Landscape Lighting Orlando, FL can transform your home into a bold showcase, highlighting fountains, ponds, flower gardens, and even favorite trees. It can also improve the safety and functionality of your property.
However, it’s essential to balance beauty and function. To avoid potential electrical issues, ensure your lights can handle moisture like snow and rain.
Focal points are what grab people’s attention and set apart a section of your landscape from other areas. Without focal points, we get overwhelmed with too much information and our eyes aren’t able to zone into different elements. Focal points can be natural features like this moon gate, or they can be new additions to the landscaping like a water feature or a unique tree or bench. They can be anything that catches the eye and adds to your home’s curb appeal and style.
A well-placed landscape focal point can also work as a conversation starter, drawing in guests and inviting them to explore the whole space. If you have a large yard, this can help people find their way around and creates a sense of comfort and security for your family and friends.
For this reason, it’s important to carefully consider the size and placement of any new landscape focal point before you install it. Focal points should be big enough to capture people’s attention but not so big that they overwhelm your garden or landscape.
Focal points can be any type of inanimate object or living feature, from a tree or large boulder to a statue, bench, or fountain. Focal point lighting can be simple, highlighting a certain color or texture, or it can be more dramatic and create a silhouette effect on the subject. It’s important to choose a lighting style that compliments the nature of the focal point and can be easily maintained.
Using focal points is one of the most effective ways to communicate the value of your landscape and add a personal touch. We encourage our clients to have fun with focal point landscaping and let their creativity shine through. Our team at Whitehouse Landscaping is always happy to help you discover the perfect focal point that fits your landscape and home.
Pathways
If your landscape includes pathways that lead to and from the home or other areas, a well-planned lighting plan will keep them functional at night and safe from accidental trampling. Pathways also provide an opportunity to add light for ambiance and style, which can be achieved with the same techniques as those used on other elements of your landscape.
For pathway lighting, the most common fixture is a traditional post light, which stands on a small post and casts its light on the walkways below. These lights come in a wide range of styles, so you can find one that complements the look of your landscape and offers the functionality you need.
Another option for pathway lighting is a series of short fixtures that are positioned adjacent to the pathway. These lights look like mini-spotlights and can be aimed to illuminate different plants or even architectural features near the pathway. When done well, they can take your pathways from mediocre to amazing.
The key is to avoid putting too many pathway lights in close proximity. Using too many lights can cause the pathway to resemble a runway, and it can also interfere with the ambience you want to create in your landscape. Instead, a good lighting plan should include several of these pathway lights spread out at different points along the pathway and aimed in the right direction to highlight the desired landscaping elements.
Other options for path lighting include bollard lights, which are shaped like pillars and emit light in all directions to illuminate the pathway as well as surrounding plants. They require a bit of maintenance to make sure the bulbs are kept clean, but they can be a great choice for wide paths and open spaces.
Step lights are a cousin to path lighting, and they can be placed within or near steps to offer safety and a welcoming atmosphere. As with pathway lighting, they need to be staggered and focused on accident-prone areas to ensure they work well.
In some cases, the lighting from a fountain or other landscape feature may be bright enough to light up the entire pathway without the need for additional lighting. This is a great way to save energy and resources while still achieving the effect you desire.
Lighting for Entertainment
Many homeowners use landscape lighting to create a warm and inviting place for guests to relax after dark. They want to show off their fountains, ponds, flower gardens and patios — or maybe their favorite trees. But what many don’t realize is that landscape lighting techniques can take the appearance of your backyard even further.
A common technique is uplighting, which uses low-wattage lights to spotlight key features in your yard. This is perfect for illuminating walls, brick, stonework, stucco and flagpoles to really make them stand out. It also eliminates the problem of hot-spots and shadowing that you might have with high-density light.
Downlighting is another commonly used method that can really make your hardscape and softscape features pop. This can be done with sconces or pendants that are specifically designed to cast their light up or down, rather than ejecting it outward. This is particularly beautiful with brick exteriors, stonework or other surfaces that have a lot of texture.
Other techniques are less focused on highlighting specific hardscape or softscape elements, but still have great visual impact. For example, a bluish-tinted light can be set up high in a tree to give the illusion of moonlight. It can be an elegant touch to any garden feature and works well with a variety of tree sizes and shapes.
Finally, a good landscape lighting design should include plenty of ambient light to brighten up the space and make it safer for nighttime activities. This is especially important when it comes to helping you navigate your own outdoor spaces and preventing accidents like trips or falls over things like skateboards, rakes or dog toys.
You should never overlook the importance of safety in your landscape lighting design, and this is why you should always work with an experienced lighting professional that understands the unique dynamics of a home and yard. They’ll know how to balance a variety of aesthetics and lighting techniques without creating glare or casting shadows where you don’t want them. A qualified lighting designer will also take the time to learn more about how you use your landscape and what you enjoy most about it, so they can create a plan that truly makes the most of your outdoor space.
Lighting for Safety
Many homeowners think of landscape lighting as being a way to improve the aesthetics of their property, but well-placed lights can do more than just make things look good. They can also provide safety and security benefits.
Tripping hazards can easily occur when it is dark outside, as people often don’t see steps, stairs, curbs, or other obstacles in their path. Landscape lighting can help prevent these accidents by illuminating areas where they are most likely to happen. It can also be used to highlight other potential dangers, such as steps or uneven ground.
In addition to walkway lights, a homeowner can add lighting for the entrances of their home. This can help to deter intruders by making it more difficult for them to hide and sneak up on the house. It is important to use lights that are properly shielded so the light does not shine in the eyes of any unwanted visitors.
Lighting can also be used to highlight outdoor structures, such as sheds and gazebos. This can help to protect these items at night and keep them from being tripped over or damaged. Lighting can also be used to light a deck or patio, which is helpful for entertaining guests after dark. It can also be used to light a pool or hot tub, which can add a beautiful focal point to an otherwise dreary backyard.
Adding landscape lighting can be a great investment for any homeowner, as it can increase the value of their home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. However, it is important to choose the right lighting fixture for your needs and to perform regular maintenance to ensure the system functions as intended. A professional can help you determine the best type of lighting for your property and design a layout that will meet both your functional and aesthetic goals.