Fall is the season when I seem to take most advantage of our backyard outdoor lighting. Less daylight means longer evenings in the backyard while it is still warm enough to bar-b-q enjoy the patio set until bedtime. It also means that I turn on the backyard lights a little earlier each evening to enjoy the late summer nights.
During the longer days of mid summer, it seemed that I could cook and entertain relatively late without worrying about turning on the lights. Safety is a big issue for me, and I like having stairs and pathways of my back yard lit well enough so my friends and family don't end up in a bush. But now that the days are shorter, I just enjoy turning on the lights so that my evening guests can enjoy the ambiance as much as I do.
I didn't pay much attention to outdoor lighting design until I bought my own house. Since then, I am all about making a cozy and beautiful space both indoors and out. The backyard is such an easy space to work on. It seems that you can make spectacular changes with just a little hard work, a bit of landscaping, and a combination of some permanent lights and very inexpensive temporary lights. Lighting is often seen as just seasonal, but if you stick with a neutral color (my scheme is generally all white), you can use cheap Christmas lights all year to create a wonderful backyard lighting design.
When you decide to come up with a lighting scheme for your backyard or patio, you will want make sure that you design with safety in mind. People unfamiliar with your outdoor space won't be expecting changes in surfaces, or won't be familiar with how many steps from your patio to the backyard. Improper lighting could create safety hazards that are easily avoided with some planning. Consider adding extra lighting at doorways, stairs, and any areas that are main traffic areas.
Once you have taken care of the safety aspects of outdoor lighting you can concentrate on creating mood or an ambiance. I personally prefer a softer type of lighting. I like to make things light enough so I can see where I'm walking and I can easily make out my guests and food but dark enough that some candle light can be appreciated. One of my favorite lighting techniques is using rope lighting or string lighting on the trees at the back of my yard. This type of lighting provides almost no illumination but provides a very pretty whimsical effect.
A well thought out backyard lighting scheme can double your use of your outdoor space, by turning an unlit and unused outdoor space into a spectacular evening focal point that your family can enjoy all year round. Using your outdoor space is one of the cheapest ways to expand your living space, and a little time with some inexpensive outdoor lights will probably be one of the best decorating jobs you do to your house. The bonus is that it is also very flexible - if you see some new ideas that you like, it is simply a matter of moving a few lights and you have a whole new outdoor lighting design! - 30228
During the longer days of mid summer, it seemed that I could cook and entertain relatively late without worrying about turning on the lights. Safety is a big issue for me, and I like having stairs and pathways of my back yard lit well enough so my friends and family don't end up in a bush. But now that the days are shorter, I just enjoy turning on the lights so that my evening guests can enjoy the ambiance as much as I do.
I didn't pay much attention to outdoor lighting design until I bought my own house. Since then, I am all about making a cozy and beautiful space both indoors and out. The backyard is such an easy space to work on. It seems that you can make spectacular changes with just a little hard work, a bit of landscaping, and a combination of some permanent lights and very inexpensive temporary lights. Lighting is often seen as just seasonal, but if you stick with a neutral color (my scheme is generally all white), you can use cheap Christmas lights all year to create a wonderful backyard lighting design.
When you decide to come up with a lighting scheme for your backyard or patio, you will want make sure that you design with safety in mind. People unfamiliar with your outdoor space won't be expecting changes in surfaces, or won't be familiar with how many steps from your patio to the backyard. Improper lighting could create safety hazards that are easily avoided with some planning. Consider adding extra lighting at doorways, stairs, and any areas that are main traffic areas.
Once you have taken care of the safety aspects of outdoor lighting you can concentrate on creating mood or an ambiance. I personally prefer a softer type of lighting. I like to make things light enough so I can see where I'm walking and I can easily make out my guests and food but dark enough that some candle light can be appreciated. One of my favorite lighting techniques is using rope lighting or string lighting on the trees at the back of my yard. This type of lighting provides almost no illumination but provides a very pretty whimsical effect.
A well thought out backyard lighting scheme can double your use of your outdoor space, by turning an unlit and unused outdoor space into a spectacular evening focal point that your family can enjoy all year round. Using your outdoor space is one of the cheapest ways to expand your living space, and a little time with some inexpensive outdoor lights will probably be one of the best decorating jobs you do to your house. The bonus is that it is also very flexible - if you see some new ideas that you like, it is simply a matter of moving a few lights and you have a whole new outdoor lighting design! - 30228
