During the current Covid-19 lockdown circumstances many of our readers are looking at home improvements. Well what’s better than home improvements to your interior and exterior lighting that also saves you an expense on your energy bills?
Whether you're looking to illuminate the way home at night, bring in a layer of safety, or highlight your properties architecture, we're here to help you find the outdoor lighting solution for you. LED lighting is the ideal solution as it provides a brilliant energy saving solution in comparison to conventional halogen lighting and it will mean less lightbulb changes as the products last on average 5 times longer.
With summer around the corner there isn’t a better time to think about exterior lighting, whether you are looking at guiding your guests around your property or just looking for the right lighting solution to carry your social distancing garden party into the late hours as daylight diminishes; then we have a variety of solutions for all three types of exterior lighting.
The first step in creating a lighting plan is to identify the areas of your home and property you want to illuminate. Do a complete walk through at night with a troch to assess the current state of your lighting, what's missing, and how the light interplays.
As you walk around the property, take note of:
Existing lighting that you like and works well to keep
Fixtures you want to replace for style or function (or both!)
Dark spots that compromise safety for you or guests
Missed opportunity to highlight a key feature
In the evening, lighting becomes your home's first impression—and it's important not just for safety, but style too. Start at your entrances (front door, garage, side doors) and trace the pathway backwards to the driveway or street to determine the lighting needs for easy navigation. Then advance to where you are going to be using your outdoor spaces and how you want the light to work for you. To make the most of these multipurpose spaces, pay special attention to task lighting for outdoor cooking, seating spots, and ambient accents for dining. With exterior lighting you will want to look for an IP rating minimum of IP44, this means that it is rain and spray proof, if you desire complete peace of mind then look for IP65 which is classed as waterproof.
There are a number of options available when looking for functional exterior lighting:
Wall lights
Used to enhance the exterior of your home as well as light up your garden, wall lights come in a wide range of designs – both traditional and modern to suit your look. Many are fitted with a passive infrared sensor (PIR), so it's activated only when motion is detected in a certain range (which can be as wide as eight metres). This ensures it's used efficiently to help save energy. These lights offer a choice of power supply - so opt for mains, solar or battery power depending on your set-up.
Security lighting
As well as being used for styling and functionality can also be a great way to add a burglar deterrent for added security. With many exterior floodlights now complete with a Passive Infrared sensor (PIR) this means that there is no switching on/off the outdoor light. The light activates when movement is sensed within a 12M, 180 degrees range; ideal for deterring intruders from a large deep garden. It is extremely practical for a visitor of your property whether announced or un announced. This not only saves energy, but also ensures that neighbours and wildlife aren't disturbed by a constant beam of light.
Be a good neighbour and don't accidentally let your outdoor light trespass on the property next door. When installing up lighting such as spot lights, check its trajectory is anchored on the intended target and not spilling over.
Post lights
Also known as bollards, post lights are great for navigating, popularly used to light paths, driveways and house entrances. Because of this, they commonly require mains power and to be fitted into place - although we offer a few solar-powered options. Ours range from 0.44 to 1.22 metres (m) in height. Look out for models with matching wall lights to create a coordinated design throughout your garden.
Stake lights
Light up your flowerbeds and paths with stake lights. Being solar-powered, these are quickly and easily fitted by simply pushing them into the ground with no wiring needed. Our range offers stake lights up to 56 centimetres (cm) tall and they're available individually or in multipacks. Add some interest with our colour-changing models. Complement with our mains-powered spotlight stake lights - perfect for highlighting a particular feature in your garden, such as a tree or structure.
Decking & Brick lights
Decking and brick lights work nicely with both ground-level and raised decks - offering much-needed guidance when moving up and down the steps of elevated terraces. If considering adding decking to your garden, stock up on decking lights before you begin construction as they need to be fitted into the boards before completion. Brick lights are a simple addition and a superb way to light up a path way or a parking space adjacent to your house.
Party and string lighting
Similar to Christmas fairy lights, string lighting is ideal for spreading some party spirit. Available as either solar or battery powered, this decorative option comes with white, blue or multi-coloured bulbs and in a range of designs including eye-catching stars. Wrap around fences, parasols, trellis or handrails for lighting fun into the night.
Three brands that have a brilliant portfolio of exterior lights are Integral LED, Philips and Ledvance Osram. Light up the exterior of your home with these small, stylish and contemporary LED luminaires. Choose from 12 different designs with options to allow you to:
- Illuminate your walls and doors
- Accentuate the lighting of your path
- Highlight your house number
- Build lighting into your wall
All brands are available on www.theledspecialist.co.uk and their experts are available to give you impartial advice on enhancing your property and saving you energy.