Outdoor lighting is essential; however, it’s one of the areas of a home design that many people overlook. When done correctly, it sets a tone for your family, friends, and visitors. Meeting your outdoor lighting needs will require a plan. A proper plan will save you time, money, and a significant headache.

Planning Ahead for your Outdoor Lighting Needs to Avoid Costly Mistakes

The first step is outlining the purpose of your new outdoor lighting. For example, do you want security lighting? Then motion sensor flood lights and pack lights will be a must. However, if you’re looking for more welcoming lighting, consider adding landscape lighting to illuminate your outdoor trees and bushes.

Selecting the Wrong Rating

Once you have defined your outdoor lighting need, now you must select the correct rating of light to use. The IP ( Ingress Protection) rating is how protected the light source is against liquids and solid objects. For outdoor lighting, the two crucial ratings are damp-rated and wet-rated. With a damp-rated fixture designed for a covered area, such as a porch or lanai, therefore it shouldn’t be directly exposed to water. However, with a wet-rated fixture, it can be directly exposed to the water.

Proper Location

As they say in real estate, “location, location, location.” The placement of your lighting is critical. Choosing the correct fixture for the right location for each type of light is crucial. In other words, some fixtures will make a statement in daylight hours but blend into your backdrop at night. Also, consider how close your lighting is to your seating area if it’s too bright or produces a glare.

Outdoor Lighting Needs in Moderation

Budget your lighting needs by not purchasing too many options at once. Not to mention the cost of lighting too many fixtures could cause a hike in your energy bill. Also, consider the glare of too many outdoor lights. Glare can be caused by selecting the wrong type of light, placing that light at the wrong angle, or even by having too many lights in a concentrated area.

To ensure you limit your light pollution, consider dark sky lighting, which directs light toward the ground and not up into the night sky. This type of lighting will allow for extra light without being a nuisance to the environment.

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