More and more home owners are beginning to incorporate their outdoor space into their living space. Patios, decks, and yards now have as much thought put into décor and ambiance as the house itself. So its important to choose the right external lamps.
Besides choosing the right style lamp it's also important to choose fixtures that are the correct size and properly proportioned for the area they will be placed. The most common mistake made is to purchase fixtures that are too small for the area.
Remember the fixtures you choose can make or break your look. When choosing your fixtures for the door area the size of your lamps is based on the height of your door. If you are going to use a single lantern it should about 1/3 of the height, but if you use a pair of lanterns they can be ¼ of the height of the door.
Mount the lamps at eye level or just slightly higher. Make sure your fixtures are large enough to be noticed. Remember when you stand 50 feet away you'll notice that the lamps appear about half their size. It's really important to remember when buying lamps that are post mounted. For the best curb appeal go bigger!
These days outdoor lighting
incorporates more than just safety and security. It's about the "look" and the "décor" too! Sadly a quick look around will reveal plenty of bad examples of outdoor lighting.
The wrong size and poor placement cause all kinds of problems such as glare or light that is illuminating the neighbor's property rather than your own. Light that's bouncing up is also a big problem and it's a growing problem often referred to as light pollution. Do your part to controlling light pollution by paying attention to where you place your lights.
Here are some tips:
1. Use the most efficient type of lighting that's suitable for the task.
2. Be considerate of your neighbors and make sure lighting does not trespass into their yard.
3. Use lamps to light driveways and walkways
4. Reduce the wattage in areas where it is appropriate such as walkways. You don't always need bright lights.
5. Place lights on timers so they turn on and off automatically.
6. Use spot or flood lighting in dark areas where you require good lighting.
7. Use lamps on decks and patios to create ambiance and mood. Your lighting can help make your area relaxing and inviting. Perfect for those get togethers with friends and family.
8. Door lighting should be adequate so that you can see who is at the door before opening.
9. Use energy efficient lighting to conserve energy and your energy costs.
10. Choose the appropriate type of lamps - halogen, fluorescent, metal halide, and incandescent lighting all have a place.
Picture this. As you pull into your driveway the overhead lamp kicks on providing enough light to lock your car and grab your packages in comfort, the walkway glows invitingly with low light lamps that lead the way to the front door where your door lamps make the entrance clearly visible. Then as you glance around the corner you see the deck's warm orange glow from the lamps mixed with soft laughter from the gang enjoying a cup of java. Sound nice? It could be your outdoor space.
Give some thought to your external lamps and your yard will not only have functional lighting it will look great!
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