Face it. Outdoor entertaining was a breeze when we were younger. Weren't a good number of us content to plug in a strand of corded red peppers after Mr. Blue Sky hit the sack?
Although our tastes have matured, many still keep a dusk-to-dawn gas lamppost burning in the front yard, flip on the wall-mounted light next to the front door and call it a night. But recent innovations in outdoor lighting—landscape and architectural lighting is how the pros refer to it—make homeowners remiss not to weigh their options.
McKelvie Lighting Design's Ken McKelvie, who has studied architectural and theatre lighting in depth, takes a psychological approach to lighting clients' outdoor living spaces. When McKelvie takes on an outdoor lighting job, he essentially plays director. "I go into an outdoor environment and look at the landscape as a sculpture garden, and then I pick out the 'actors.'"
McKelvie treats each landscape element accordingly, whether it's a blue spruce or a Japanese maple. He frequently uses different colored filters to achieve dramatic effects. "I ask how the light can be best expressed to bring out the beauty in the yard, and I use light to edit," he says. For instance, light can also be used to refine unattractive elements you might find on your grounds, such as airconditioning units.
Outdoor lighting designers are making it easier than ever to use elaborate lighting systems. Like their indoor counterparts, innovative control systems allow users to set an entire outdoor lighting scheme with one switch. "That way, you're not running around adjusting a bunch of dimmers," says McKelvie.
Beyond aesthetics, a key advantage of landscape lighting is security. "Positioning fixtures in the right places eliminates dark spots or hiding places and discourages potential intruders from targeting your home," says Jim Schwartz of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.
However, it's easy to overdo it. "Over-lighting can give your yard a Fort Knox, security-lighting feel," says Andrew Bates of Bates Electric, another provider of outdoor lighting and electrical design. "A person's yard is his or her own masterpiece in the works. Lighting should be there to accentuate features, not to be the focal point."
Light It Right
• Use combinations of different types of illumination, such as curb lights, floodlights and spotlights. Andrew Bates uses stem fixtures “to spill pools of light on walkways. On driveways, I recommend low-profile fixtures that can’t be damaged by bicycles or landscape work you’re undertaking.”
• Quality is king. Contractor-grade outdoor lighting doesn’t always cut it, Ken McKelvie says. “Reliability is what people want, and you don’t always get that with plastic. That’s why we’re using fixtures made with copper and brass.”
• Safety is paramount. “This means lighting near the pool or steps, so people can pass through safely,” McKelvie says.
• Let shadows work for you. “They’re a huge part of creating depth and should also be considered,” Bates says.
• Don’t get down on “up lighting.” It’s a sharp way to bring out your home’s exterior. According to Bates, “Well lights or uplights look great against stone walls, columns and other architectural features. Floodlighting accentuates larger areas, such as a corner where two walls meet.”
• Consult an electrician. Bates advises against letting your landscaper or handyman install your lighting. “Typically, they’re not licensed for such work. Also remember that permits are required for this kind of work; not having the proper ones can bring on unnecessary headaches if and when the inspector visits.”
