases—but not all. Solar powered lights take advantage of sunlight during the day and store the energy to batteries, completely removing themselves from the energy grid. Since walkway lights should be on in some capacity for all hours of the night, this could end up saving some money on your energy bill. On the other hand, hard-wired walkway lights are sometimes viewed as a more reliable option. Solar lights may not be able to get enough energy during prolonged cloudy periods, or whenever snow covers the solar panels. Hard-wired lights may have a cost, but they will not let your landscape down. Solar powered lights could be a great option for adding dimension to a landscape for a layered effect while hard-wired path lighting will give you more assurance of a well-lit space no matter the weather.
Spotlights
The various prominent features of your landscape each have their own individual beauty and deserve the chance to shine after the sun goes down. Spotlights can be used in many places throughout your landscape to draw the eyes of your guests where you want them to. If you’ve got a particular piece of art such as a water fountain, statue, or an interesting mature tree, a spotlight could make this piece the star of the show.
Sister techniques to spotlighting include uplighting and downlighting, which serve to highlight textures. Retaining walls, masonry fire features, water features, and even the walls of your outdoor kitchen are great candidates for uplighting or downlighting.
Moonlighting
One of the most charming landscape lighting techniques is one that largely flies under the radar. This technique requires a large, mature tree. Moonlighting involves sending washes of white light from the top of the canopy through the leaves and branches, mimicking the gentle light of a full moon. This will create a wonderful ambience with the shadows projected on the ground. As the slightest breeze moves individual leaves, the shadows will dance in the gorgeous light.
Washing
Bouncing light off a smooth, flat surface such as the side of your home creates relatively soft, ambient light that also adds dimension to the landscape.
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