Q&A: 5 Common Questions About Outdoor Lighting Systems

How to Get Awe-Inspiring Landscape Lighting at Home 

If your home’s outdoor spaces are hidden in shadows after dark, you likely won’t spend much time in them. But new possibilities arise once you brighten the patio, garden, lawn, and pathways with outdoor lighting. Suddenly, late-night badminton games or drinks under the stars become a weekly occurrence! 

Beyond functionality, outdoor lighting systems also enhance your home’s appearance and curb appeal. At Comware AV in Southlake, TX, we’ve helped countless homeowners bring new life to their houses after dark through high-quality outdoor lighting designs. 

If you’re just getting started with landscape lighting, read our commonly asked questions and answers below to kickstart your project. 

SEE ALSO: Top Ways Outdoor Lighting Turns Your Spaces into a Stunning Oasis 

1. What Are the Best Ways to Light Up a Garden or Yard? 

To highlight your property’s best features, we approach landscape lighting with design in mind. Just as we apply accent, task, and ambient lighting indoors, creating layers of light leads to a more visually dynamic illumination rather than relying on one single type of light fixture. 

Some strategies we recommend include ‘moonlighting’ with small spotlights installed high in tree branches. Uplights draw attention to trees, shrubs, and stonework, while recessed lights can brighten edges around patios, decks, and walkways. 

2. What Are the Best Outdoor Lighting Brands? 

We trust Coastal Source for our customers’ landscape lighting projects, thanks to its wide variety of fixture options and durable, long-lasting hardware. All Coastal Source’s landscape lights are made of solid brass and are completely sealed against moisture, corrosion, debris, and insects. Its Coastal Connector cabling system makes it easy to plug in and connect new lights with airtight and watertight protection. 

3. How Do I Make Sure Wiring & Lighting Is Safe Outdoors? 

To prevent any risk of electric shock, make sure your landscape lighting is low voltage. Low-voltage lighting uses a transformer to step down standard line voltage (120V) to a much safer 12V or 24V. 

Low-voltage lighting is more flexible to install, as it can be trenched as shallow as six inches deep. By contrast, line voltage needs to be buried at least two feet! You also don’t need an electrician to install low-voltage lighting; your handy landscape lighting designer can do the installation for you. 

4. Should I Make My Outdoor Lighting Smart? 

If you have the chance, yes! Smart outdoor lighting unlocks a world of possibilities. With a tap on your smartphone, tablet, remote, or wall keypad, you can activate groups of lights to achieve the exact settings you want. Smart LEDs let you adjust the brightness and color temperature while creating automated schedules to follow routines. Whether you’re scheduling one single light or the entire yard, lighting control systems provide next-level customization. 

5. Who Can I Hire for Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting? 

A smart home integrator who specializes in outdoor lighting can provide the design, programming, and installation of your smart landscape lighting. And if you live in the Southlake, TX, area, that integrator is Comware AV! We are here to provide every necessary step in your outdoor lighting design and installation. 

 

Ready to get started with a new outdoor lighting system? Contact our team here to learn more and discuss your project today!