Does your landscape fade into obscurity when the sun goes down?  Have you ever tripped walking up your deck stairs in the dark?  Perhaps your favorite shrubbery looks great in the sunshine, but at night it’s nowhere to be seen.  Your deck or patio is a great place to gather during the day, but at night it seems uninviting. The answer to all these dilemmas is path lighting.

Unlike harsh floodlights and bright spots, low-voltage path lighting casts a soft glow, gently illuminating those areas of your yard – especially walkways and stairs – which safety or aesthetics  make good candidates for lighting.  Dark stairs and walking paths can be treacherous, even if you think you know your way around your yard.  But some strategically-placed path lights such as those shown here can light up your walkways and stairs with a warm and welcoming glow.

In addition to added safety, low-voltage path lighting allows you to highlight areas of your landscape you want to bring attention to, define spaces, and gently guide your visitors around your yard.

Outdoor landscape lighting is relatively small and unobtrusive, and it doesn’t require much maintenance.  Periodically you’ll need to make sure your lights are cleared of debris, such as during fall leaf season, or snow in the winter.  Bulbs need changing from time to time, although they are relatively long-lived.  And when it comes to design, you’ve got a lot of options.  Low voltage lighting can be mounted or installed in a variety of areas:

• In mulch beds alongside pathways, as shown above
• Under stair risers or beside steps
• Under roof or pergola edges
• At the base of trees and shrubs
• Overhead on tree trunks to cast a romantic downward glow
• On fences or masonry walls

Low-voltage lighting lets you turn your yard into a magical place after dark.  A lighting plan that fits with your home’s decor as well as your overall landscape design can make your yard just as beautiful and inviting after dark as it is during the day.  Not only will your landscape be a safer place to take a stroll, you and your guests will enjoy lingering in the invitingly soft glow.

At ALD we design and install outdoor lighting layouts to put your home and landscape in a favorable and attractive light.  We also offer regular maintenance if you desires. 

Does your beautifully-landscaped home fade from view when the sun sets?  If your only yard illumination is twinkling lights at the holidays, and a sconce beside your front entry the rest of the year, it may be time to consult an experienced landscape lighting professional to help you shed some light on that gorgeous exterior all year round.

Landscape lighting can serve many functions.  A patio that’s a great place to gather for lunch could turn into a late-night party spot with the right lighting.   Note the patio in this photo – a sunny spot to relax during the day becomes an outdoor room to enjoy at night when the right lighting is incorporated.   Or perhaps you’ve got some spectacular flowers or trees you’d like to put the spotlight on so they’re in view even after dark.  Even unique masonry or stone features benefit from strategically-placed lighting.

Landscape lighting can do so much more than illuminate walkways for safety; the right lights in the right place can transform your home’s exterior and its surrounding areas into inviting outdoor spots.  Here are some PHOTOS to give you ideas, along with some basic information on the different types of lighting available.   There are a wide variety of types and styles available, so if you’re somewhat overwhelmed by your choices, you may want to consult a landscape designer who specializes in landscape lighting to make sure you get the intended effect.

Architectural Landscape Design is a licensed Minnesota outdoor lighting contractor, and since we’re also landscape designers, we can help you select lighting that will not only illuminate your home at night but transform your entire yard whent the sun goes down.