If you’ve worked hard to make your home and outdoor spaces look fresh and beautiful, you don’t have to let all your hard work disappear when the sun goes down. With some strategically selected and well-placed outdoor lighting, you can have your home and yard on display at any time of the day. When done right, outdoor landscaping lighting will highlight the architectural features of your home and showcase your beautiful plants and trees, making your outdoor space warm and inviting even after nightfall. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Landscape Lighting 

Do it Yourself or Hire a Professional?

The answer to this question will depend on what look you are hoping to achieve. Most homeowners could install a simple lighting system over the course of a weekend. For more complex and visually stunning effects, it is recommended to go with a landscape lighting specialist who has extensive knowledge about various fixtures and options as well as the ideal placement and arrangement of the lights. 

What is the Cost of Installation of Outdoor Lighting?

Again, the answer to this question will vary depending on your designs. While individual fixtures typically cost around $200 – $500 installed, the costs of cables and a transformer truly depends on the size and scope of the job. An average lighting system that is installed professionally could likely cost between $8,000 and $15,000.. 

What are the Maintenance Requirements for Outdoor Lighting?

Maintenance is important  for outdoor lighting and includes keeping the fixtures clear of leaves and debris to maximize light output, as well as lubrication of gaskets, application of anti-corrosion compound to the pins of the bulb, leveling or straightening fixtures due to frost heave or other displacements and adjusting the direction of the lights to properly highlight subjects. 

What is the Lifespan of Outdoor Lighting?

Generally, warranties on DIY outdoor light fixtures and transformers range between 2 and 10 years, but fixtures that are made of copper, brass, or stainless steel come with a lifetime warranty.  LED’s range from 5 to 15 year warranties.  Professional-grade transformers also offer a lifetime warranty. 

Light up your Stairs & Pathways – Installing lights along your pathways and stairs is not only a beautiful feature, but it is also highly functional. Your family and guests will be grateful to be able to see the stairs and pathways clearly when they are enjoying your outdoor space at night. 

Decorate your Deck – Using white holiday lights or dainty fairy lights can make your patio space warm and inviting. You can even try creating an illuminated canopy by decorating your gazebo, deck, or pergola with draped fairy lights. 

Standout Trees – Highlight any tall and strong trees by installing uplights at their base. Trees that are less than 20 feet tall typically need only 2 uplights, whereas a 50-foot tree will likely require between 3 and 5 uplights.

Make your Garden Glow – In order to effectively illuminate a garden bed select from a collection of area lights, wash lights and bollards to be used to emphasize the gardens colour and shape.

Get your Patio Party-Ready – Because we can’t simply put in a request for a full moon every time we are hosting an outdoor party, sometimes your patio will need some additional illumination. By installing a handful of tree-mounted lights you can ensure that there is ample light to grill by, and create a fun and inviting backyard space. 

The Bottom Line 

Outdoor lighting is an often overlooked element of landscaping design that can have significant effects on the way your home and outdoor space look at night as well as increase the usability of the space. With summer around the corner, you can look forward to lots of late nights enjoying your deck and backyard and the custom ambiance your lighting has created. If you want to learn more about landscaping lighting or to book your free quote, contact Mountview Services today!