Landscape Lighting
Lighting Design
The Landscape you design, working with your Backyard Services Designer, will be dramatic and breathtaking by day, but with the proper lighting the nighttime view it will be awe-inspiring and panoramic. With minimal lighting along the walkways, on the ground amongst the plantings, and from higher vantage points the special features of your landscape will be highlighted and accentuated from twilight into the late evening. Our landscape designers will help you arrive at a custom lighting design that compliments the features of your property and is totally based on your imagination and direction.
Complete Backyard Designs offer a wide variety of Landscape Lighting Options. Each has a very specific purpose. For example, Spotlights can be Uplight or Downlight and can be used for highlighting, shadowing, backdropping, silhouetting, and floodlighting. All are popular ways of accenting your landscape design.
Landscape Lighting
Path lighting illuminates walkways and paths (Hardscape) as well as the areas surrounding the lighting fixture for safety and esthetic value. Path lights can also be used to accentuate planting beds and island gardens. Most often lighting for walkways and paths are mounted to the underside of capstones and overhangs. The lights are unobtrusive because the fixtures are hidden as provide subtle illumination of your hardscape surfaces.
When do I use Flood Lights in my landscape design?
The word ‘flood’ has nothing to do with water. They are called flood lights because they flood an area with light. Flood lights tend to have higher wattages than spotlights and more lumens, a measure of brightness and their arc of illumination is set wider to cover a greater area. Flood lights are used on large hardwood trees, in security areas or at common access points.
What is Wall Wash Lighting?
Wall washing illuminates a vertical surface with uniform brightness. Wall washing draws attention to the area, and can be used to accentuate an entrance, walls, or artwork. The light reflected will provide a soft, diffuse light in the area.
Do you use Rail & Riser in Lights ?
Rail lights, post lights, and deck lights are mounted to the railing surrounding a deck or raised area where people will be gathering or walking across. They are also used to brighten the steps that transition between deck levels or stairs. The lights can be attached under the railing, on the railing posts, and on the outside risers on stairs. Usually, the lighting is aimed down, but if mounted on the side of a structure they could point upward.
Do I need Ground Lights?
Ground Lights are sometimes referred to as Well Lights or In-grade lights. If you have an area requiring lighting, the fixture must be at grade or below grade because foot and vehicle traffic will be going over the surface. Ground lights brighten an area only a few inches from the ground and are not meant to illuminate features and plants. Well lights are also used around fountain areas or firepit seating areas.
How much Landscape Lighting do I need ?
The amount of lighting will depend on the dark-time effect you want to create. Obviously, too many lumens, a measure of brightness and intensity, can wash out the colors and silhouettes in your landscape. Too little light could be unsafe and uninviting. The idea is to create shadows and silhouettes that accentuate and highlight your property at night. Maybe it is that old draping Oak that is the centerpiece of your garden or the Roebelenii palms that dance in obscurity in the night, without the proper light to claim their place in the shadows. The best part of lighting is most of it can be relocated or redirected presenting a menu of infinite exposures.
