Light up your life

Making the most of long summer nights outdoors necessitates a need for decent backyard lighting.

The best time to install lighting is when building new, renovating or landscaping, but if that ship has sailed already then here are several options for add-on or add-ins. A few string lights might work temporarily, yet not last longer than Christmas celebration.

Buying quality, weather-proof lights will make a difference. Most experts agree that the best type of lighting, outdoors and in, is LED which use less energy than incandescent and halogen bulbs. This means they can be left on for long periods without adding major costs to your power bill. They also have a longer life than other types so don’t need to be replaced as often.

To create ambience in your outdoor spaces, you will need three basic types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent.
– Ambient lighting can be achieved through hanging lights, post lights, and wall lights.
– Task lighting includes pathway lights, plus deck and security lights.
– Accent outdoor lighting comes via landscape kits and spotlights.
– Try a landscape lighting kit that plugs directly into any outdoor outlet. Such kits usually comprise several ground spot lights strung together on a single cord that can be arranged around a garden or the perimeter of a patio to create a festive mood.
– Solar lighting works well too, placed in the ground, gardens and even strategically around patios.
– Subtle light from outdoor lanterns, pendants and lamps work well to emit a soft glow rather than a glare, while spotlights are the obvious choice for security areas such as entry points, down the sides, and on garages.