Patio and landscape lighting 101

Everything you need to know about outdoor lighting

Outdoor lighting can enhance your landscaping, highlight specific outdoor areas and make them safer. Whether you’re planning a big project or simply want to illuminate a pathway, lighting can transform your yard. While it’s never too late to install outdoor lighting, even if your landscaping is already in place, it’s easier to install as you implement your landscaping plans.

Types of outdoor lighting:

Planning is essential to ensure your outdoor lighting project is successful and fully adapted to your immediate and long-term needs. Outdoor lighting falls into two main categories: accent (or effect) lighting and decorative lighting.

1- If you choose accent lighting, you’ll highlight and enhance your landscaping. To achieve this effect, look for light fixtures that will blend into the surroundings. Avoid light fixtures that provide overall lighting and choose projection-type models instead. However, don’t project light directly onto high-traffic areas to prevent glare for passers-by. Below, you’ll discover more accent and effect techniques based on the play of light and shadow. To achieve this, make use of your landscaped area to find clever ways of camouflaging the light fixtures.

2- The second approach is decorative lighting, which brings attention to the light fixture itself. This technique doesn’t depend on how fixtures are arranged to create a specific effect but rather on their symmetry. For example, if you install three bollard lights to the left of a main walkway, you should also install three to the right. This rule also applies to façade (wall) fixtures. However, in this case, there should be symmetry between the fixture and your home’s design features, rather than in the light fixture arrangement.

Outdoor lighting techniques:

Up-lighting:

You can achieve this effect by installing projection lights on the ground in front of a tree, shrub or any other decorative element. Aim the beam directly onto the object, or shine it through the tree branches. Adjust the distance at which you install the light fixture or the beam’s width to customize the effect.

“Moonlight” effect:

To create this effect, simply install a light fixture in a tree and direct its beam downward to create a play of light and shadow at ground level. For best results, remember that your tree will shed its leaves in autumn, so be sure to install fixtures in places where they stay hidden even after the leaves have fallen.

Skimming lighting effect:

This sculptural lighting effect brings textures into relief. The technique is often used to highlight exterior wall cladding. You can achieve this visual effect with a ground-mounted projection light positioned close to the surface to be illuminated.

Silhouette on a light background:

When you want to create a more mysterious effect or highlight a tree, a statue or a fountain, this is a handy technique. The basic idea is to install a projection light behind an object to outline its silhouette.

Play of light and shadow:

Create a light and shadow effect by installing a projection light in front of a small tree or shrub and using the surface behind it as a backdrop. To ensure success with this technique, use lighting that’s proportional to the size of the object you want to illuminate.

Accent lighting:

This type of lighting is ideal for bringing out floral arrangements, rock gardens or small shrubs. The desired effect creates a soft and diffused down-light. You can also use this technique to add lighting to a high-traffic area, depending on its proximity.

Landscape lighting fixtures:

Many types of landscape lighting fixtures exist, all of which create their own unique effects:

Walkway and indirect lighting:

These products are often used for decorative lighting when you wish to highlight attractive light fixtures. Some of these models are also well suited for accent lighting on plants and rock gardens.

Light fixtures for patios, terraces and stairs:

Available in many styles and sizes, these light fixtures provide decorative lighting around a patio or terrace. You can choose from discrete and decorative models. These fixtures are often installed on vertical surfaces, but you can also find these products suspended by a chain or from outdoor lampposts. Light fixtures designed for stairs are generally recessed in the riser.

Accent lighting fixtures:

These models are used when projection lighting is needed, usually to create a play of light and shadow. These flexible light fixtures are easily oriented to highlight your landscape features.

In-ground lighting fixtures:

As their name indicates, these light fixtures are buried directly into the ground and provide very discreet lighting since the surrounding vegetation diffuses their light. Most models are adjustable, so you won’t need to dig up and re-bury the product to change the lighting orientation.

Tree-mounted light fixtures:

This type of light fixture is designed to create a moonlight effect. You can install them directly onto a tree trunk or suspend them from a branch. These models are adjustable for ease of set-up.

Cornice light fixtures:

These fixtures are perfect for lighting directly from a cornice. Available in single or double models and a selection of bulbs, these fixtures are all adjustable for a truly flexible lighting option.

Bollard and ground lights:

Similar in appearance to walkway fixtures, bollards are usually bigger and project light over a larger area. They are ideal for broad walkways or larger rock gardens. Ground lights are easy to hide among the foliage to achieve dramatic effect.

Tips and tricks!

- Landscape lighting can be used even during winter. As fixtures will give off heat, the snow will melt around them. After a heavy snowfall, you may want to clear the snow around the fixtures to ensure their effectiveness. 

- Earth and debris can accumulate on upward-facing light fixtures. Clean them periodically to optimize their performance and longevity.

- Check the status of your lightbulbs in the spring.

- When you’re ready to install light fixtures, start burying the power cable at the farthest end and finish at the transformer to avoid any inconvenience or loss due to distance  miscalculations.

- Keep in mind that trees and shrubs will grow over the years. It’s essential to plan for this growth to avoid having to change your lighting installations after a few years.

- Use products specifically designed for exterior use. Interior light fixtures aren’t suitable for outdoor use even if they are installed under a roof.