Outdoor lighting around your home isn’t just to make it more appealing. Having properly lite areas also can reduce home burglary by 39%.

And while you keep thieves out, you also welcome guests in by highlighting pathways and entertainment features.

Choose the right landscape lighting design to add security and ambiance to your home.

Start transforming your outdoor living space with these design tips.

Illuminate Water

Create a landscape lighting plan that puts your pool, fountain, or water feature at the focal point of your backyard.

Place lights inside your pool to make a whimsical night swim possible. Lights surrounding the pool also keep the area safe from bumps and falls.

It is the perfect way to keep entertaining guests after sunset by keeping the pool party vibe going.

LED Lights

Low-energy LED lights are the most efficient design option when planning landscape lighting.

They are long-lasting so you won’t have to constantly change bulbs on your patio. Plus, they don’t overheat which is much safer as they don’t pose a fire hazard.

Another great feature is the vast color options. Create a personalized mood in your backyard by choosing a relaxing blue or upbeat purple. You can even buy LED bulbs that interchange between colors with the touch of a button.

Twinkling Lights

One of the best landscaping lighting tips is to think about unique lighting options. Add mystery to your yard by putting twinkling lights in the distance.

These lights are less functional as they don’t provide much light, but they do contribute some playfulness and even romance to your garden.

They mimic the magical dance of fireflies but can last all year long. Plus, they are easy to set up since they come as one or more long strings.

Guided Paths

Almost any home with a sidewalk could use these landscape lighting basics of making sure your family and friends can walk safely.

But, this doesn’t mean that you can’t add some detail and design to your pathways.

Making sure your lights brighten your paths is just one aspect of your design. Be sure they also provide a soft glow to give your walkways a serene appeal. Your guests will feel more welcomed without feeling like they are in a spotlight.

Some options are small lanterns that are low to the ground. Or place lights directly into the ground for a more modern look.

Glowing Stairs

The stairs are also a large part of walking safety and your guided path lighting design.

Stairs can be used as a focal point by placing lights under the structure. This will make them glow and illuminate like a sculpture.

Use them on your steps leading up to your home or place them in your back patio decking.

You can design them to wrap the entire length of your stairs or decide to highlight one side to also light the railing.

Use soft lighting for your steps to contrast stone or wood material. A light blue works well with slab stones. Or go with a mellow orange for wooden stairs.

Bright Foliage

You spent a lot of time and effort on your garden and trimming your foliage, make sure they are seen. Focal spotlights are perfect to bring your plants to life at night.

You can also use up-lighting, which are lights planted in the ground that shine up through your foliage. This is a less intense and direct lighting option as it doesn’t give your plants too much extra light.

Use soft lights for this landscape design to create a bright garden without taking away from the peaceful dimness of the night.

Classic Lanterns

Oil burning lamps were used as far back as 500 BC when Romans lit the fronts of their homes. You might not want to use the oil, but the lanterns work well to surround your landscape with light.

Use them to brighten entryways to your home, garden or pool area. They can also line the bottom of your roof using sconces that shine from top to bottom.

Match their decor with the design of your patio. Classic brass works well in cottages or ranchers. Or choose stainless steel for more modern homes.

A frosted or translucent glass makes the light softer than if the glass is completely clear. This will also help disperse the light instead of creating a spotlight effect.

There is no limit to the number of lanterns that you can add in this landscape lighting design guide. You can purchase battery-powered lights to limit the electrical work and keep them on a timer.

Natural Lighting

Natural fire is a great way to bring warmth and comfort to your landscaping.

There are many fire-pit styles that can complement your landscape design. A traditional wood fire pit gives a rustic aesthetic. Or try a gas-burning stone pit that is built into your patio.

Tiki lights are another natural lighting method. Surround your pool or sitting area with glowing flames of bamboo tiki poles to transform your yard into a tropical paradise.

A fire light has its advantages of being natural, but the disadvantage is that they can’t be left on without supervision. So, they can’t be left lit for safety purposes.

Use fire as an addition to other landscape lighting techniques.

Planning Your Landscape Lighting Design

Before you decide on your landscape lighting design you will want to consider a few things. Think about your overall desired effect and purpose. Do you want to highlight certain points in your yard or is lighting for security only?

To figure out all of your options in your next outdoor remodel contact us today.