If you are looking to make a big impact on your home or business, you should consider employing a landscape lighting designer. And when you do, there are many factors to consider to have the lighting not only be functional but beautiful as well.
What you should consider
When a professional lighting designer evaluates your landscape, they will examine and consider several key factors. First, whether you are working with a residential or commercial property, you need to think about what it looks like from the inside. If you want a picturesque view from every window in the house, that is a key consideration. Additionally, you’ll want to know if you are looking to highlight parts of the landscape or if you are going with more of an ambient lighting look.
Lighting can also be used to either create focal points or depth. No matter what you are looking for, with clever and tasteful lighting you’ll be able to create the look that you desire.
Common Types of lighting
There are several types of lighting that a lighting designer can use to enhance your landscaping. They will choose from downlighting, uplighting, and cross-lighting. Downlighting means exactly that; the light shines down from above. This, in turn, means that light can be affixed to trees or even your home to illuminate the landscaping below. This lighting can be a softer, more diffused use of lighting.
Uplighting, on the other hand, is a bolder way of using light. When you use uplighting you’ll be able to create stronger angles, the contrast between light and shadow, and even highlight architectural structures on a building or in your landscape. Finally, cross-lighting is a way of lighting up the landscape on both sides. This helps to reduce shadows created, creating a softer look.
Areas to Light
When you have a lighting designer come to evaluate your space, they will want to highlight certain features within that space. These features can be anything from a walkway to trees, architectural features, water features, and any other part of the landscape that could benefit from emphasis.
Adding light to your landscape will allow you to highlight the features you’d like to be seen, even (or especially) in the dark. Additionally, lighting is very important for creating a mood or atmosphere. So if you have an outside space in which you spend a great deal of time, outdoor lighting can help to create a nice ambiance for you and others to enjoy.
Benefits of landscape lighting
Anytime you add lights to your landscape you are not only adding beauty, but functionality as well. A lighting consistent scheme throughout your landscape helps to make it safer, by alleviating the risk of tripping or falling. In other words, your new illuminated area will be more than just a visual feature that others can enjoy. Finally, if you have a beautiful landscape, landscape lighting design enables you to enjoy that piece of property during the day as well as at night.
Why get a landscape lighting designer?
It’s important to consult a professional because they will be able to not only give you ideas, but also bring your own ideas to fruition. When using a professional, you’ll benefit from their experience and expertise to help guide you through the process of getting the most beautiful and appropriate lighting design possible for your outdoor space.
Light is an important part of your landscape, allowing you to create shadows, diffused lighting, or even just highlight a particular feature of your landscape. If you are thinking about how you can improve your landscaping and what skilled professionals you should use to create a unique landscaping lighting concept, please contact us.