Enhance your outdoor living space

“A few well-placed, low-voltage path or accent lights can make a huge impact on a well-manicured landscape.”

It doesn’t have to be summer to enjoy the outdoors; you can make the most of your outdoor space at any time of year, creating a relaxing space to enjoy with family and friends. A few updates to your outside lighting can make your outdoor time more enjoyable. And the best part: It doesn’t have to be complicated or costly to transform your existing patio, garden or terrace into a lovely retreat.

LAYER OUTDOOR LIGHTING: 

Just like indoor lighting, outdoor lighting is most effective if it utilizes overhead, task and ambient light sources. Even outdoors, where there are not typically boundaries and borders, those three layers will enhance enjoyment and help define smaller sitting and entertaining areas as though they are outdoor rooms. 

CREATE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT: 

Enhance security with lighting near entrances and in dark corners. Aim lights away from the door so as not to blind anyone as they enter your outdoor area.

REDUCE GLARE: 

Light walkways and paths with light that is cast downward and fixtures that are hooded. In many cases, exterior-safe dimmers and movable fixtures, which can be added to a patio or porch as needed, can provide flexible control over the level of light. 

ADD DECORATIVE ELEMENTS: 

While functionality is the top priority, aesthetic elements are important for a relaxing and inspiring setting. Focus on lighting that highlights architectural and natural details, as well as other decorative elements like arbors, pergolas, patios, etc. 

CONSERVE ENERGY: 

Consider LEDs for their efficiency. Remember to check the colour (chromaticity) of LED outdoor lights. Low chromaticity lights (2700 or 3000K) will look similar to incandescent and halogen bulbs. Higher chromaticity LEDs (4000K and above) will have a whiter, bluer look.