8 Easy Steps to Light Up Your Yard

The first and most important step to creating the right atmosphere anywhere is figuring out the lighting, and Americans know this. They use so much lighting that it makes up for six percent of our total energy consumption! That's a lot when you think about it!

Well, the lighting is important for safety, security, and creating the right atmosphere. If you have an outdoor space that you're looking to light up, then you're in luck! There are some easy steps you can take to make your yard glow how you want it.

Let's talk about some outdoor lighting options for your yard!

Outdoor Lighting Tips: Choose The Areas

Choose the areas you want to be lit up first is important so you can understand what kind of lighting is right for you. If you just want your back patio lit up, then there are plenty of options for you.

However, you might also want stream lighting going down your walkway or along your fence. You might want holiday lighting on your trees. Just consider which areas you want your lighting in the most, and add on to it as you see fit.

Consider Lighting Type

Do you want stream lighting? Do you want lighting posts going down your walkway? You probably already have that figured out, so what kind of bulbs do you want?

If you want energy-efficient lights, then LED lighting is the only choice. Not only does this help the planet, but it helps your wallet, both upfront and over the long term. It'll save you on your electric bill, and they won't need to be replaced as often as other lights. Rope lights, string lights, light posts, spotlights, it doesn't matter.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and while they used to be more expensive than regular bulbs, that's not the case anymore, and they reduce energy costs by over 80 percent, making them the right choice for any lighting situation.

Atmosphere

What kind of atmosphere are you trying to create? Do you want a winter wonderland for half the year and nice firepit lighting for the other half? You might just be trying to scare away burglars with spotlights.

Consider what mood you want to set with your lighting and plan accordingly. Strip lights and rope lights are awesome for subtle, relaxing environments, neon lighting is great for a party atmosphere, and holiday lighting is great for family activities!

Consider Safety Factors

Do you have a pool or a pond? Making sure they are well-lit at night can reduce the risk of falling in, especially if you have children. However, that's not the only risk.

If your yard is really uneven, has a lot of ditches, rocks, or exposed roots, lighting can prevent injuries from occurring. In general, it's a lot safer to see where you're walking at night in the yard. Your child could leave a toy out, or there could be some yard tools lying around, or anything else.

Social Spaces Are A Must

Lighting your patio correctly instantly creates a better atmosphere to hang out with your friends. Same thing by the pool. Lighting your deck not only looks cool but can increase safety by the stairs or railings at night!

Increases Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is not only important for being the envy of the neighborhood, but it adds so much value when it's time to sell. Curb appeal is important to buyers because it's the first thing they see when they arrive to check out the house.

If they don't like the look of the outside, chances are they'll just keep on driving and not even give the inside a chance. If they show up in the dark to take a glance and see a stand-out, well-lit house, that's likely to be very appealing to them.

Highlights

You can even use the lighting to accentuate some of the best features of your property. If you have nicely trimmed bushes out front, having the right lighting above them to put them on display will improve the aesthetics greatly.

Have some cool landscaping features? Lighting always helps. If you have a curvy walkway, imagine it with light posts going alongside it the entire way. If you have a nice garden, birdbath, pond, or anything else, lighting can greatly improve its appeal.

Have Balance

You want the right mix of security and aesthetics. Burglars avoid well-lit houses for obvious reasons, so as long as you have a couple of spotlights and enough overall lighting, this should be enough to deter them. Keep the spotlights on overnight, and turn them off if you're trying to enjoy a nice relaxing night with your friends or family, as the constant on-and-off will get annoying.

Every yard is different. Your front yard is even different from your back one. Assess the needs and highlights of your specific yard, what you want to show off and what you don't, and plan it out from there. Make it look professional and unique to your property. 

Get Lit!

The right yard lighting gives so much more appeal to any property, and it's not expensive at all to make such a dramatic improvement.

Now that you know some great outdoor lighting tips, get started today and turn your yard into the property you've always dreamed of! Still not entirely sure about your yard's specific needs? No problem. Find out how many lumens your yard needs and get shopping today!