Buying an outdoor lighting system that meets the specific needs of the user is not an easy task as there are numerous factors that have to be taken into consideration. These factors include the control systems, the type of lights, the power usage and the design and installation of the outdoor lighting system.
In this article we shall discuss some important factors to keep in mind while purchasing the outdoor lighting system as well as the necessary techniques to employ while buying and installing the outdoor lighting system you have chosen.
Before buying the outdoor lighting system one should carefully decide upon one's specific needs and wants. It is important to decide all the details of the budget, lighting, power and design requisites.
It is important to decide upon the lighting system on the basis of the function expected of the outdoor lighting systems. The average purpose of an outdoor lighting system is to aid in visibility.
It is used for lighting up pathways and garden areas. Outdoor lighting systems offer a variety of potions such as lighting up the entire expanse of the garden or even lighting up specific areas of the garden, in order to highlight particular features.
It is important to be specific of the purposes you want your outdoor lighting system to serve as most people wish to derive more than a single use out of their lighting system. However, it is important to prioritize between the tasks you wish your outdoor lighting system to perform as it can play an important role in determining the lighting system.
Being able to choose the correct lighting system is imperative. Taking the design style of your house and garden into consideration is important. There are various design options available such as certain traditional and conventionally aesthetic or funky bright colored lights which jazz up the entire atmosphere with a party-like feel. There are some techniques which have to put into use to achieve maximum efficiency out of the lighting system. One of these techniques is that of Silhouetting. In this technique the lights are focused on a level, perpendicular surface which are placed behind the subject which is meant to be highlighted by the lighting system. For example, one can use an outdoor lighting system to highlight interestingly placed trees to give the effect of trees with a sunset in the background. The technique of Shadowing is in direct contrast to the technique of Silhouetting. In this technique, the lighting fixture is positioned in front of the subject so that intriguing shadows are created on a vertical surface behind the object, adding an element of mysterious appeal to the visual setting. Another technique is that of Spot Lighting in which the lights are placed at a distance in front of the object to be emphasized. This helps in lighting up the entire subject and thus making it attention catching and appealing.
Outdoor lighting is most effective when used sparingly and in specific spots. Your garden is the transition space between the outside world and your own home. The right lighting can make your garden into another room of your house as well as providing an attractive outlook from inside. And your garden can look surprisingly different at night-time. Just a few lights in appropriate places will create interesting pools of light and shadow. Directional lighting will highlight features that may go unnoticed during the day, like the bark of a silver birch or a eucalypt, or a tinkling fountain. Even sheets of falling rain and swirling shrouds of mist can become dramatic features of your landscape with the right lighting.
Do check that your directional lighting shines onto the feature you intend it to and not into your neighbour's bedroom window. And consider that a tree you want to highlight may be home to birds and other wild-life. You can minimize disruption to their habitat by using an automatic time-clock on your lighting.
For driveways, paths and steps, use lights that are directed to your feet to create pools of light to guide you. A light that is too high will shine into your face and leave the path and steps in shadow. A lamp next to your front door may look attractive, but a pool of light directed onto the door knocker, the keyhole and the step will provide a safer and warmer welcome for you and your visitors.
Choose colour temperatures to suit what you are trying to light and the mood you are trying to create. The colour temperature of a light is measured in Kelvins (K). The higher the colour temperature, the cooler the light will look. For example, metal halide lamps have a high, cool colour temperature that makes the greens and blues of the foliage in your garden look fresh and bright. Lamps with low, warm colour temperatures bring out the warmth of reds and oranges, like candlelight. An example of cool and warm colour temperature lighting complementing each other in your garden design would be to create a cool, fresh garden with warm pools of light around the paved areas where people gather and sit or linger over a candle-lit dinner.
The Colour Rendering Index(CRI) indicates how a light reacts under different parts of the colour spectrum. This applies particularly to metal halide and fluorescent lights, affecting the appearance of flowers and shrubs and also skin tones. And low-pressure sodium lights give out a huge amount of light but suppress both greens and reds, so that everything looks yellow and grey. Which brings us back to that traffic intersection.
A catalog will give you the specifications and features of the lighting you are considering, but if you are still in the dark, your lighting showroom will have a consultant who can shed some light on the subject for you.
Both Tom Dahne & Rita Preece are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tom Dahne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Marketing Tool and Internet Marketing. Article Written ByTom DahneLearn about lighting, lights and how to light your home inside and out, just visit and. Tom Dahne's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Rita Preece has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Mobile Phone Reviews and Jewelry. The author has created beautiful gardens in England and New Zealand. She lives in Australia, where her garden is interesting all year round, despite the watering restrictions. Read more about. Rita Preece's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.