Looking for outdoor lighting ideas? We’ve got some great tips for creating beautiful night time garden scenarios and for effective security lighting. We don’t claim to be landscaping experts, but our highly experienced electricians know a thing or two about outdoor electric lighting installation.
By using the right outdoor lights and installing them properly you can create exactly the effect you want, and cover all the areas you need. Let’s get started…
Plan your outdoor lighting well in advance
Ideally you want to sketch out your outdoor lighting ideas at the same time as you plan your garden. Obviously this won’t be possible if you live in a house that already has an established garden, which is fine. You can skip this step in that case.
The main reason for planning your outdoor lighting scheme before you develop your garden too much is to make sure you can get electricity to all the right places. You don’t need to work out what types of outdoor lighting you want, at this stage – you simply need to decide where you want the lights, and confirm that you can power them.
Finalise your outdoor lighting ideas
This goes hand in hand with the above planning. Design the lighting scenario you want, as this will determine much of how you proceed later. Do you want to create a dramatic effect, or a subtle blend of light and shade? Or perhaps security is your main concern. Knowing the effect you want will give you a blueprint for the rest of the installation process.
Keep safety top of mind
It’s no use having a stunning outdoor lighting scheme if it doesn’t also illuminate areas that need to be lit for safety purposes. In fact, lighting can distract the eye from paying attention to your footing, so you want to make sure that areas with steps, pathways and rocks are clearly visible.
Prepare your budget
You need to do a comprehensive budget for all the lights, fittings, cabling, installation and other expenses involved in your outdoor lighting project. Even if all you’re doing is installing a few security lights, you should do this to be as cost-effective as possible.
Get to know the different types of outdoor lights
Knowing what’s available will help you decide what types of outdoor lighting you can choose to get the overall effect you’re after. For some purposes you’ll want hidden lights; others require visible lights. There are several kinds available.
Spotlights
These are great for shining on trees and garden features to highlight them as centrepieces of your garden lighting scheme.
Bollard lights
Use these neat and stylish outdoor lights to illuminate your driveway and any walking paths through your garden.
Spike lights
Place these in garden beds to light up your plants and decorations like garden statues.
Strip lights
You can use these versatile outdoor lights along steps, and to accentuate various details, like backlighting flower beds, decking edges and barbecue areas.
Festoon lights
Similar to strip lights, these are like the strings of fairy lights that kids love so much. Use them to create a twinkling effect from above, perhaps on your porch or veranda.
Projection lights
Take your outdoor lighting ideas a step further with projection lights that can display patterns on the ground or along walls.
Sculptural lights
These outdoor lights are self-standing garden features in themselves. Examples are LED balls and hurricane lamps.
Buy quality light fittings
Outdoor lighting needs to cope with all kinds of weather conditions, so it’s very important to use high-quality fittings made from durable materials. At the very least, all your light fittings must be rust-resistant, especially with Melbourne’s quirky weather. Brass is most commonly recommended, as it naturally resists corrosion. It can also be electroplated or powder coated to give a variety of different finishes.
Check the lights’ IP ratings
The IP (Ingress Protection) rating of a light indicates how well it can resist water and debris penetration. An IP rating has two parts. The first number tells you the level of protection against small foreign objects like dust, soil particles and small stones.
The second tells you the degree of water protection. For Melbourne conditions we recommend outdoor lights with a minimum IP rating of six on both measurements.
Choose the right placement for purpose
Where you place your lights plays a crucial role in bringing your outdoor lighting ideas to fruition. To help with this, bear in mind that the light beams need unobstructed paths to their focal points. So don’t place them under low shrubs, for instance.
Conversely, if you’re lighting a deck, you don’t want the light glaring into people’s faces. In this case you can use the foliage to create shadows, and position the lights so that they don’t point directly at your veranda. You can also experiment with different wattages and beam angles till you get it just right.
Outdoor lighting orientation
It’s important that your lighting matches the contours of your garden, not only for effect, but also for safety and comfort. You can put vertical lighting strips along veranda roof support poles to prevent people from bumping into them. Vertical lighting also shows depth, which allows people to more accurately judge steps, for example. It also makes it easier to recognise people’s faces. On the other hand, garden paths can be lit with horizontal strips.
Consider LED outdoor lighting
LED outdoor lighting is becoming ever more popular, as it has some advantages over traditional electrical light sources. LED lights last longer, produce virtually no heat, and are thus much more energy-efficient. They can save you a pretty penny, especially if you have elaborate garden lighting, or use powerful lights for security.
Balance light and dark
For the best outdoor lighting effect, remember that you can manipulate the darkness as well as the light. Use shade to create contrast and depth, and resist the temptation to light up your whole garden, unless security is your only consideration.
Outdoor lighting installation in Melbourne
You can trust STL Electrical to safely and professionally install all your outdoor lighting, and create exactly the scenario you have in mind. We only use the highest quality materials, and can recommend the best lights to achieve your purposes, from decorative to security.
Contact us to get expert advice and reliable installation by certified Melbourne electricians.
