26 Jan Landscape Lighting
It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the snow season and finally have snow on the ground, even if it is melting quickly! One of the more magical things about landscape lighting is when night falls, and the light dances across or casts up an evergreen covered in a fresh snowfall. Landscape lighting provides a unique viewpoint of landscaping during each of our four seasons while providing security and safety for the homeowner. Let’s cast light on some of the benefits of landscape lighting.
Nightfall sets in early during winter months here in Nebraska, often before we get home from work. Between the dark nights and cold, snowy days, it can deter us from wanting to leave home. Landscape lighting can add drama to the natural architectural structure of the house. Do you have a unique front door? Adding a soft light to it can make it a showstopper to greet guests when they visit. Allow lighting to lead guests from the driveway to that showstopper of a front door by lighting pathways, stairs, and railings that lead up to the entry. Not only do the lights add a warm, welcoming approach to the home, but it also illuminates those areas to prevent falls.
Lighting for safety doesn’t stop at preventing slips and falls, and it extends to highlighting the edges of decks and patios, so guests don’t fall off. Lights placed in and around water features, pools, and ponds not only showcase their beauty it aids in safety as well. It shows off the beauty of the water, possibly highlighting any fish in the pond or waterfall features, but it also allows you to see into deeper water in the event someone was to fall in at night.
Landscape lighting illuminates outdoor areas to expand our living and entertaining space. In our warmer months, spring through fall, our patios and backyard spaces are:
- Great places for entertaining guests.
- Eating.
- Spending time with family and friends.
Dim the lights to create a romantic night with your spouse, or turn the lights up for safety when kids and pets are out outside at night.
Lights are not just for the safety of your hardscape areas, though. Use landscape lighting to show off unique features of your garden spaces that can illuminate all of the beauty and color that your garden exudes during the day and at night. There are different ways to light up softer objects like plant life. We can up-lighting large trees from the ground or moonlight large trees by placing lights in the trees for a softer, more natural effect. Lighting can achieve different results if we put a light in front of an object to highlight it or behind it to create a silhouette of shadows.
Let’s illuminate the monetary benefits of landscape lighting! The National Association of Home Builders determined that 45% of home buyers rate landscape lighting as an essential and desirable quality of the home they are looking at purchasing. By strategically placing landscape lighting throughout your property, it can increase your property’s curb appeal and resale value by a staggering 20%. Outdoor lighting adds a layer of security by deterring crime, and a well-lit exterior of a home is less likely to be burglarized.
Landscape lighting is an artistic art form all on its own. Knowing how lights will reflect, the environment they will create through each of our four seasons, and what lighting is better to use in different locations is necessary. That is why you call an expert. If you are considering the addition of landscape lighting around your home this year, give us a call and let our team of experts show your home in a new light!
