The Best Ways to Update the Lighting on Your Patio or Exterior Landscape

Summer is coming to an end, and with it comes the start of the fall season. That means we can finally begin to look forward to crisp, colorful leaves, cool breezes, cozy sweaters, warm fires, and holiday fun. After all, there’s nothing better than settling in on your porch or patio with warm clothes and a cup of hot cider, watching the beautiful foliage and smelling that special scent in the autumn air.

As the sweltering summer heat begins to subside, many of us might start to spend more time outdoors to enjoy the cool temperatures before winter comes around. Finding clothes for a comfortable body temperature is easier than ever, especially when you’re close to the warmth and safety of your own home. But as the days grow shorter, you might require an update in outdoor landscape lighting in order to enjoy the scenes of the season once the sun goes down.

Easy Ways to Update Your Landscape Lighting

When it comes to landscape lighting, it’s all about maintaining a balance between utility and creativity. Utility is essentially just safety: creating that comfortable feeling, as well as literally just being able to walk around your outdoor area without any risk. Creativity, on the other hand, just comes down to what you want your outdoor area to look like.

Safety Updates

When it comes to utility lighting in the exterior of your home, you’ll want to consider step lights, deck lights, and spotlights.

  • Deck Lights: These lights can be placed on the railing, steps, or floor of your deck. They create a soft illumination that provides a warm, safe feeling and strong visibility within the area. Also, they’re dim enough that you can still have excellent visibility when looking out beyond your deck.
  • Step Lights: These lights are placed on your steps and provide a similar function as deck lights. The create enough light so that you can safely walk up and down your steps without a risk of slipping or stumbling.
  • Spotlights: Spotlights can be placed strategically in order to allow visibility in any specific area of your outdoor space. For all of these types of lighting, consider getting lights that include a timer or motion sensor. This will maximize convenience and energy efficiency. Also, freshening a light with a simple shine is always a good idea.

Creative Updates

When it comes to creativity, you’ll want to consider uplighting, moonlighting, shadowing, and silhouetting. These are further explained below:

  • Uplighting: This kind of lighting requires a spot light or well light. You simply aim your light upwards, usually at a tree, which creates visual drama and visibility perfect for the fall foliage.
  • Silhouetting: This kind of lighting requires a spotlight or well light. You point a light towards a tree and accentuate its silhouette. Usually, the light is pointed toward and beyond the tree in the direction of your vantage point.
  • Shadowing: This kind of lighting requires a spotlight, well light, or flood light. You point the light towards the tree from your vantage point in order to accentuate its shadows: perfect for the spooky Halloween season, or simply to create some beautiful shapes in your outdoor space.
  • Moonlighting: This kind of lighting requires a spotlight. You place the spotlight high up in a tree and point it downwards, highlighting the lower branches and/or a particular area of your garden.
  • String lights are also a fun way to liven and lighten up your outdoor space. They provide a soft, unobtrusive glow, ideal for a relaxing fall night.

Need more help with Outdoor Lighting designs or decorations?

Of course, you can find all of these lights and more at Beautiful Things Lighting. We have Outdoor Lighting Specialists who can help light up your Patio, Porch, Backyard, Landscape, Deck, Garden, and more! We offer top quality outdoor lighting products made out of marine-grade steel with extremely strong manufacturers warranties that last long. Stop by www.beautifulthingslighting.com to learn more about Exterior Lights!