Your patio space requires a variety of outdoor lighting features to make it safe and enjoyable. Garden lights are just one type that you may be searching for. Consider how you can use outdoor flood lights to give your patio design some key areas of illumination. If you think about it, your lighting design will be determined by how you plan on using your patio space.

As the popularity of outdoor rooms continues to rise, so will the availability of a variety of outdoor lighting options. There are a range of patio lighting options available today for more rustic lighting looks or for highlighting specific features. Lighting for your outdoor areas serves essentially the same purposes as your indoor lighting.

Both ambiance and warm lighting are features that an outdoor chandelier can provide. Depending on the type of patio cover you have, you can also hide unique lighting features beneath the rafters to illuminate specific areas of your room or patio. Your lighting choices can also help you to create the walls of your outdoor room. Can’t you just imagine this look now? The perfect seating area is almost magically illuminated by a beam of light coming from beneath the darkness of night sky.

Patio flood light from homedepot.com

This concept is in contrast to the more functional aspects of an outdoor flood light. The design of most flood lights is for function, not looks. Often, they are mounted on or near your home and provide a wash of light for a large area or pathway. If your area requires a fair amount of light, a motion sensor will help to make the lighting operate more efficiently. You will find this to be more convenient and also save you electricity.

Having a motion sensor eliminates the need for a switch. This is helpful when a particular area may make it difficult to install one. This way, you never have to remember to turn the lights off. A motion sensor flood light will also come on if there are intruders or animals in your space, giving you greater peace of mind.

You can also find light emitting diode (LED) technology in patio flood lights. Energy efficiency is the hallmark of LED technology. Both traditional light bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs do not last nearly as long as LED bulbs. The LED lights also operate at cooler temperatures. Climbing ladders to replace bulbs will not be in your immediate future if you go with this style. While more expensive than traditional patio flood lights, these LED styles make for a great investment.

Garden lantern from greenfingers.com

No garden is truly complete without a set of garden lights. Garden lighting fixtures are a hot item right now because they are capable of completely transforming a garden. Types of lights include lanterns, path lights, pond lights and a whole lot more. Lights are important in a garden because they allow you to enjoy your outdoor space at night. The surreal experience of night time viewing is something that everyone should try. The best part is that you do not need many lights to make this happen. Only a few strategically selected lights should be able to get the job done.

Gardens are often equipped with at least one table from which users can sit and enjoy the outdoors. A seating area such as this could be considered to be a high-traffic area, or one that gets used often. It is in these locations where light is needed most. Proper illumination promotes safety and aids in outdoor activities such as dining and conversing. To light up your table, a lantern light can be used. Lantern lights come in both wired and solar models, and are easy to install being that they sit on top your table.

Lantern lights come in many sizes, projecting their light through multiple panels on the sides. The color of these panels can change the color of the light as it passes through. The light generated from these lights is rather subtle and more suited for decoration. Some lanterns have flickering light bulbs inside which simulate the look of a candle. Of course, classical candle powered lanterns are also available. Some lanterns have shaped holes in the sides which light can pass through. Solar lanterns have a panel on top which collects energy for use at night. Solar models keep your table top wire-free and clean.

LED Grow Lights

Over the past few years, LED grow lights have become increasingly popular for a number of reasons. As growing organic foods and gardening are more widespread hobbies, more people are looking for ways to grow their own food. Not everyone has the luxury of having a large outdoor area to grow gardens and plants. LED lights make gardening possible for virtually anyone, anywhere. These grow lights are a smart and economical way to grow the best, healthiest plants and vegetables. Using an LED grow light to grow fresh vegetables, herbs and plants can help save money on grocery bills and are much cheaper than other alternative lighting sources.

Other indoor growing lights are harsher and give off white light glares that can be harmful to plants. This type of lighting can also cause plants to lose a good deal of moisture. LED lights help plants keep their moisture longer, which in turn helps them bloom faster and grow stronger. LED lights are also much more environmentally friendly than alternative lighting sources.

The best way to use LED grow lights is to place the lightweight LEDs close to the plants, with the light directly on them. Other lighting sources must be permanently placed on the ceiling, or come in the form of large, heavy fixtures. The LED lights can be moved easily and placed in different areas without a problem. Being able to move the lights around with such ease is a huge asset to indoor gardens.

Choosing to use LED grow lights in an indoor garden is a great way to save money and be environmentally friendly all at the same time. Not only are you getting the benefit of having grown your own vegetables, plants or herbs, but you are also helping out the environment by keeping greenhouse emissions low.

quicktricity.com

If you are thinking about installing landscape lighting on your property, the first thing that you need to do, if you want your lighting systems to be top-notch, is to come up with a great outdoor lighting design.  This, unfortunately, is easier said than done when you have a huge array of options and fixtures to choose from.   However, with a few simple tips you should be well on your way to coming up with the best design that you possibly can.

The first thing that you have to be careful of is that you don’t over light your property. It can be incredibly easy to go crazy with installing many light fixtures. However, your lights should accent your landscape and the objects that you have chosen to light, not overpower them so that they look like they do at noon in July.  Only use as much light as you need, and the less light that you use, the better.

Next, be careful where you install your light fixtures and try to place them as close to the lighted objects as possible.  This will make sure that you direct all of the light onto the object and you don’t waste any of it spilling over into other areas of your landscape.  If you can’t place your lights close by, try using lighting shields on your fixtures instead, which will accomplish nearly the same effect.

Another strategy to make your lights look the best they possibly can is to match your light fixtures to the style of your home, especially if you are using outdoor track lighting, lanterns, or other fixtures that will be visible.  This tactic creates a sense of continuity and will compliment your home, making it look even better.

Hopefully these three tips have helped you to start thinking about some great outdoor lighting ideas.  Start looking for a few lights for your home today!

Japanese Garden Lantern from gardecor.com

There are many different decorative items you can use to accent your garden area. You will find interesting and unusual statues, fountains and lighting options to enhance the garden. Garden lanterns are a combination of decorative and functional and can be found in several styles including the popular Japanese garden lantern design. Lanterns with an Asian influence often have glass inserts with decorative images. These inserts are usually placed into a metal frame that makes up the base of the lantern. Many styles available for use in the garden come with a looped hanger on top so you can hang them from a post or, you may choose to sit them on the ground.

Some lanterns operate by electric bulb, but many are created to be used as candle lanterns. There are several designs made to hold a traditional votive candle or a larger pillar candle in the base. These candle lanterns are available in an assortment of styles that may or may not include a metal frame, which of course is ideal because it is fire resistant. A good example is the Moroccan candle lantern. Some designs are created from stained glass and are assembled similarly to a glass  lamp shade. The glass may be painted with bright nature images such as flowers or butterflies.

Decorative glass garden lanterns may also be hung from a wire holder to create a festive or romantic atmosphere. Other common lantern materials include natural stone such as granite.  Some are carved with a theme, including lighthouse designs or Eastern-influenced Zen pavilions. Add a candle, and your lantern will glow from within.

If you like the look of old world charm, you might select one of several styles of Victorian lanterns for your backyard area. These have the look of old time oil lamps and are available in a blue or black metal. The base and top are metal, while the lantern portion is made of clear glass. Whatever type of effect you want to create in your garden, there is a style of outdoor lantern that will help you achieve it.

Moroccan Lantern from natashascafe.com

Moroccan history is charming and carries mystique. We all know the stories about Aladdin and other fairy tales about ancient princes and castles. Morocco is known for its food as well as popular products like tea and light fixtures including lanterns. Moroccan candle lanterns are very famous because of their unique and astonishing designs. They are made out of glass and metal with cutouts in them and together they create an amazing effect on their surroundings.

Glass was invented in the Middle East during the Middle Ages, and following its invention, it was incorporated in many items. Back then, Morocco become famous because of its colored glass metal lanterns and craftsmen earned a lot of money by producing them for kings and noble men. The lanterns were used as lighting fixtures for bath houses and also to decorate patios and other rooms, both inside and outside. Only the rich were able to buy these lanterns because it took a lot of time and effort to fabricate one. Of course, they were all handmade and the glass had to be painted (stained) perfectly before it was sold to a king.

Nowadays you can still find handmade Moroccan lanterns that are much more affordable. The production process is cheaper since they are produced in factories. Small lanterns are already available for $5 or $10 and many people like to place these on their tabletops.

You can find cheaper items at bigger stores like Walmart, Nextag or Amazon, but if you want to buy an authentic (handmade) lantern, then you must look for specialized shops. In the US there are a few such shops, but if you search the Internet you will see there are quite a few online shops selling these lanterns. If you really want to be sure they are handmade and authentic, then the best way to buy them is during your holiday to Morocco itself.

Choosing garden lights doesn’t have to be such a serious affair. Add personality and color to your garden by choosing whimsical fixtures. Forget the garden gnomes; place a few of these eclectic fixtures in your yard for special holidays, or leave them out all year long.

Wild Grass Solar Garden Lights (3 LED Lights)

These LED fixtures take the concept of garden lighting literally: they look exactly like stalks of grass! Set them to steadily glow or flash for a special holiday.

Lilies and butterflies

Nothing says spring like lilies and butterflies. These garden lights are about as whimsical as them come! These solar lights even change color, turning from blue to green to pink…

Dragonfly garden stake lights

Actual dragonflies don’t hang around that long, but these solar powered, decorative replicas can illuminate your garden all through the night. They also feature shifting color LEDs.

Pink Flamingo garden lights

Everyone loves a pink flamingo in the front yard. Even better? Pink flamingo garden lights! You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.

You’ve worked hard to make your garden flourish, and one of the best ways to show it off—even at night—is to install garden lighting. But where do you begin?

Determine your goal. While pure aesthetics inspire many to light their gardens, there are several other reasons to develop an outdoor lighting scheme. Safety is a big concern, and garden lighting may help to prevent you or your family members from tripping while crossing the yard at night. Another reason to light your yard is for security. Light, especially motion sensor activated outdoor lighting, discourages trespassers.

Do you want to light your garden only for a season? Create a festive pool-side barbeque area for the summer, or light your yard with festive outdoor holiday lighting. However, garden lighting is an amenity that can be enjoyed year-round from the comfort of your home. In this case, consider the position of your windows and your best garden views.

Identify the focal points. The first type of fixture that might come to mind is garden path lighting. While these fixtures can help you find your way, they probably aren’t the only type of fixture you need to showcase all of your hard work. Consider the focal points of your garden: interesting trees, fountains and seating areas. Draw a loose sketch of your garden and mark the locations of these elements. The best garden lighting schemes include a combination of path lighting, decorative garden lighting, accent lighting and garden spotlights. However, there is also a fine line between adequately lighting your garden and flooding it with light.

Set a budget. If your budget is limited, your plan should be conservative with emphasis on cheap garden lighting. You may also be concerned about electricity usage and are wondering about the benefits of solar garden lights. Electricity use can be avoided altogether by using candles in lanterns for a romantic atmosphere. Keep in mind that they require more vigilance and maintenance than an electrical garden lighting system with automatic timers. If this more complex system is in your budget, consider hiring a landscape designer or a skilled electrician.

Get educated about garden light fixtures. Take a walk around your neighborhood at night and find inspiration in your neighbors’ outdoor lighting schemes. Visit your local home improvement store to get an idea of the size, shape and weight of the fixtures available. There are many types of garden lighting from which to choose, and we’ll break down the pros and cons of each.