Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Outdoor Garden Lights Add Pizazz

All the work that is done in a garden can easily go unnoticed after dark if you fail to put the finishing touches on your garden with outdoor garden lights. I came across an interesting article that will provide some information that can help plan for the use of lighting in our gardens.




The Advantages of Garden Lighting
By Paul Shipway

All of us fully enjoy late summer evenings in our gardens. It is an enjoyable part of the day when the sun has gone down and made the air comfortable to do outdoor chores, play with the children, have a barbecue, or simply enjoy a stroll or refreshing drink while relaxing. This is a time when we wish to make the most of outdoor living. Though darkness may fall, you still may not wish to retreat to the house. It is a good idea to have some garden lighting installed so that you are able to enjoy this beautiful time of year.

In the winter, sparkling snow and glittering icicles invite us to join them in the quietness of late evening. It is fun and calming to walk through freshly fallen snow and watch the moonlight glow against the whiteness of the snow. Or perhaps you have children who are eagerly begging to run out and throw a few snowballs or make a snowman. All this can be made more possible with the addition of a few garden lights. This will make you feel more comfortable and help you enjoy being able to see your surroundings more.

Do you own a terrace or patio that needs some evening lighting? Garden lights will perfectly create an intimate atmosphere for that dinner date or create a twinkling array for a celebration party or family gathering. Why should a party end before the evening does? Lighting creates mood, and this can be very helpful when entertaining, especially around the holidays.

Garden lighting also adds an element of safety and protection to your property and to you personally. It is a known fact that having lighting around the outside of your home is a deterrent to crime. If people are worried about being seen, they will not attempt to do things that they would easily do in darkness. Lighting with motion sensors are another type of lighting you may want to consider, especially if you live in a crime prevalent area.

No matter what the season or weather, garden lighting can improve your late nights or evenings at home. It will be well worth the investment and time you put into it to see all the enjoyment and security your family receives from it. It will also enhance the appearance of your home and make it more attractive when garden lights are installed around it. So outdoor lighting is practical and fashionable.

Many outdoor lighting systems work with a low voltage, a safe and economical way to install garden lighting. However, it does require some work and thought when considering the placement and installation of the cables. If you are not ready to deal with this hassle, a simpler and even still more cost-efficient solution would be solar lighting. Solar lighting has become much more popular in modern days and is constantly being improved and reinvented to be better and more effective. Candles and lanterns are good for short-term use such as parties, but are not meant to be left on for long periods of time and require you to be vigilant in case of a fire.

If you are not worried about the hassle of low voltage lighting, but are just not sure which route you want to take concerning outdoor lighting. You can visit your local garden supply centre for some ideas. They will have many different varieties available for you to examine. Another option you have is to drive around local neighbourhoods and observe the lighting systems others have put to use. This will help you determine what looks you like most and where you would like to install your lighting. There are several commonly used lighting techniques to consider which will help you receive the maximum benefit from your lighting investment.

You may wish to do a little experimenting to help you determine what looks best with your particular home and garden. Solar lighting makes it very easy to do this as there is no attached wiring to worry about. Keep in mind that lighting systems look best when they do not overlap one another and are not too harsh.

Up lighting is usually placed at the base of an object and angled upwards to highlight certain features. Down lighting gives a shadow effect from behind an object. This technique is often used to highlight a fence, a wall, or plants. Path lighting is much as the name suggests. This type of lighting is used to create light around stairs, paths, and walkways. Lighting can be placed on one side of the walkway or on both sides to produce the desired effect. Highlighting is often achieved by using one or two lights to place emphasis on an object such as a sculpture, plant, or water feature. There are also several other forms of specialized lighting such as underwater lighting and pond lights.

Depending on the size of the project you are attempting and how much of a handyman you are, you may wish to consult the help of an electrician. You will need to determine how many lights you can safely be attached to the system you have in place. Your transformer, wire thickness, and available wattage can help determine this.

You may also need help if you are not planning to place your garden lighting in traditional style on the ground of the surrounding area. You may wish for some of your lighting to be hung or placed upon a wall. This will require a little more experience and know how.

It is always a good idea to put your plan onto paper before actually implementing it. This will help you when you are determining exactly what you want and it will also help you when you need to seek the advice of others.

Outdoor lighting will beautify your home and garden and make your evenings at home even more treasured and desirable. You will soon find yourself spending every free moment outdoors as you enjoy those evening hours more and create fun family memories you will cherish for a lifetime.

If you are looking for some garden lighting for your home, you should try the Blinkingsun.co.uk website. The site features a wide variety of solar lights and water features to enhance your living space. All the garden lighting products are available for immediate delivery throughout the UK.



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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Advantages-of-Garden-Lighting&id=3312739

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