An ill-planned lighting system, for example, a patchy outdoor landscape lighting scheme, can give a disjointed look and ruin the aesthetics and atmosphere of an outdoor space.
This week’s blog post offers guidance and tips for avoiding patchy lighting schemes and allows you to give your clients a beautifully lit outdoor space.
The Drawbacks of Patchy Outdoor Landscape Lighting
Patchy lighting can be defined as lighting that is poorly distributed throughout the space. Because the lighting is not uniform, it can be distracting to look at. It can leave pockets of shadows throughout the space and make it look unorganized. A patchy outdoor landscape lighting scheme can decrease aesthetic appeal because it makes the lighting and outdoor space look like it was thrown together carelessly. A poorly lit outdoor space can feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and doesn’t set the right mood for an outdoor gathering or event.
5 Tips to Avoid a Patchy Outdoor Landscape Lighting Scheme
Creating a balanced outdoor landscape lighting scheme is essential to bringing out an outdoor landscape’s beauty and increasing safety at night. To achieve a seamless outdoor landscape lighting scheme, consider the following methods:
- Start with A Well Thought out Plan
Evaluate the layout of your client’s outdoor space. Identify elements such as the focal points, safety features, potential dark pockets, and desired atmosphere for the space. Knowing the layout will enable you to plan for needed lighting and organize it in such a way to create uniform lighting throughout the space. A good plan will lead to a good, cohesive outdoor landscape lighting scheme.
- Intensity and Distribution of Light
The intensity of the lights needs to be carefully considered. You don’t want lights in an area to be too bright or too dim as that would throw off the balance of the outdoor space. For example, for path lights, stick to around 100-200 lumens. This will provide a nice and even glow to guide people down walkways. Up lighting depends on the feature to be illuminated. Small features usually require 100-300 lumens. Especially big features such as trees or columns would require 700-1200 lumens.
Choose lumen levels for lighting that will blend nicely with each other to create an evenly lit outdoor space that isn't too bright or has shadowy areas. You might need to play around with the light to see how it will blend into other lighting elements of the space.
By adhering to a particular area’s lumen output, you can more easily create a customized outdoor lighting design that has evenly distributed light throughout the space.
- Use the Contrast Between Light and Shadows
Not all shadows are bad. Shadows can add depth and visual interest when used purposefully.
For example, shadowing is actually a lighting technique that creates soft and interesting shadows to highlight a focal point’s shape and movement. When used to light a decorative gate, its shadow can form pretty patterns on walls or the ground.
Silhouetting is another lighting technique. It casts light on the blank wall behind a focal point to outline its shape.
Just be sure to place outdoor light fixtures in positions where they won’t be casting any obstructive shadows. You want to light areas for safety and to prevent danger such as walkways, stairs, and other potential tripping hazards.
Playing with light and shadow can result in interesting and dramatic looks.
- Avoiding Glare
To provide your clients a comfortable viewing experience and an inviting atmosphere, it’s best to avoid creating glare. Too much glare can be distracting, an eyesore, or worse, cause visibility issues. Opt for light fixture accessories such as glare guards to help reduce glare. Being mindful of different viewing areas and thoughtful positioning of the light fixtures can also reduce glare. You want to be able to show off the beauty of your clients’ outdoor spaces, not blind people.
- The Right Light Color Temperature
Light color temperature affects the mood and appearance of an outdoor environment. For example, a warm color light temperature will be seen as inviting and comfortable, which is perfect for a dinner on the outdoor deck. A cool light temperature is whiter in color and is more suited for areas where bright light is needed such as an outdoor workspace. For a cohesive outdoor landscape lighting scheme, choose a color light temperature that will flatter the landscape and serve the purpose for the lighting. Don’t use a light color temperature that will wash out the area or not give enough light.
A patchy outdoor landscape lighting scheme will not impress anyone nor will it be functional. Instead, take the time to thoughtfully plan and install an outdoor landscape lighting system to ensure a balanced look.
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