The three facets of lighting - accent, ambient and task - apply to outdoor lighting just as they do for indoor lights. But the way they are implemented will be extraordinarily different.
Where an interior room angle is, say, ninety degrees the outside corner is also thought of as ninety degrees. But, measured the same way, it's essentially 270 degrees. That difference produces only one of many wrinkles inherent in an outdoor lighting scheme.
Security is one of the most basic concerns in many outdoor lighting schemes though it's infrequently the first.
Deep shadows produced by bushes, nooks, trashcans and other common outside home features present a challenge. Place them on both corners of a wall, angled inward and there will be very few places for potential home invaders to hide.
Add motion sensors near points of entry - low windows, tiny garage doors, the rear and front entrances and so on - and you may have a system that saves energy and looks more low key, but still covers your home.
All of the above could be categorized under the header of ambient lighting. Clearly, though, the outside scheme is absolutely different than providing general room illumination indoors.
But home protection isn't the only reason to add lights to the outdoor. Convenience can be crucial, too. That is where task lighting comes into play.
You drive up onto the driveway then walk up to your front door. But trees, agricultural districts and other considerations may lead them to be absent or insufficient. Finding keys and the front door lock can be annoying without good coverage of the walkway and entrance. So, task lights that give adequate light to the driveway, walkways and front door become important.
There are occasions when you will have to do minor repairs when it's dusk or dark. A damaged window may not wait until morning. Dusk may be the one time you have to finish a chunk of garden. Good task lighting can provide you with permanent or mobile solutions.
But when folk think about out of doors lighting, accent lights are usually uppermost in mind.
Solar lawn lights allow for wire-free, straightforward installation that never needs batteries.
Wall accents are another often found feature of outdoor lighting schemes, thanks to their capability to provide focus. Tiny indirect spots can give a home that 'looks like a quality TV commercial' touch. Outdoor wall sconces come in 100 different designs. That makes it easy to integrate them with the rest of the home design or add decorative accents that suit any individual taste.
Invest in
outdoor lighting and you'll be safer, walk and work with confidence, and add a gorgeous illuminated look to your home.
