Architectural Landscape LightingIndividuals are first drawn to a home by its outer appearance. Although, the final decision is based on much more than curb appeal, it is the structural design that beckons us to look more closely at the inside. It is the elements, such as dormers, turrets, and cornices that give each building interest. The intriguing details of a building that fascinate us during the daytime can become lost under the cover of darkness, when the evening settles in for the night. Fortunately, architectural landscape lighting offers us the opportunity to illuminate those areas of our home that make it unique and appealing.Architectural landscape lighting incorporates many of the traditional elements seen on lawns, but focuses on highlighting the attributes of the building. It is often combined with path and tree lights to create a complete package. The first thing to do is establish a plan. This is just as critical in architectural landscape lighting, as with any other type. Begin by determining what attributes you would like to illuminate with architectural landscape lighting to make them more visible at night. You will want to pick out items, such as windows, entrance ways, and even columns or gables. These are the parts of your home that add interest, and will give your home curb appeal. Then complete the architectural landscape lighting by determining which areas of your lawn need brightening up at night. You will also want to accent trees, flowerbeds and other natural elements in your lawn. This gives architectural landscape lighting a finished appearance. Once you have your plan in place, it is time to choose the right architectural landscape lighting for each purpose. Entranceways are an excellent place to splurge and purchase an extravagant fixture. You will want to ensure the piece fits the proportions and style of your home. For instance, if you have a smaller older home, then an oversized modern hanging lantern will look out of place. Another important thing to keep in mind is the amount of light that is produced. It is more appealing to use multiple architectural landscape lighting sources with a softer glow, than a fixture, which emits a harsh glare. You can use either low or high voltage architectural landscape lighting to illuminate paths, bushes and trees. Prior to purchasing the required lamps and bulbs, you will need to determine what size transformer you require. To accomplish this task, add up the number of items that will be connected to the transformer, and the amount of wattage each one needs to work. If you are having trouble or aren’t sure, ask your local home improvement store for assistance. After you have a basic idea of your wattage requirement, you can purchase your transformer, but don’t make the mistake of buying one that will only meet the current need. Spend the extra money now, and purchase a larger transformer for architectural landscape lighting; you will be glad this decision was made down the road. Another trap that many people fall into is buying cheap bulbs, and then paying for it in the long run. Find out how long the architectural landscape lighting bulbs will last, and how much it will cost to use them over time. It might be cheaper to purchase the more expensive option from the beginning. There are several styles of path fixtures available to suit your home’s décor, and new designs can be purchased that mask these items, so they will blend into their surroundings. Trees and bushes can be accented with either up-lights or spotlights. Up-lights will provide a soft glow, and can be positioned to focus on a specific element. Spotlights emit a large sheet of illumination over a wide area. By combining all of these options, you can create the look of a customized architectural landscape lighting plan. |
