Whether you just built a home, purchased a home or have been living in your home for some time, there comes a time when many people, just like you, decide to install landscape-lighting.
We all know that landscape lighting will enhance the beauty, safety and value of your home. Homeowners know the investment of adding landscape lighting will increase the value of the home.
However, their emotions initiate the installation of a landscape-lighting system. Emotions are the mechanisms that start the process and logic locks in the actions for the emotions.
Having said that, the emotions create the design and look of your lighting system. You will create a system that is a reflection of your personality, tastes, likes and creativity. With that bit of information, you now need to answer the question of “why light?” If you cannot answer that question, you do not need a landscape-lighting system for your home.
To find your answers to “why light,” you need to drive through your neighborhood at night and look at homes with landscape-lighting systems. Do your research and due diligence and you will discover the style and mood that fits your DNA. I recommend researching at least 50 homes so you feel comfortable with the style that “fits” for you.
Once you know what you like and want for your home, you can now concentrate on the system for your home. Start with the major reasons for lighting your home and work down to the smallest reason to light.
Of course, the three big reasons to light are: beauty, safety and value. Place these in chronological order starting with the most important to the least important. Naturally, a properly designed system will fulfill all of the three major reasons to light your home.
In addition to the three big reasons to have landscape lighting for your home, you also need to look at the points of interest around your home and in your front yard. Your home is unique and you need to accent the uniqueness so it stands out from the other homes.
What are the focal points in the yard? They can be things like: a fountain, a flowerbed, a waterfall, a statue, an art piece and, of course, the American Flag. If you have the American Flag, you definitely need to shine light on that using a minimum of three fixtures.
Show off the items that you enjoy and are proud to have in your yard. These are some of the reasons that your home is unique and stands out from the other homes in your neighborhood.
Now is the time to let your mind think in an artistic manner. In your mind’s eye, see how your home will look after the installation of landscape lighting. Visualize the finish product. Do you like what you see in your mine’s eye? If so, great, now is the time to put that plan on paper.
Once it is on paper, it can become a reality. After it becomes that reality, you may still change the look if you feel there may be a better look. Fortunately, landscape lighting is versatile in that you can change the look.
