Summer is here, which means many Indiana families are spending more time outdoors at night. Whether you’re hosting a backyard party or enjoying a quiet evening under the stars, it’s important to prepare your home with outdoor lights this summer. As Central Indiana’s go-to outdoor lighting experts, we know that the right lighting fixtures are essential for creating a breathtaking effect. So, here is Luminocity’s guide for accentuating your outdoor living space using two of the most popular outdoor lighting fixtures: hanging and ground lights.
Choosing the right outdoor lighting fixture
At Luminocity, every design begins with careful consideration as to which features of the home and landscaping should be accented with lighting and which areas should remain dark. From there, we help you select fixtures based on the desired lighting effect. These can include hanging and ground lights or a mixture of both.
Hanging lights
Hanging lights provide a welcoming feel to your outdoor space while highlighting any prominent landscaping or architectural features. There are three main types: pendants, chandeliers and lanterns. Light strands, track lighting and ceiling fans can also be classified as hanging fixtures.
Pendants
Pendants are the most common type of hanging fixture, for both indoor and outdoor use. The fixture consists of a bowl-shaped shade suspended from a rod or chain that is secured to the ceiling. When installed correctly outdoors, pendants can serve to highlight special landscaping and architectural features such as trees, shrubs, fountains or sculptures.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are a form of pendant lighting as they hang from a rod or chain. However, unlike pendant fixtures, which typically contain only one bulb, chandeliers have multiple bulbs situated on a single fixture. Once considered too fancy for outdoor areas, chandeliers are now a popular lighting option for a wide range of outdoor spaces. They are perfect for illuminating covered decks, patios and gazebos. Smaller chandeliers can even be hung from tree branches to create a unique look.
Lanterns
Outdoor lantern fixtures come in two types: hanging lanterns and wall-mounted lanterns. Hanging lanterns are great for marking gates, entryways, paths and walkways. They can even be designed to hang from poles or columns for a dynamic effect. Wall-mounted lanterns, on the other hand, are typically used on exterior walls, near decks and patios, and along fence lines. Wall-mounted lanterns are beautiful in design, making them a great visual element for your outdoor living space.
Ground lights
Ground lighting extends your time outdoors while highlighting the natural architectural beauty of your home. By illuminating your property, ground lights can increase safety for your guests and make your backyard a much more usable space. There are four main types: spotlights, bollard, flood lights and step lighting.
Spotlights
“Spotlight” is a general term for any outdoor lighting fixture that points in one direction. These typically range in terms of brightness and the amount of area they cover. Spotlights can be used to highlight statues, plants, walls and patios– just about anything you can point them at!
Bollard Lights
Bollard lights are posts that stick into the ground with lights on top. These fixtures do not have a light shield or cover. They are useful as they are one of the only types of outdoor landscape lighting that can shine in every direction.
Flood Lights
Flood lights are spotlights with high brightness and a wide range of coverage. They are the most useful types of outdoor lighting fixture when it comes to illuminating large areas, such as driveways or patios from above.
Step Lighting
You guessed it. Step lighting goes either on walls beside the stairs or on the front, vertical face. They help to prevent slips, trips and falls in the dark by illuminating your patio or deck stairs.
Now that you are more familiar with hanging and ground lighting, along with their various types and functions, you can begin planning your next outdoor lighting project for the summer! Luminocity has been helping our Central Indiana neighbors accentuate their outdoor living spaces for over 10 years. Call us for a design consultation at (317) 537-8055 or visit us online.
