When it comes to enhancing the functionality, beauty and safety of your Australian home, integrating exterior lighting is essential. Our guide to understanding the benefits, types, and key considerations of outdoor lighting will ensure that your landscape is illuminated effectively.
Outdoor Lighting Benefits
Extended Usability and Atmosphere
Good lighting allows outdoor spaces to be used after dark, extending their functionality. This is especially important for patios, decks, and outdoor entertainment areas. Well-considered lighting also sets the mood for these spaces.
Guidance and Security
Lighting serves as an excellent way to guide people through a landscape, helping them navigate paths and key areas. This is particularly important in larger residential or commercial spaces where navigation might otherwise be challenging. Furthermore, well-lit pathways, entrances, and seating areas enhance safety through increased visibility.
Highlighting Features
Landscape lighting draws attention to natural features such as garden beds, distinctive trees, and creates focal points or architectural details that enhance the overall design.
Understanding Outdoor Lighting Types
The benefits of outdoor illumination can be achieved by incorporating three specific lighting types into your outdoor area:
Ambient Lighting
This is the general illumination that provides a comfortable level of brightness. Think of it as the soft glow that makes your outdoor space feel welcoming. This can be achieved through:
- Grouping external downlights over your outdoor dining and living spaces helps to create zones within the space.
- Using uplighters, which cast indirect light onto walls and ceilings to illuminate your outdoor space
- Integrating wall lights to add a decorative element to your space whilst contributing to the outdoor ambience.
Task Lighting
This type focuses on specific areas where activities occur, such as cooking, reading, or pathfinding. Key examples include:
- Bollard lights to guide guests safely along walkways.
- Deck lights installed on stairs or decking, to ensure safe navigation.
- Using floodlights in larger areas, to provide broad illumination.
Accent Lighting
Accent lights highlight features such as plants, sculptures, or architectural elements. This can be achieved with:
- Directional spike lights that directly illuminate specific features.
- Inground Uplighters that shine upwards on trees or garden beds.
Key Considerations When Choosing Outdoor Lighting
When selecting outdoor lights, keep these important factors in mind:
Material - Durability is key for outdoor fixtures. Materials like copper, brass, aluminium, or 316 stainless steel, are well-suited to withstand the tough Australian climate. Material selection will also impact the aesthetic of the overall design as well.
Light Output - Think about the intensity of light when choosing outdoor fixtures. High lumen output lights are ideal for task lighting and highlighting larger features, while lower lumen output options create a softer glow, enhancing the ambience of your space.
Colour Temperature - Warm white lighting (2700K or warmer) fosters a cosy atmosphere, perfect for accentuating architectural elements and creating a relaxed and inviting setting for outdoor gatherings.
Timers and Smart Controls - Automate your outdoor lighting to enhance security and convenience. Smart controls can help you manage your lights from your phone.
Lumen-8’s Fortitude Valley showroom has recently installed a range of external fittings by LLD, Solis, and Studio Italia to assist in the specification of landscape luminaires. Our trained lighting consultants know the value of integrating thoughtful landscape lighting; enhancing functionality, safety, and beauty, makes spaces more enjoyable for everyone.
