The
Outdoor Lighting Design Guide
The
snow is melted. Your boots have moved to
storage. You can actually see grass. Was that a bird chirping?
Congratulations
– you’ve survived the long winter months.
As spring blooms around you, you no longer will be relegated to staring
at the great outdoors from your living room window. Barbeques, warm evenings spent on a porch
swing, and dining on your patio will be the new normal, and as the sun sets,
you can be certain your outdoor living space turns up the lights and the style.
Take
a look – there are thousands of outdoor lighting options available. Front yard or back yard, porch or patio, choosing
what fixture is best for your space can be overwhelming. You may be asking yourself: Which outdoor lighting design is right for
me?
Selecting
an Outdoor Lighting Style
What
style home do you have? If it is a 1920s
Tudor style with sweeping lawns, a brick patio, and a fountain, probably you
want to stay away from a large, modern globe light best befitting a mid-century
architectural style home. Since the
lighting fixture you choose ultimately will become a functional ornament for
your exterior, it must match the style and line of your home.
What
Outdoor Lighting Material is Best?
Light
fixtures, to your benefit or detriment, are available in an incredible array of
materials and finishes. How do you
choose? One factor to consider, of
course, is what material will best complement your home’s style and existing
trim. If, for instance, your home has
copper gutters or a wrought-iron fence, carry the theme through to your
lighting fixtures, too. For the
consideration of aesthetics, you want your new outdoor lighting fixture to
blend in with your home.
Another
factor to consider is your region’s climate.
If you happen to live in a region with extreme weather patterns, be sure
to find a weather-resistant fixture that will last a long time. Luckily, most fixtures are designed with this
in mind.
How
Do You Use Your Outdoor Living Space?
Any
designer worth their salt will agree: form AND function is the magic blend for
a good design. So you may have found
your perfect aesthetic fixture fit, but how will it function?
Is
your outdoor living space a weekends-only retreat, or are you sitting outside
every chance you have? If you plan to
live outside this summer, it would be worthwhile to find an energy-efficient
lighting fixture that won’t wreck the environment or your electric bill. Solar lighting fixtures are an ideal solution
if your region is certain to capture enough rays during the day.
Do
you need enough light to read by, or is a soft glow that guides you to a door
enough? If you’re lighting your front
porch or walk-way, likely one to two sconce lighting fixtures and a lamppost
will function beautifully. If
illuminating your back patio where the family frequently dines or plays after
sunset, consider adding more fixtures in prominent places to light your entire
space.
Feeling
more confident? Shop our online catalog
now for a tremendous selection of decorative
outdoor lighting fixtures, sconces, hanging pendants, ceiling
fixtures, lampposts, and more.
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