Wondering how to make your house shine when the sun goes down? Even after hours, you can show off your property’s yard, landscaping, or architectural features. All you need are some creative approaches to lighting.

Keep reading to learn landscape lighting ideas that will illuminate your property!

Choose the Type of Landscape Lighting for Your Property

When you’re just getting started with landscape lighting, you need to look at the options. Do you want to illuminate your entire property? Or are you hoping to highlight a few specific features?

You can go with overall lighting. Or with accent lighting, you can opt to spotlight a certain feature. Direct lighting will shine directly on a front door, for instance. Lighting aimed at an indirect angle, by contrast, will create a softer wash effect.

Professional lighting designers will be able to help you determine the best fit for your home. They’ll also know how to account for the amount of light pollution in your area.

The Bulbs Can Make All the Difference

When choosing landscape lighting, consider the bulbs. They can make the difference between a soothing display or one that looks harsh.

Go with LED lights for a crisp and bright light that is energy efficient. These are ideal for illuminating a pathway. While more expensive on the front end, you won’t need to replace the bulbs as often.

For a softer and diffused look, try incandescent lights around bushes and shrubs. You can even go with low voltage landscape lighting for a more subtle approach. Or try halogens for a soft light that will have a longer lifespan than incandescents.

While you can mix and match different lights, be aware that LED lights will look cooler. Too much variation in light temperature can look distracting.

Landscape Lighting Ideas Need to Consider Location

You don’t need to illuminate your entire house or yard. In fact, some covert accent lights can work wonders for your home’s curb appeal. Look for a particular archway, tree, or roofline that you would like to highlight.

Lighted pathways make a home feel more inviting, so consider staggering small lights every few feet on either side. Use uplighting on your back patio or gazebo to create a magical ambiance. Wash over a wall of brick or some plantings with a wide light on the ground.

Don’t overlook the importance of angles, either. A light pointing down over a doorway can be a good security feature since it is bright. Lights angled up on either side, though, will appear softer.

An with solar landscape lighting, you won’t need to worry about wiring. The sun’s energy will recharge these lights! Consider using them near a driveway or other unshaded area.

Follow These Landscape Lighting Tips

Take a look at your neighbors’ homes or design magazines to find some landscape lighting ideas. But most importantly, think about what shows off your property the best. From pathway accent lights to incandescent bulbs, you’ll be able to find the right solution. 

When you’re ready to upgrade your landscape light display, contact us and we can help!