Jun 05 2009
Garden of Lights
Homeowner’s looking for ways to bring their landscape that special feel that makes enjoying the night at home a unique experience can create a garden of lights using any one or a mixture of the various lights available for garden use.
Before purchasing lights you should decide how you want your garden of lights to look. You should have a design in mind and put on paper to see what you need as you go searching for your lights.
First you should decide if your garden of lights is going to be one that lights up the entire yard or are you aiming for a softer more subtle lighting effect. Do you want to spotlight certain features in your lawn and garden? Are there areas that need to be lit up more than others? These answers will help guide you in your lighting decision.
Before proceeding you also need to decide on installation. If you are a do-it-yourselfer are you going to make your garden of lights using solar lights which don’t require electrical work or do you need to hire a professional to provide outside wiring? If you are using hard wired electrical lights make sure you have firmly decided on the locations, once you have them installed they are not easy to rearrange.
Cost is another factor that should be considered when planning your garden of lights. If your budget is limited your best option is going to be solar garden lights, they are more economical to purchase, install and maintain. In addition they don’t increase your monthly power bill.
Having decided on how much you can spend, who is going to install them and the effect you want your garden of lights to have you can decide on the various types of lighting that will be used.
Recessed lights are perfect for areas that you don’t want visible light fixtures and want to use the light to focus on an area. These lights also make excellent path lights for edging walkways leading to your door. Recessed lights are also great for the placing around pools or fountains so that they are visible to guests.
Spotlights can be front, side or back shining lights. Spotlights from the front work well to show off a particular area of your garden or a special flower. Your garden of lights should have some backlights. Backlights create a dramatic effect in the midst of a planting arrangement or other focal area.
Spotlights are also useful for creating shadow effects. Shadows add an air of mystery and mystic to a garden of lights. Be careful when planning your shadows not to overplay them onto your gardens featured pieces, such as fountains or sculptures.
Creating a garden of lights is a work of art that requires planning and research into how you want your garden to look. A hastily planned lighting arrangement is obvious and should be avoided. Take the time to put your personality into your garden of lights. Your lawn and garden are an extension of your home.
-Sharon V Chapman
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