There are so many different landscape lighting options available. There are spot lights (focus on small areas), flood lights (light up wide areas), entrance lights (driveways and sidewalks), up lights and down lights (statues, trees, trellis), well lights (walls and trees) and many more.
First, start with a plan on paper. Draw out your property including all the landscaping features. Mark on the plan where you want to install the lights.
Here is a tip for testing your lighting ideas with a flashlight. Get a friend or family member (kids work great) to highlight the area you want illuminated. Then go walk to the various viewpoints on your property to get an idea if you like the lighting style.
Now go back to your plan and make any changes that you wish based on your testing.
There are 3 main lighting options available; solar, low or high voltage lighting. High voltage requires an electrician and is not recommended for a do it yourself project.
Solar is great for low level light requirements. But if you need more consistent lighting, then consider installing a low voltage lighting kit. You can often find a great selection of powered landscape lighting kits at your local hard ware or home builder center. But remember, always check your local city codes and get a professional to identify any buried electrical, water or sewer lines on your property. Being cautious is the most important prevention tool you can use.
Solar landscaping lights are easy to install. You just assemble them (if required) and install them where you want to have the light. Keep in mind that the more light they receive during the day, the better they will perform.
Low voltage kits are easy to install as well but require a little more planning. The kits usually ship with a control box that plugs into an external power outlet. Then you connect all the light fixtures to the control box with an electrical cable. You assemble and install the lights, then connect the wire to the control box and plug it in. The last step is to setup the timer on the control box and you are done.
Tom is a freelance article writer with many years of experience. You can check out his latest project which involves helping you pick the best Jenn Air refrigerator whether you need a Jenn Air wine cooler or Jenn Air French door refrigerator. Be sure to visit Jenn Air Refrigerator for more information.
