Well-designed, high-quality outdoor lighting transforms your property at night. Experts in the industry take on the design as an art form and the installation as a meticulous and careful process with no room for taking shortcuts. With years of experience, we can make it look a lot easier than you might think.
We know there are a lot of do-it-yourselfers in the Greater Seattle area. And hey, we don’t blame you for taking great pride in all things related to your home. It feels good to put some sweat equity into it. So, while we HIGHLY recommend you seriously consider leaving your landscape lighting design and installation to the professionals, we know not everyone will. To help you avoid some of the biggest pitfalls of installing your own landscape lighting, we offer you six quick tips to get you started:
- Don’t go cheap. We know there are shelves and shelves of very affordable outdoor lights at your local big box. We also know that these lights are not quality lights. When choosing your lights, don’t choose plastic, don’t choose solar, and fully expect the powder coating to flake off if you choose powder-coated aluminum. And chances are, you’ll pay more for them, in the long run, to get the effect and replace them when they break. Your best choice is copper or brass for a long-lasting investment and high-quality light.
- Focus on your home first. When creating your outdoor lighting design and deciding what to illuminate, start with your home. Illuminate all its best features with subtle lighting and then work your way out to your favorite trees, outdoor living areas, and landscape features.
- Less is more. Remember, you’re not trying to replicate the daylight. The idea is to create subtle visibility and ambiance, not a beacon in the night.
- Layer lights. Some items require a layered approach for a three-dimensional effect. Consider shining a focal light on more than one side of a fountain or sculpture to really give it depth.
- Choose LED. With today’s LED outdoor lighting being as beautiful or more so than previous popular low-voltage options, it is a no-brainer. LED outdoor lighting uses 80% less energy than halogen and bulbs last 10x longer! And be careful. Not all LED is created equal, high-quality LED outdoor lights with a warranty are your best bet.
- Double-check your work at night. You might think it all works well and looks great during your daytime installation process, but it is vital to check your lighting at night and make adjustments.
When designed and installed correctly, Seattle outdoor lighting can transform your property into a nighttime retreat. You’ll enjoy the warm welcome and lovely outdoor living space of a five-star resort, right at your own home. Installing outdoor lighting requires working with electricity, burying wires, and perfecting the lighting design. Due to the complex nature of the design and the technical side, it really is best to leave it to the pros. If you decide to skip doing it yourself, give us a call at (425) 414-8885, we would be happy to design and install a custom outdoor lighting system for you!
