In West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake, MI, whether you have a backyard patio, a sprawling garden, or a cozy porch, outdoor lighting can add a magical touch to your landscape. With the right styles and methods of outdoor lighting, you can create a welcoming atmosphere that will make your family and guests feel comfortable and relaxed.
Zone Lighting
Zone lighting is a method of outdoor lighting that involves dividing your outdoor living spaces into different zones and illuminating each zone separately. By creating different lighting zones, you can create different moods and atmospheres within your outdoor areas, and you can combine different lighting types—such as pathway lighting, accent lighting, deck lighting, and task lighting—to establish one cohesive and inviting ambiance.
Pathway Lighting
Pathway lighting is an essential element of any outdoor lighting design. It helps to create an inviting atmosphere by illuminating the path from your home or other outdoor living areas. Pathway lighting can be installed along walkways, driveways, or stairs. This outdoor lighting feature helps to connect all of the zones in your outdoor space, and it brings a stronger sense of cohesion to a landscape design.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is a type of outdoor lighting that is used to highlight specific features or areas of your outdoor space. It can be used to showcase architectural elements, garden features, or outdoor installations. Accent lighting is quite versatile; it can be installed on trees, under eaves, or along walls. It can be as simple as a single spotlight or as elaborate as a series of lights.
Here, the key to effective accent lighting is to create a focal point that draws attention to the feature you want to highlight. You may already have a landscape feature in mind to highlight, or you may consider accent lighting when adding new landscape features to your backyard. Consider using warm, soft lighting to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, or use bright, colorful lighting to create a festive mood.
Deck (or Patio) Lighting
Deck lighting illuminates the area around a deck or patio, including a poolscape. It can be used to create a cozy atmosphere for outdoor dining, entertaining, or relaxation. Deck lighting can be installed on the deck posts, under the railing, or along the edges of the deck. Deck and patio lighting ranges in its intensity and direction; downlights can create a soft ambiance, while brighter or more colorful lights can bring a sense of festivity to your patio.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is used to illuminate specific areas where activities take place, such as cooking in the outdoor kitchen. Task lighting is often installed in outdoor kitchens, grilling areas, or reading nooks, or you’ll have a reading area on your patio. It can be as simple as a single light fixture or as elaborate as a system of integrated lights that can be adjusted to fit specific needs for different outdoor activities. You want to strike a balance with task lighting, so that it provides enough illumination for the task at hand without being too harsh or distracting.
About the Author
With over 27 years serving Southeast Michigan, Teddy’s Lawn & Landscape is a family-owned, award-winning business providing quality workmanship in all that we do, from landscape designs and construction to caring for the outdoor spaces of residences and commercial properties