If you really want to have a top notch outdoor garden light system, you can’t do it without the help of outdoor landscape lights.  These are light fixtures that are made to emphasize a focal point, instead of providing strictly task lighting.  In general, most accent light fixtures will have a slightly lower powered bulb than other comparable landscape lighting fixtures, but otherwise not much will set them apart.  You can find quality accent lights at many online realtors for a surprisingly cheap price.  Armed with these lights, and an knowledge of some lighting basics, you should be able to light your garden or landscape incredibly well.

Accent Lighting Basics

Outdoor accent lighting is all about bringing attention to a single focal point.  This focal point should be an interesting object, but this can be almost anything from the stucco on a wall, to an expensive gilded fountain.  To accomplish this, you need to have the object highlighted against a black backdrop so that it sticks out the most.  This means the light should be placed as close to the object that you plan on highlighting as possible to prevent the light from spilling over onto the dark background.  If the light does spill over, it makes it difficult to tell what is supposed to be the focal point and which area is the background and which is the foreground.

While you have to keep the light close to an object, there are several different ways to go about applying outdoor accent lighting.  What sets the different methods apart is where the light is place in relation to the object.

Up Lighting

Up light

An Up Light

By far the most popular way of using landscape accent lighting is through up lighting.  With up lighting you place a light fixture near or directly at the base of an object and point it up.  Part of the reason for its popularity is that it shines light in the opposite way the sun does, creating a unique effect that you only get at night.  Up lighting works best with big, tall objects, like tree and shrubs, but also works well with walls.

If you’re planning on using up lights, make sure that you find light fixtures that have an IP rating of waterproof.  Because they are pointed up at the sky, they are particularly vulnerable to being infiltrated by rainwater, and if you don’t find waterproof fixtures, you may find yourself with no light after a rain storm.  Also make sure to aim the lights in a direction where you or other people won’t conceivably be walking, because the bright lights could temporarily blind someone if they shine in their eyes.

Down Lighting

Down lighting is the exact opposite of up lighting.  In down lighting, you place a light fixture over the objects that you plan to illuminate.  This works well for flowerbeds, placing a light right over the tops of the flowers, and also for driveway and path lighting.  For driveways and paths, try installing small mushroom or tiered lights close to the ground.  Their light will shine back down, and you’ll be able to see very well while still keeping the light out of the ambient atmosphere that you’re trying to set.

Cross Lighting

The third most popular kind of accent lighting is cross lighting.  With cross lighting you place a light fixture to the side of an object you are trying to light.  This works best on walls, fences, or garden buildings, where you can bring out texture or create a diminishing effect if you aim the light away from the viewer.

There are many different ways to incorporate outdoor accent lights into your garden lighting plans.  With a little imagination and help from the right online realtors, you can have a great system up and running in no time at all.

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Filed under: Designing and Installing Landscape Lighting

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