Outdoor Lighting: Design Ideas That Transform Your Property
Outdoor lighting does more than illuminate—it transforms your property's appearance, extends your living space, and improves safety. Here's how to create outdoor lighting that makes an impact.
Lighting Design Principles
Layers of Light
Effective outdoor lighting uses three layers:
- Ambient lighting: General illumination for areas and paths
- Task lighting: Focused light for specific activities
- Accent lighting: Highlights features and creates drama
The key: Balance all three for complete, attractive lighting.
Light Control
Consider these factors:
- Direction: Upward, downward, or cross lighting
- Spread: Narrow spot vs. wide flood
- Color temperature: Warm (2700K) vs. cool (4000K+)
- Brightness: Subtle accent vs. security flood
Architectural Lighting Ideas
Facade Uplighting
What it does: Ground-mounted fixtures shine up on walls, creating dramatic vertical interest.
Best for: - Stone or brick exteriors - Textured surfaces - Columns and archways
Tips: - Mount 6-12 inches from wall base - Use narrow beam for tall walls - Space fixtures to create even coverage
Soffit Downlighting
What it does: Recessed fixtures in soffits illuminate entries, walkways, and landscaping below.
Best for: - Entry doors - Covered porches - Garage entrances
Advantages: - Fixtures hidden from view - Clean, architectural look - Weather-protected location
Wall Washing
What it does: Wide-beam fixtures create even wash of light across wall surface.
Best for: - Showing off masonry or siding - Creating backdrop for landscaping - Modern homes with clean lines
Landscape Lighting Ideas
Tree Lighting
Uplighting from below: - Places fixture at base, aimed up into canopy - Creates dramatic shadow patterns - Shows off trunk texture and branch structure
Downlighting from above (moonlighting): - Fixtures mounted in tree, aimed down - Creates dappled, natural light effect - Illuminates area below tree
Best trees for lighting: - Mature specimens with interesting form - Multi-trunk trees - Evergreens for year-round effect
Path and Walkway Lighting
Fixture styles: - Path lights: Short fixtures along walkways - Bollards: Taller fixtures for driveways and wider paths - Step lights: Recessed into risers for stairs - Hardscape fixtures: Built into walls and borders
Spacing guidelines: - Overlap light pools for even coverage - 8-10 feet for paths - Every 2-3 steps for stairways - Alternate sides for visual interest
Garden Bed Lighting
Techniques: - Uplight specimen plants - Cross-light textured foliage - Silhouette plants against walls - Graze hardscape features
Seasonal consideration: Plan for what plants look like year-round.
Outdoor Living Space Lighting
Patio and Deck Lighting
Options: - String lights for ambient glow - Post cap lights on railings - Recessed deck lights in floor - Step lights for level changes - Under-rail lighting for subtle effect
The goal: Create comfortable ambient light without glare in eyes.
Outdoor Kitchen Lighting
Task lighting needs: - Over grill and prep areas - Under countertop overhangs - Inside cabinets or storage
Fixture requirements: - Wet-rated for exposed locations - Heat-resistant near cooking - Controllable brightness
Pool and Water Feature Lighting
Options: - Underwater pool lights (LED is standard now) - Perimeter path lighting - Water feature uplighting - Fire feature integration
Safety note: All pool lighting must meet strict electrical codes for safety.
Functional Lighting
Security Lighting
Components: - Motion-activated floods for key areas - Wall packs for general perimeter light - Path lighting eliminating dark zones
Best practices: - Overlap coverage areas - Avoid creating harsh shadows - Use timers or photocells for dusk-to-dawn operation - Consider camera integration
Entry and Address Lighting
What to illuminate: - House numbers (visible from street) - Entry door and porch - Walkway from drive to door - Doorbell area
Goal: Visitors can find and approach your door safely.
Garage and Driveway
Lighting needs: - Above garage doors - Driveway edges (especially curved sections) - Walkway from garage to house - Basketball/sport court areas
Lighting Control Options
Basic Controls
- Switches: Manual on/off
- Photocells: Automatic dusk-to-dawn
- Timers: Scheduled on/off times
- Motion sensors: Activity-activated
Smart Controls
- App control: On/off and dimming from phone
- Voice control: Integrate with Alexa, Google, etc.
- Scenes: Preset lighting combinations
- Astronomical timers: Adjust automatically to sunset/sunrise
- Geofencing: Lighting responds to your location
Design Considerations
Dark Sky Awareness
Minimize light pollution: - Aim lights downward - Use shielded fixtures - Don't over-light - Choose warmer color temperatures - Avoid unnecessary uplighting
Benefits: Better for wildlife, neighbors, and your own stargazing.
Energy Efficiency
LED advantages: - 75% less energy than incandescent - 25+ year lifespan - No frequent bulb replacement - Cool operation (safe near plants)
Solar options: - No wiring required - Limited brightness - Battery capacity concerns - Best for accent, not security
Electrical Considerations
| Lighting Type | Electrical Requirements |
|---|---|
| Low voltage (12V) | Transformer, direct burial cable |
| Line voltage (120V) | Conduit, GFCI protection, permits |
| Solar | None (self-contained) |
Low voltage advantages: - Safer to install and touch - Easier to relocate - Often DIY-friendly transformer
Line voltage advantages: - More powerful options - Longer cable runs - Integrates with home automation
Ready to Transform Your Property?
We design and install outdoor lighting systems—from simple path lighting to complete landscape illumination. We handle all electrical requirements to ensure safe, code-compliant installation.
Contact us for an outdoor lighting consultation.