Making a home safe is not a venture that should be undertaken halfheartedly. Home security requires a multi-pronged approach and when handled correctly, the end results can be not only a safer home, but also a more attractive one, too. Outdoor lights are a great example of a security feature that can also enhance the appearance of a home. The trick is to find the right combination of lights that also offer fixtures that make a home look more attractive.
As you look for outdoor lighting, consider a combination of different types of lights in different areas to make sure security bases are covered. Find the functions you need and then look through the styles. Lights come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so finding what's perfect for an individual home shouldn't be a big chore.
Outdoor light add protection to a home by enabling the homeowner to light up the outside of the home , taking away dark spots and shadows. This helps get rid of any hiding places bad guys might have and can help keep you, your family and your home safer.
There are several options for outdoor lighting that can both enhance your home and add to its security.
These include: Motion detectors: These lights come in all kinds of shapes and sizes for outdoor use. They use an infrared system to automatically turn on lights when motion takes place in the light's area of coverage. They generally are not sensitive enough to activate when an animal goes by, but they will go off when a person passes within a set area. These lights not only surprise the bad guys; they come in handy when you need a sector of your yard lighted for your use at night, too. They tend to be ideal for covering a more broad area.
Auto timed lights: These operate on a timer to help, automatically illuminating the outside of the house at a set time. They are great for everyday use and are wonderful when a homeowner is away, too. There's no need to remember to turn the lights on - these do it for you.
Floodlights: These offer a lot of light, a whole lot of it. They are best used in large areas or in combination with mini spotlights for use near entryways.
Used in the right combination, lighting can really add to the appearance of a home while also providing security. Find lighting fixtures that serve the security purpose and also match or enhance the motif of your home and you'll see the double purpose they serve. Remember, down lighting is great for lighting pathways, driveways and more. Up lighting can make trees and landscapes look fantastic and backlighting, as it is in photography, is fantastic for making a feature stand out.
Outdoor lighting is an important addition to any home. When used correctly it cannot only add to a home's appearance, but also its level of security. Remember to make sure all vulnerable areas of a home are well lit at night, especially the entryways.
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Lighting your pathways is one of the most important things to accomplish. This is for the safety of both you and your guests. It can be dangerous not seeing your way around at night, particularly in bad weather. Therefore, path lights should be installed along your walks.
The amount of light that is given off by fixtures is called foot candles. This tells you how wide the circle of light will be that is cast from each path light. If this diameter, for example, is 10 feet peer light, you would place the lights slightly further than ten feet apart. Ideally, the light should over lap a bit so there are no gaps created.
As far as placement goes, I like to alternate the lights on either side of the path. They do not have to alternate along the entire path. It should be done so that it looks natural. Placing the lights on only one side creates a "runway" effect.
Path lights should be placed in planting beds. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is that placing the lights in the lawn creates a situation where the lawn mower may hit them. In addition, when lights are placed in planting beds, they blend in more with the landscape. The design should look as natural as possible.
Up lights are another type of outdoor lighting. These are usually placed at the base of ornamental trees, where they are aimed upward toward the tree, creating light on interesting branching, leaves or flowers. Depending on how much light you prefer, you can use two or three lights per tree. If you have numerous trees throughout your property, be selective in which trees you choose to light. Your lighting design should look balanced. You do not need your entire yard lit up like a Christmas tree!
Up lights can either swivel or be stationery. Those that swivel provide more opportunity for adjustments as the tree grows and changes in form.
These can also be used as accent lights. Perhaps you have a pretty sculpture or a water feature that would be eye-catching if lit up at night. A pretty waterfall lit showing the movement of the glistening water is beautiful.
Down lighting casts light down towards the ground and is often placed high up in large trees. This is also know as moon lighting as this is what the light is similar to. Down lighting can supplement path lighting. However, up lighting is used more for effects.
You can choose either 120v, low voltage or solar lighting for your landscape lighting system. Low voltage is a good choice. It is less expensive than 120v. It is also easier to install. The fixtures are connected to a transformer which is placed on the house. Depending on how many lights you are using, you may need one or more transformers.
Solar lights get there energy from the sun. Eight hours or more of sunlight are needed for them to function. That being said, there are solar lights available now that have solar panels which work in low light and even some shade. They have a super-bright bulb with a mirrored, glass lens to provide good illumination.
To summarize, you can use various types of landscape lighting power sources. You can select path lights, up lights and down lights to balance your lighting design and create the lighting that you need on your property. Your design should be both functional and aesthetic.....and subtle.
Both Aaron Vaughn & Susan Schlenger 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.
Aaron Vaughn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Free Credit Report Score, Personal Finance and Home Management. Aaron Vaughn writes about and you can find more news and innovations about outdoor lighting at the website. Aaron Vaughn's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Susan Schlenger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Digital Camera, Gardening and Landscaping. Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about landscape lighting at