By Marcia Jedd
Safety is a key reason to install an outdoor lighting system, but more and more, aesthetics are sparking market demand. Nick Cervi, president of Night Lights of Arizona, Inc., a Scottsdale-based outdoor lighting design and installation firm, says homeowners often request outdoor lighting schemes to highlight their home’s architectural or garden features.
"Outdoor lighting has become an important component to homeowners," Nick says. "And the homeowners brought contractors' attention to providing a good lighting system." When planning exterior lighting, Nick recommends contractors examine the lifestyle of the homeowners, asking how they plan to use the space.
Most residential exterior lighting uses low-voltage technology, which is safe to install and easy to handle. "Low-voltage lighting uses transformers to reduce home voltage from the standard 110/120 volts to a safe, no-shock 12 volts," Nick says. Transformers may be plugged into any outside outlet, and plastic-coated copper wire is laid in the ground. Individual fixtures clip onto the wire at any point, allowing for flexibility in design.
Fiber optic technology is increasingly used for its safety; no electricity is connected directly to the fixtures. Great for water gardens and pools, this technology uses a projector box and bulb, with thin plastic fiber-optic cables running to individual fixtures.
Nick says these technologies and a plethora of outdoor lighting products make it easy to create lighting zones. Banks of controls allow for different areas of the landscape to be lit independently-- to highlight a special tree or to cast brighter light on the grill in the outdoor kitchen, while keeping the patio lighting softer and more suitable for conversation. "Transformers allow for longer cable runs. New technologies in transformers and the great variety of bulbs available make zones or variations in illuminations possible today," Nick says.
In fact, lighting designers typically use four main kinds of outdoor lighting to get exactly the effect they want:
- Uplighting: fixtures aimed upward for accent and drama
- Downlighting: safety-oriented; used to illuminate large areas or define a pathway
- Zonal lighting: highlighting individual objects and plants
- Moonlighting: a natural effect, evoking light cast by a full moon. Fixtures are often mounted in trees; mix of uplighting and downlighting.
Outdoor lighting Trends and Tips
As outdoor lighting has become more important to homeowners, new products -- and even new design "rules" have emerged:
- Know what you want; thousands of fixture styles and a broad range of illuminations are available today.
- Remember that natural looking, less intrusive fixtures are in. Think soft bronzes and refined styling.
- Hide fixtures so they’re not visible during the day; rocks and plants help.
- Leave coils of wire around fixtures so lighting can be adjustable and flexible.
- Find a focal point such as a path or a beautiful tree to highlight.
- Space walkway lights five to eight feet apart.
- Be sure buried wiring is protected from chewing animals.
The days of floodlights on the corners of the home are gone. With all the choices available and decisions to be made, consider tapping into the expertise of a landscape architect, lighting designer or other lighting specialists to make a big impact for relatively little money. And with their help, the job will be safe and professional.
Marcia Jedd is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer who writes about design and construction frequently.
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