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Exterior Lighting Ideas

The three aspects of lighting - ambient, task and accent - apply to exterior lighting just as they do for interior illumination. But the way they're implemented will be very different.

Where an interior room angle is, say, 90 degrees the outside corner is also thought of as 90 degrees. But, measured the same way, it's actually 270 degrees. That difference produces just one of the many wrinkles inherent in an exterior lighting scheme. Add to that the presence of bushes, trees, few if any enclosed hallways or spaces and you have a decidedly different environment to illuminate.

Security is one of the most basic concerns in many exterior lighting schemes though it's rarely the first.

Deep shadows produced by nooks, bushes, trashcans and other common outdoor home features present a challenge. But flood lamps are designed to solve that exact problem. Place them on both corners of a wall, angled inward and there will be very few places for potential home invaders to hide.

Add motion sensors near points of entry - low windows, small garage doors, the front and rear entrances and so on - and you can have a system that saves energy and looks more low key, but still covers your home. Many come with timers or other features that allow you to ensure they don't come on during the day or at other undesired times.

All of the above may be categorized under the heading of ambient lighting. Clearly, though, the outdoor scheme is very different than providing general room illumination indoors.

But home protection isn't the only reason to add lights to the exterior. Convenience can be important, too. That's where task lighting comes into play.

You drive up onto the driveway then walk up to your front door. That journey might be sufficiently illuminated by street lights. But trees, rural neighborhoods and other factors may cause them to be absent or inadequate. A child's toy on the sidewalk can be a hazard. Finding keys and the front door lock can be annoying without good coverage of the walkway and entrance. So, task lights that give adequate light to the driveway, walkways and front door become important.

There are times when you'll need to do minor repairs when it's dusk or dark. A broken window may not wait until morning. Dusk may be the only time you have to finish a section of garden. Good task lighting can provide you with permanent or mobile solutions.

But when people think of exterior lighting, accent lights are usually uppermost in mind. Giving the home that finished look is often best accomplished by placing lamps at a dozen spots around the house.

The lawn is a popular spot, since both grass and walkways can be covered by the correct choice and placement of lawn lights. Small solar-powered lamps have become an often selected option, and for good reason. Solar lawn lights allow for wire-free, easy installation that never requires batteries.

Wall accents are another frequently found feature of exterior lighting schemes, thanks to their ability to provide focus. Small indirect spots can give a home that 'looks like a quality TV commercial' touch. Exterior wall sconces come in a hundred different designs. That makes it easy to integrate them with the rest of the home design or add decorative accents that suit any individual taste.

Invest in exterior lighting and you'll be more secure, walk and work with confidence, and add a beautiful illuminated look to your home.

When you change an 'ordinary' bulb from 100-watts to, say, 60-watts you're effectively altering the amount of resistance in the circuit. The voltage and current aren't in your direct control.

When you install a dimmer switch, you're altering the amount of power indirectly by changing the resistance. A dimmer changes the resistance from nearly zero (at the switch) to almost 100%, in the case of incandescents. For some types of CFL, the change may only be about 20%-80%. At a certain level, a fluorescent bulb can't stay lit.

Next time you start to wire something, or design a lighting scheme for your home, keep in mind these basic concepts. They'll help you interpret the diagrams and instructions you use.