Types Of Outdoor Landscape Lighting

Just because the Florida sun goes down, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoor spaces of your home. What better way to enhance your space, extend your time outdoors, and showcase your personal aesthetic than with the ambiance of outdoor lighting?

Though outdoor lighting can benefit any space, it can be difficult to determine which type of outdoor landscape lighting is right for your style and needs. That’s where the experts at BrightWater Irrigation & Lighting can help! Our team is well-versed in landscape lighting and will explain everything you need to know about choosing the best lights for your yard.

What Type of Outdoor Lighting is Best?

There are many different styles and designs when it comes to outdoor lighting. However, outdoor LED lights are the best choice for any landscape lights. These bulbs have a long lifespan and are incredibly energy efficient. Additionally, they output minimal heat, which makes them safer in outdoor spaces where dry grass and rain could otherwise create fire hazards. 

What Are the Different Types of Landscape Lighting?

The options for outdoor lighting truly are endless, with unlimited potential for a unique design flow tailored to your aesthetic preferences. Here are the main different types of landscape lighting and what they are used for:

Path/Step Lights

Designed to illuminate pathways and stairs, these are among the most common outdoor fixtures for gardens and yards. With dimming and brightening options, these are best installed at a height of about 14 inches to produce a beautifully even glow.

Hardscape Lighting

Hardscape refers to any and all hard features you want to brighten (walls, paths, rocks, firepits, etc.). They are small LED lights with brackets or flanges, designed to add light directly onto the feature they are installed in/on.

In-Ground Lighting

With in-ground lighting, circular lights are installed flush with the walkway, or driveway. This is a sophisticated choice for sleek daytime visuals, making it a stylish way to increase safety and visibility across your property. 

Up/Down Lighting

As their name suggests, these fixtures cast light either upward or downward. Up lights are great for highlighting features or architecture that you’re proud of, or for more of a dramatic flair for lighting walls, rocks, or trees. Down lights are great for illuminating general areas, or for placing within trees for a moonlighting effect that emulates the romance and whimsy of natural moonlight, casting the shadows of the branches below.

Water Lighting

These lights are completely sealed and waterproof, perfect for ponds, fountains, or pools. Choosing a multicolor option light widens your aesthetic design, allowing you to change the highlight color to your heart’s desire.

Floodlights/Spotlights

Very similar to one another, spotlights are narrower concentrations of light (usually around 45 degrees), whereas floodlights are wider (usually 120 degrees). Paired with motion-activated sensors, these are best for safety-intended options (and the most common outdoor lighting you’ll see).

Your Experts in Outdoor Lighting

With all of these lighting options, calling the licensed professionals at BrightWater Irrigation and Lighting for installation is best. Electrical can be tricky, dangerous, and potentially deadly when improperly handled. Our qualified technicians are highly trained to ensure your lightscaping is properly installed to withstand our seasonally harsh Florida climate.

Want to get a true visual of your lighting considerations? We are so committed to you loving your lighting design, we offer demo kits where you can try 8-10 light fixtures for 2 nights for free. Explore the potential of your outdoor spaces by contacting our team at BrightWater Irrigation and Lighting today and get started with your free consultation.