News

Outdoor Lighting Tip: What do you want to achieve with your outdoor lighting?

One of the most important considerations when thinking about outdoor lighting is what exactly do you hope to light up? There is a huge difference between a lighting sensor for security and an uplight to enhance your favourite tree. Are you aiming to light up the deck or patio so you can read in the evening or simply  highlight the deck railing?

To create the best outcome you need to figure out these questions first as the projects will differ completely. Also keep in mind what your needs may be in the future. If you are thinking of getting a qualified electrician to install sensor lights by your new garage then consider that you may wish to add lights in the garden next to the garage in a year then get your electrician to take this into account now.

Some of the key terms you will come across in your planning process will be:

UPLIGHTS: simply lights that are directed upwards so that the light is cast skyward. This is a type of landscape lighting used to enhance the visual impact of specific features in a garden such as plants, trees or sculptures.

DOWNLIGHTS: opposite to uplight in that the light is directed downwards. The light is presented more naturally to the human eye as we are used to light coming from this direction. They are more functional than uplights and are commonly used for purposes such as security.

LOW-VOLTAGE: outdoor lighting is generally low-voltage as opposed to indoor lights which are a higher voltage. This is for safety reasons. Low-voltage basically means the lights run on a low voltage; typically 12volt (12v).

TRANSFORMER: due to the low-voltage of outdoor lighting a transformer is required to reduce the high-voltage running through the power lines and into a more suitable form for the outdoor lights which are a operate on a lower voltage.

Home trends: the shift of the indoor area to the outdoor

A noticeable trend over the past few years has been the expansion of the indoor area to the outdoor; these days most things you have indoors you can also have out. As outdoor patios and decks are expanded, heating and lighting are added which then extends the outdoor season. Once you have protection from rain, wind and the cold it adds a whole new element to your outdoor environment. BBQs can be used during winter, outdoor projectors set up and movies watched during a cool winters night from a spa pool, teenagers can sit outside with their friends and not take up the lounge in the evening.

It is a global trend that has seen homeowners look to make better use of their outdoor spaces by starting to invest more time and money into creating outdoor entertainment areas. Some of the main new additions to outdoor spaces have been fire pits, outdoor speakers and outdoor LED lighting. Fire pits of course not only provide a functional use in the warmth and light they give off but create a great focal point to gather around for social occasions.

Outdoor fire pit (from HomeDIT)

Waterproof speakers and wireless connectivity allows homeowners to install speakers strategically around their outdoor space for ease of music listening.

Outdoor speakers from Bose

With advancements in LED light technology bringing down the cost to make LED lights much more affordable and so adding a new dimension to outdoor lighting - strip lights which can be added underneath stairs or deck railing; eco-friendly uplights to highlight plants and trees; or decorative lights which are multicoloured, wireless and rechargeable.

LED light cubes from Larala Lights

This trend is evident in New Zealand as most newly built homes now incorporate an indoor/outdoor flow and new decks are built to be an extension of the living room. We love our summer and our BBQs so it makes sense to invest in creating a comfortable outdoor area that one can use during the winter months. Nothing beats coming home from a hard days work and having a drink in a spectacular outdoor space.

Exterior Lighting - Lighting your Pathways

Exterior lighting for pathways around your home is one of the more important aspects in designing your home and outdoor areas. You obviously want to be able to walk comfortably around your outdoor areas in the evening and this is going to be difficult without light to see by.

Lighting your pathways around your house and garden when done well can really highlight the outdoor areas of your home; however, it is rarely done well. The key often comes down to the placement of the lights. Envision the lights as being a gentle guide showing you the way as opposed to a mass of lights casting light over every square inch. One of the key errors in pathway lighting is placing the lights too close together which creates a 'runway' effect. Another key is subtlety, you want to walk down the path being able to see what you need to see without being blinded so ensure the lights aren't too bright and directed cleverly so they give enough light where you want.

Keep in mind when placing the lights that they can also be used to light up various plants and features in your garden, it's a great way to provide the functionality of lighting the path whilst also showcasing the more interesting aspects of your outdoor areas. It's pointless to waste this chance to highlight your garden if you simply place the lights anyway along the path.