Curbside appeal and nightscaping

Nightscaping is all the rage today and outdoor decor is becoming more and more important. Exterior lighting is no exception, especially for those that want to take pride in their property, while simultaneously creating a safer curbside. Here are some quick, helpful tips on appropriately using outdoor lighting to highlight your home

The walkway:

This is a great place to start; the walkway is a key element to the outdoor nightlife of your property. First and foremost, from a functional perspective, walkway lighting should illuminate the pathway to allow for safer walking, so be sure to choose bright outdoor walkway lighting. However, this is not to say that you have to forfeit style for function. Path lighting comes in all different styles and finishes. Choose one that will work with the color of your house, as well as the landscape of the yard. More importantly, the height of the path light should depend on whether or not you have surrounded your walkway with plants or flowers. Taller walkway lights will create a unique silhouette, and illuminate your flowers or plants. This is a great way to impress your guests and enjoy your hard work in the yard, even at night.

Wall Sconces:

Outdoor Wall Sconces are also a great way to bring your house to life throughout the night. Wall Sconces are a great alternative to flood lighting, which can be expensive and a bit overwhelming, depending on your taste. On the other hand, outdoor wall sconces create a certain ambiance that is sure to impress-the only tricky part is choosing the right finish. I recommend that you stay with the basics when choosing your color-bronze, black, silver or copper. Don't believe those who tell you that white goes with everything, because white wall sconces are worse than rotten eggs. You might as well just egg your house, if you go with white.


Eco-friendly:

When choosing outdoor lighting, it is important to do your part in environmental preservation. To start off, light pollution and lighting glare is getting increasingly worse for the environment and is even disruptive to natural bird migration cycles. However, there are eco-friendly consumer options that are not that much more expensive. For one thing, you should puchase a Dark Sky Light, meaning a lantern, light or lamp that reduces glare and deliberately throws the light downward. Additionally, Title 24 compliant lighting protects the environment through superior energy efficiency; Seagull lighting is a mainstay of Title 24 compliant lighting options and they have a number of stylish, eco-friendly options. Solar lighting is always another option to think about for outdoor lighting options.

Flood Lighting:

In my opinion, flood lighting is hit or miss and really depends on the house that is being highlighted. Not only does it take up a lot of energy, but it also can be slightly overwhelming. Some houses just do not look that good with a spot-light directly on them. Other times, the light is just positioned wrong creating a weird angle that is unappealing. I also think that it comes across as slightly arrogant, especially because spotlights and flood lights are so bright. Furthermore, it is an unnecessary expenditure when you can decide on a number of smaller, aesthetically appealing lighting options that are subtle, but attractive.



Photos: Flickr.com