Posts Tagged ‘outdoor lighting’

Lighting Outdoor Spaces: The Benefits

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Lighting outdoor spaces around your home adds beauty and value to your property. Few things display to the world just how much you care about your property than well-chosen and well positioned lighting outdoors. Traditional lamp posts and porch lights definitely have a place in an outdoor lighting scheme, today there is certainly a lot more which can be done to maximise the distinctive elegance of your house and garden.

Whenever lighting outdoor areas pay special attention to your garden’s most desirable features. Although you may maintain your garden very simply instead of lush and manicured, lighting outdoor pathways adds an inviting glow and visibly beautifies the location. Upward facing floodlights on the corners of your property provides indirect lighting that visitors will appreciate when they make their way to your doorstep. And assuming you have a lengthy driveway, drive over lights placed at intervals could make it easier to navigate after dark.

Lighting outdoors doesn’t have to be a high priced task either. Most of today’s outdoor lights can come fitted with motion detectors (especially welcome for security lighting) and sensors that turn lights on at dusk and back off at dawn so that you don’t waste energy lighting up your garden throughout the daytime.

To enhance the safety of your house, lighted walkways, motion-sensor security lights and lights built into brick stair risers are excellent alternatives. You can also choose to lighten up particular botanical highlights of your garden, or water features providing them with a fairy light glow. Adding lighting outside truly displays your home’s beauty adding charm and drastically boosting the “wow” element.

Outdoor Lighting As Being A Significant Design Feature

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Regardless of whether you live in a humble bungalow or a large modern property, the inclusion of outdoor lighting is among the simplest and most effective ways to add to your home’s beauty and charm. Gentle light glowing along pathways, in gardens and next to water features is inviting and aesthetically pleasing and these days there are more alternatives for outdoor lighting than in the past.

Outdoor lights are cost effective too, particularly because many of the most up-to-date outdoor lamps are very energy efficient. If you diligently position your outdoor lighting fixtures within your landscaping, walkways, together with other exterior features you highlight things that make your house unique and beautiful. And, more practically, outdoor lighting can add to your property value.

Traditional upwards facing flood lighting has long been popular in outdoor lighting and today you can accent this traditional lighting with bollard (stick) lights, soffit lights, deck lights, drive-over lighting and lights incorporated into brick features like step risers. Pond lights make outdoor water features even more stunning and traditional lamp posts greet you and your guests with a pleasant warmth.

Think of the wonderful atmosphere in your garden on a warm evening with close friends as you enjoy a garden social gathering, bathed from the soft golden glow of your well-placed outdoor lighting!

But the use of outdoor lights doesn’t stop with beauty. Outdoor lights provide improved security and safety by lighting up walkways and illuminating pathways to avoid injuries and deter intruders. If your landscaping is straightforward or lush, traditional or contemporary, outdoor lighting adds beauty to your garden and bathes your property and its surroundings in a soft, welcoming glow.

The Soft Beauty of Outdoor Garden Lighting

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Outdoor garden lighting is far more than a string of fairy lights for a dinner party or a lamp post at the head of your walkway, though these are lovely touches. The scope for outdoor garden lighting has increased greatly in recent years, and energy saving technologies have made outdoor garden lighting an affordable way to add significant beauty to your home’s exterior.

If you don’t know where to get started with outdoor garden lighting, garden wall lights are a great choice. Not only do they create an appealing illumination, they discourage intruders, who would prefer to be left in the pitch dark. Fixtures for garden wall lights come in a broad range of colours, including metal finishes, and in many different shapes and mounting types. They can be as traditional or as modern as you please.

Another great addition to your outdoor garden lighting is ground or decking lighting. Mounted flush with the ground, or enhanced with an “eyelid” feature, these lights add tremendously to the atmosphere and even come in colour changing styles! More practically, they are highly energy efficient and make your garden easier to navigate at night.

Bollard lights add much in the way of understated charm to your outdoor garden lighting. Less obtrusive than the standard lamp post, they take up next to no space, whilst giving welcome illumination in your garden or along your driveway. These are a great choice if your garden is small and intimate.

These are only a few options for outdoor garden lighting. The lovely effects you can achieve with strategically chosen outdoor garden lighting are limited only by your imagination.

Outdoor Lighting as a Major Style Element

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Whether you live in a humble bungalow or a large modern home, the addition of outdoor lighting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to add to your home’s beauty and charm. Soft light glowing along walkways, in gardens, and next to water features is welcoming and aesthetically pleasing, and today there are more options for outdoor lighting than ever.

Outdoor lighting is cost effective, too, particularly because many of the newest outdoor lighting fixtures are very energy efficient. If you carefully position your outdoor light fixtures within your landscaping, walkways, and other outdoor features, you accent the things that make your house unique and beautiful. And, more practically, outdoor lighting can add to your property value.

Traditional upward facing flood lighting has long been popular in outdoor lighting, and today you can accent this traditional lighting with bollard (stick) lights, soffit lights, deck lighting, drive-over lighting, and lights incorporated into brick features such as step risers. Pond lights make outdoor water features even more beautiful, and traditional lamp posts greet your guests with a welcoming warmth.

Imagine the lovely atmosphere in your garden on a warm evening with friends as you enjoy a garden dinner party, bathed in the soft golden glow of your well-placed outdoor lighting!

But the benefits of outdoor lighting don’t stop with beauty. Outdoor lights provide enhanced safety and security by lighting up walkways and illuminating paths to prevent accidents and deter thieves. Whether your landscaping is simple or lush, old-fashioned or ultra-modern, outdoor lighting adds beauty to your garden, and bathes your home and its surroundings in a soft, welcoming glow.

The Key Reason Why Outdoor Wall Lights Are A Must

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

In these days of making improvements and not moving, it is good to be aware just what house improvements will enhance the price of your home. Did you know that merely installing quality garden lighting it is capable of doing just that or putting in simple outdoor wall lights is a wonderful place to begin?

Next, there’s the idea that good quality outdoor lighting will inspire you to ultimately come up with more and better utilization of your garden., turning it into that often quoted but less often realized ‘bonus living space.’ And with the advent of outside heating units, one could eat al fresco anytime of the year.

There are good reasons for the installation of outside lighting too, not least of which are security measures. Well placed outdoor wall lights will provide light for any dark nooks and crannies in which unwanted visitors could hide.

No matter how fastidious you might be in regards to leaf sweeping and yard scrubbing, there will be hazards in your garden – it makes much better sense to highlight them now with some well-positioned wall lights than to settle a neighbour’s legal expenses should they sue after slipping on your steps.

Outdoor lighting is not only wonderful from the literal sense though – what ever the size of your garden it could be a small courtyard or maybe a country house – there is no outside space that can’t be enhanced by a well planned lighting design. And what better place to commence than using wall lights? Not surprisingly, if you have a house of any sort, you have walls!

Outside eating areas tend to be close to the property for practical reasons – getting to and from the kitchen usually – and lighting added to the wall in such a place sets the mood for some perfect al fresco eating, along with being sure that you don’t trip up the step while holding refreshments or hot food. By selecting well, these kinds of lights will even jazz up the dull brick wall and build a focal point.

The fact is that at present garden lighting is not only for the chic together with the well-heeled, it’s for everybody that has an outside living space. We Brits appear to have at long last noticed that by lighting the exterior of our properties you can easily utilize it more frequently. Should you be just at the start of your garden lighting odyssey, then wall lights are a good place to begin – they are simple to install and infinitely usable!

In the winter, defy the night time (and the rain for those who have some form of awning) with the straightforward installation of a number of outdoor wall lights. And, one little advertised truth is that, even on a long winter’s night when you are snug as a bug, a quick glance of one’s illuminated ‘estate’ through the windows probably will make all of it worth while.

View our full outdoor wall light range.

The reason why Outdoor Wall Lights Are Extremely important

Monday, April 26th, 2010

In in today’s times of upgrade don’t move, it’s good to be aware exactly what property improvements will boost the value of your property. Did you consider that solely adding high quality garden lighting does just that or that putting in basic outdoor wall lights is a great place to start?[DFR::f312a560-e587-d220-f8cc-a5d2dbdf3d43-2687-af|align_right_1]

And then, of course, there’s the indisputable idea that smart outdoor lighting will inspire one to come up with ever better use of your garden., turning it into commonly quoted but less often realised ‘extra living space.’ Along with the advent of outside heating units, it is easy to eat al fresco anytime of the year.

You will find logical reasons for adding outside lighting too, not least of which is security. Well located outdoor wall lights will illuminate any dim nooks and crannies which is where unwanted people could hide.

No matter how fastidious you are usually regarding leaf sweeping and terrace scrubbing, you might have hazards within your garden – it makes far better sense to focus on them now with some well-positioned wall lights rather than settle a neighbour’s legal costs when they claim damages after falling off of your steps.

Garden lighting is not only wonderful from the literal sense though – what ever the size of your patch, maybe it’s a tiny courtyard or possibly a country estate – there is no outside area that cannot be improved upon by a well considered lighting plan. And where better to begin than using wall lights? Of course, if you’ve got a building of any kind, one has walls!

Outside eating locations are likely to be near to the house for practical reasons – getting back and forth from the kitchen area primarily – and lighting placed on the wall in this particular place will set the atmosphere for a lot of wonderful al fresco dining, in addition to making sure that you simply don’t stumble up the step whilst transporting drinks or hot food. By choosing well, these kinds of lights may also jazz up the dull brick wall and build a focal point.[DFR::833f7c4d-4735-70ed-c154-69096dc56fbc-2687-af|align_right_1]

The reality is that these days garden lighting is not only for the chic together with the well-heeled, it’s for just anybody owning an outside living space. We Brits apparently have at long last recognized that by lighting up the outside of our family homes we can utilize it more often. If you’re just at the beginning of your respective garden lighting odyssey, then wall lighting is a decent starting point – they are really easy to fit and infinitely usable!

Defy the night time, the wintertime (and the rain in case you have some kind of awning) with the straight forward installation of some outdoor wall lights. And, one little advertised truth is that, even on a long winter’s night when you are snug as a bug, a quick glimpse of one’s illuminated ‘estate’ from your windows is likely to make everything worthwhile.

View our full outdoor wall light ranges

Outdoor Lights – Let There Be Light

Friday, December 18th, 2009

The last two summers in the UK have been miserable, to say the least and if you don’t have outdoor lighting you’ve probably hardly used your garden at all.  Given the experts’ prediction of even more wet summers ahead, it makes sense to get into the outdoor lighting field now so that you can maximise your garden enjoyment in the years to come.[DFR::2d97a47b-3e5c-8ff0-07c7-d45f92ecb8de-2687-af|align_right_1]

If you’re like the majority of the British, you have probably nurtured your garden to within an inch of its life: planting, weeding, cutting, hoeing; but to what end if you can’t spend time out there.  Illuminate it; show it off – go on, you know it makes sense!

It makes no matter whether you have the tiniest pocket handkerchief of a garden or huge, rolling acres of land, when it comes to illuminating your patch good planning is essential.  Before you go and buy the lamps and the bulbs, the cables and the switches, think about exactly what it is you want to achieve with your lighting.  Bear in mind though that, generally, all outdoor lighting must fulfil two functions – decoration and security.

It is quite possible for decorative lighting to double as security lighting – all that we ask of our security lighting is that it throws light into dark corners and makes a would-be intruder pass on to the house next door.  So, whatever style of light you choose, as long as you position it correctly it can act as both security and decoration.

Having said that, the simplest start to a security lighting installation is probably a porch light that either comes pre-fitted with a movement sensor or that you can link a sensor too.  With this in place, every time somebody or something comes within the arc of the sensor the light will turn on – which is great when you come home from work on a dark evening.[DFR::6a2ccc9f-f0d0-82fa-ba81-994099b1f7f7-2687-af|align_left_1]

If you have more lofty aims, you could consider installing a lamp post close to your front door.  Not only do garden lampposts look very elegant, they are the bees’ knees when it comes to security lighting – their additional height means that they shed their light far and wide.  Can you imagine an opportunist intruder choosing a home with a working lamppost by the entrance?  No.  Quite.

There are so many outdoor lighting options on the market nowadays that you’ll have a whale of a time planning what effects you want to achieve in your outdoor space.  Whether you go for relaxing, subtly illuminated sanctuary to all-flashing strobe and disco lighting, by illuminating your outdoor space you are, in effect, expanding your home and gaining another room.

Outdoor lighting will help you to reclaim your garden from the summer rains and the winter evenings -it’s easy when you know how.

Get your Garden Back In Winter With Outdoor Lights

Monday, December 14th, 2009

If you don’t have outdoor lights, you’re not only missing a trick or two, you’re not maximising the value or the potential enjoyment of your property either.  The fact is, garden lighting will at least double the amount of use you can get from your outside space, even in summers as miserable as the two we’ve just experienced. And, according to the pundits, there are more such summers to come.[DFR::59e0be27-c0c6-34c3-97ad-3e517bc2767c-2687-af|align_right_1]

Add to that the fact that you’ve probably invested time, effort and money in your ‘estate,’ whether it be a tiny patch of land or rolling grounds, and illuminating it just makes good common sense.

Whether you have a country estate or live on an estate, to be successful your outdoor lighting must be planned properly.  That doesn’t mean you need to get in professional designers, just that you must think ahead and decide exactly what function you want your lights to have. There is, of course, one function that all outdoor lighting must fulfil, and that is security.

It is quite possible for decorative lighting to double as security lighting – all that we ask of our security lighting is that it throws light into dark corners and makes a would-be intruder pass on to the house next door.  So, whatever style of light you choose, as long as you position it correctly it can act as both security and decoration.[DFR::b4fdc60b-770c-38e4-920c-8f062b57dc8d-2687-af|align_left_1]

Perhaps the best place to start with your combined outdoor/security lighting project is with a simple porch or wall light.  You can buy them with a PIR sensor – basically a movement detector – or you can add a sensor to an existing light.  Every time somebody or something comes within the range of the sensor the light will switch on – which makes this time of light wonderful for those who come home from work after dark.

If you have more lofty aims, you could consider installing a lamp post close to your front door.  Not only do garden lampposts look very elegant, they are the bees’ knees when it comes to security lighting – their additional height means that they shed their light far and wide.  Can you imagine an opportunist intruder choosing a home with a working lamppost by the entrance?  No.  Quite.

And thinking about the huge range of available lamppost styles takes us neatly to the other, more exciting, aspect of planning your outdoor lighting – the looks that can be achieved.  From subtle sophistication to footballers’ wife flash, you can create your own oasis from the world outside your front door.

Outdoor lighting will help you to reclaim your garden from the summer rains and the winter evenings -it’s easy when you know how.

Let There Be Outdoor Lights

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

The last two summers in the UK have been miserable, to say the least and if you don’t have outdoor lighting you’ve probably hardly used your garden at all.  Given the experts’ prediction of even more wet summers ahead, it makes sense to get into the outdoor lighting field now so that you can maximise your garden enjoyment in the years to come.

It’s said that an English man’s garden is his own private ‘nation,’ and the fact is  you’ve probably spent oodles of time, wads of cash and barrow loads of effort in creating your tiny monarchy.  Why then wouldn’t you want to shed a little light on it? It’s just good sense, isn’t it?

Your outdoor lighting project can be as simple or as grand as you like but, for it to be successful, good planning is essential.  Decide what you want to achieve with your lighting before you go rushing in to buy the first sparklers that please your eye.  And don’t forget that a major aspect to any outdoor lighting scheme is security.

Don’t be misled though – security lights can be defined as any outside lighting that makes your home unattractive to intruders or that illumines any gloomy corners where people might hide.  So you could have wall lights, porch lights, deck lights, lamp posts – any type of light that makes your home less attractive to intruders can be classified as a security light.

Probably the best way to enter the security lighting arena is with a simple porch light, which you can upgrade with a movement sensor (known as a PIR sensor) if you wish.  The sensor will switch the light on when any movement is detected in the area it covers.

If you have more lofty aims, you could consider installing a lamp post close to your front door.  Not only do garden lampposts look very elegant, they are the bees’ knees when it comes to security lighting – their additional height means that they shed their light far and wide.  Can you imagine an opportunist intruder choosing a home with a working lamppost by the entrance?  No.  Quite.

And thinking about the huge range of available lamppost styles takes us neatly to the other, more exciting, aspect of planning your outdoor lighting – the looks that can be achieved.  From subtle sophistication to footballers’ wife flash, you can create your own oasis from the world outside your front door.

In these days of improving rather than moving, you can still expand by adding a few outdoor lights to reclaim your garden from the night.

Outdoor Lights – Let It Rain!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Given the wet misery of the last two summers, if you don’t have garden lighting, its likely that you’ve had even less enjoyment than usual from your garden than ever before – and in the UK we don’t get that much garden time anyway, do we? With the weathermen telling us that the two summers past are indicative of summers to come, it’s probably time to investigate the world of outdoor lighting.

If you are like the rest of the British you have probably nurtured your garden to within an inch of its life: planting, weeding, cutting, hoeing; but to what end if you can’t spend time out there.  Illuminate it; show it off – go on, you know it makes sense!

It makes no matter whether you have the tiniest pocket handkerchief of a garden or huge, rolling acres of land, when it comes to illuminating your patch good planning is essential.  Before you go and buy the lamps and the bulbs, the cables and the switches, think about exactly what it is you want to achieve with your lighting.  Bear in mind though that, generally, all outdoor lighting must fulfil two functions – decoration and security.

It is quite possible for decorative lighting to double as security lighting – all that we ask of our security lighting is that it throws light into dark corners and makes a would-be intruder pass on to the house next door.  So, whatever style of light you choose, as long as you position it correctly it can act as both security and decoration.[DFR::13f8bbf1-25e3-7ae8-d5cb-061ea8f8dfb9-2687-af|align_left_1]

Probably the best way to enter the security lighting arena is with a simple porch light, which you can upgrade with a movement sensor (known as a PIR sensor) if you wish.  The sensor will switch the light on when any movement is detected in the area it covers.

If you have the space and the inclination, you could even put in a garden lamp post.  Why not! Not only do lampposts look very stylish, their extra height and the wide arc of light they shed make for excellent security.  Only a very determined intruder would choose a home illuminated by a lamp post. Most burglars only want an easy life and are far more likely to go next door if you have one of these outside your front door.

Lampposts look good too, which brings us on to the fun part of outdoor lighting – the effects that can be achieved. Whether rural or urban, child friendly or decidedly adults’ play ground, you can create a night time wonderland in your own backyard. Literally.

In these days of improving rather than moving, you can still expand by adding a few outdoor lights to reclaim your garden from the night.