light up the night

Let your landscape tell a visual story with the help of outdoor lighting.

By Ty Wyant

Blinding floodlights saturating yards and attracting bugs are history. No longer does nighttime lighting consist of turning on a 100-watt porch light at dusk and turning it off when you fetch the morning paper.

Lavish landscapes deserve attention, and imaginative outdoor lighting can bring a landscape to life. “Think of it as painting a picture of landscape at night,” says Dan Blitzer, education consultant for the American Lighting Association in Dallas.

A variety of outdoor lighting fixtures helps you accomplish that goal. “The trend is the tremendous [fixture] variety” that’s now available, says Joe Rey-Barreau, director of the University of Kentucky’s Lighting and Design Center. “Over the last 10 years, the public has become much more knowledgeable about style and design; consumers want variety and manufacturers are producing it.”

Attractive outdoor lighting begins with a less-is-more philosophy. “It’s important not to over-light,” Blitzer says. “What you should see is the landscape, not the lights, so that the outdoor lighting tells a visual story.” Practical exceptions include brightly lit driveways for basketball and well-lit children’s outdoor play spaces.

“Typically, in a nighttime environment, you really don’t need much light,” Rey-Barreau agrees. “If you over-light, you draw too much attention to the property. Create a gentle, soft look.”

To achieve that, focus lighting on two features—vegetation and architecture. “For deciduous trees and sparse evergreens, place an up light within the tree canopy,” Rey-Barreau suggests. “For dense evergreens, place it outside the canopy.”

A down light in a complementary fixture is best for highlighting flower beds and vegetation. When highlighting architectural features, generally bring the light close to the feature. “If the house has a unique quality, bring the light close to the home for a grazing effect,” Rey-Barreau says. A grazing light on a textured surface, like a wall or a fence, adds visual dimension. Also, soft light on flowing water or an unpretentious underwater light adds serenity to any water feature.

Sound Reasons

Besides beautifying your property, smartly lit exteriors serve two important purposes: preventing accidents and discouraging break-ins. Discreetly lit walkways and steps reduce falls—especially in icy areas—and lighting dark areas around the home increases security.

Inexpensive motion-detector lights can welcome guests and ward off intruders, while solar-powered lights can provide light even when you’re away. “We recommend exterior lighting—especially on doors—because it makes it riskier for intruders,” says Lt. Joe Gang of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. “Also, please place a light on the house number so emergency responders can determine the proper address.”

Pathway lights should clearly define walking surfaces. “Path lights generally have a 6-foot lighting radius,” Rey-Barreau notes. “Place them about 12 feet apart so they don’t overlap.”

Low-Voltage Lowdown

Thanks to low-voltage lighting, the “Dark Ages” of glaring floodlights are gone. Low-voltage systems reduce a home’s electrical current through a transformer. This reduced voltage powers lights connected to the low-voltage circuit.

Low-voltage systems have three advantages: reduced energy consumption, lower operating costs and increased lamp life. Simple low-voltage systems cost about as much to run as a child’s train set—a bargain in this era of soaring energy prices. “We use xenon bulbs,” says Adrian Mondello of Redwood Landscape in Boulder. “They cost a few dollars more [about $7 each], but last about 10 years.”

Since low-voltage lights operate on reduced voltage, they’re also easier to install than conventional lights. Some systems operate at one-tenth of a home’s 120 volts, so there’s no electric shock from exposed wires. With a little planning and a free day, any homeowner can install a string of low-voltage lights along a walk or in a yard. For do-it-yourselfers, transformers start at about $200 and most designer fixtures cost between $50 and $100.

Your first consideration is the transformer, which must be capable of powering the farthest light on the light string. Experts recommend installing a transformer that performs beyond your current needs so you can add additional lights without having to replace it.

“The biggest mistake people make is buying cheap transformers and fixtures,” Mondello says. “Another is not using silicone-filled wires that won’t corrode.” Purchase a high-quality, rigid transformer with a good seal so water can’t short it out, he suggests. Also, consider brass or copper fixtures because cheaper materials often bend.

If you want low-voltage lights in a hardscape, like pavers and steps, hire a professional installer. For a typical suburban yard and garden, installed low-voltage systems start at between $1,000 and $1,500; more elaborate systems can range up to $5,000.

Good Day Sunshine

Eco-friendly, solar-powered lights are another easily installed option. These fixtures have a photovoltaic (PV) panel that generates electricity from sunshine and stores it in a battery that lights the lamp at night. Installation couldn’t be easier; just stick the fixture in the ground and a sensor automatically activates it at dusk.

Since they don’t require wires, solar-powered lights can be placed anywhere and moved to new locations. “They’re a great option for easy installation and durability,” Mondello says, “and they work particularly well in places where you don’t need much light.”

Since there are no transformers or wires, solar-powered lights are cheaper, too. Simple pathway lights and spotlights start at under $25, with higher-quality decorative units ranging up to $100.

The lowest-priced models may have dimmer lights, but are suitable for some walkways and for highlighting a few small plants. However, their reduced power means the light may not last through the night, especially during winter’s shorter days.

Aesthetically, PV panels on some solar-powered models may be unsightly and there are fewer design options than for low-voltage fixtures. And if snow covers the PV panel, the bulb won’t light at night. So, always place solar-powered fixtures in sunny, non-shaded areas.

The best way to reap the benefits of each option is to combine them in your landscape. Where consistent light is required in well-used areas, install low-voltage fixtures with chic designs. Add solar lights in sunny, out-of-the-way spots and places too far from the transformer to be powered by the low-voltage system.

With creative planning and a less-is-more philosophy, outdoor lighting can turn your landscape into a painting that even Georgia O’Keeffe might have envied.

Ty Wyant is former associate editor of Boulder County Home & Garden Magazine. He’s trying to get off the grid and on to solar lighting at his new home in New Mexico.

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