Outdoor lighting today comes in many shapes and sizes. There are traditional floodlights for areas like driveways and garages. There are landscape lights that can be positioned in the ground or in trees. Light-emitting diodes are allowing outdoor lights to produce bright illumination while consuming very little power. Solar landscape lights are available that charge during the day and shine at night. Joel Mayor, owner of an Austin lighting company, says that installing outdoor lighting has several clear benefits.
Extra Security
One of the main benefits of outdoor lighting is added security around the home. Outdoor lighting has been proven to act as a deterrent for burglars and vandals. Good lighting covering doors, windows and the larger property make it difficult or impossible for criminals to approach the house without being detected. Outdoor lighting also provides better security for people inside of the home. The lighting will illuminate anything suspicious outside of the house so the people inside can see. An added benefit is that outdoor lighting with motion detectors intended for security can sometimes lower insurance costs.
​Enhance Landscaping
Strategically chosen and placed outdoor lighting can enhance the landscaping and architecture of the property. Landscape lights can be staked into the ground and angled upwards to illuminate trees, bushes and the wall of a home in a dramatic way. They can provide soft colors that accent plantings or structures like gazebos. Outdoor lighting can even be placed inside of a water feature like a fountain, pool or pond to create a distinctive appearance.
Added Safety for Family and Guests
Walking across a property can be dangerous for family members and guests if there is not proper lighting. Outdoor lights can be installed in key locations in order to make moving around a yard or lawn safer. Path lights can mark the edges of a walkway and illuminate any irregularities. Lights can be positioned to shine down on stairs so no one trips when entering or leaving the house at night. Bright outdoor lighting will make sure no one falls over branches that were blown into a path by the wind. Outdoor lighting makes it safer to spend time outside the house.
Expand the Living Area
Decks and patios are meant to be a functional area used for living. They are extensions of the space inside of the home. Outdoor lighting around a deck or patio can expand the living area of the house even when it is dark outside. The lights allow the family to move seamlessly from indoors to outdoors without worrying about bringing a lantern or setting up a lamp. Additionally, designer lighting can make outdoor areas and patios feel very inviting when entertaining guests. A number of lighting options can be integrated directly into the deck or patio.
Add Value to the Home
An attractive property is always worth more than one that simply looks average. Properly installed and carefully positioned outdoor lighting will add value to any home. It can make the house look more attractive from the curb so potential buyers are impressed immediately. Outdoor lighting shows that the areas outside of a house are useable, safe and secure. The right lighting can add special ambiance to the home by deepening colors or accenting features like balconies or distinctive siding. Increasing curb appeal and property value is a major reason why many homeowners install outdoor lighting.
