Defining Your Landscape Lighting’s Purpose
Before you invest in any landscape lighting, consider why you want illumination in your backyard. Perhaps you want to create a calm, romantic atmosphere in the evening. Perhaps you have a seat or a shady garden nook that needs to be illuminated for safety reasons. Landscape lighting may be required to mark the borders of a route that runs through the garden. You could wish to accentuate some of your backyard’s attractions, such as a water fountain or pond.
Draw a Sketch Out of Your Yard
Sketch your yard after you’ve outlined your reasons for wanting to add landscape lighting. Include current lights, buildings, benches, trees, and shrubs— as well as garden plants and decorations— in your sketch. Each of these things will either reflect or absorb light. Estimate the height of each object, particularly the vegetation.
Determine Where Landscape Lighting Should Be Installed
Match the purpose of the illumination to certain areas in your backyard. A pole-style bulb placed behind a bench along the walkway might be used to illuminate it. Hide landscape lighting beneath plants to create a calm ambiance. A walkway may require a series of short stake lights along one or both sides of its border (Image 1). A spotlight can be added to a water fountain (Image 2), and gentle lighting can be added around the edge of a pond.