The type of bulb makes a difference, especially when it comes to brightness and energy efficiency. For low-voltage landscape lighting, LED bulbs are the preferred choice. They are brighter than incandescent bulbs and use about 80 percent less electricity. Bulbs also last much longer than incandescent bulbs and burn out much colder.
Before deciding which light works best for the different characteristics of your landscape, let's take a look at the different types of lighting for the patio. The most common are garden lights, bullet, flood, wash, well and downlights. A garden light is usually 18 to 24 inches tall with a canopy light that reflects the light down. Wash lights are floor-reaching lights with large round faces that shine directly onto an object.
Bullet lights are also close to the ground, but produce a narrow beam of light. For a discreet lighting option, a well light is one that sits on the ground and is usually covered with a durable fit to withstand the weather. For discreet lighting, a downlight is a small herringbone shaped light that has an angled opening for extended viewing of the light. Downlights are often placed on a tree or on branches to illuminate any item below, such as a path or bench.
When you're lighting a large area, you'll want a reflector. They are usually used when a bright light is needed to cover a wide angle of 40 degrees or more, such as the facade of a house. When deciding whether to purchase LEDs, halogens or solar lights for your garden lighting, you should weigh the pros and cons. LED lights can last approximately 40,000 hours or the equivalent of 20 years, while halogen lights last an average of two years.
If you're trying to keep your electricity bill low, then solar is your best bet, but they're not as reliable, while LEDs are your reliable choice, since each light only uses 1 to 11 watts. LEDs use less energy, need a smaller transformer and reduce maintenance. The only downside to using LED is the initial cost. They cost almost ten times more than halogen lights, so you won't see your savings for a few years.
For a better value, get a multi-pack like MEIKIEE 7W LED landscape lights. This set is ideal for facades, paths or trees and creates a uniform look throughout your property while saving on your electricity bill. Most landscape lighting today is low voltage, and rightly so. Unlike 120 volt systems, they are safer to work with and less expensive to install.
And although low-voltage lights receive a tenth of the power, thanks to a step-down transformer, there is no limit to the effects they can achieve, from the ethereal moonlight descending from the canopy of a tree to a subtle glow that bathes a low wall of a garden. More than just choosing the right hardware, a nice lighting scheme also has to do with art. Depending on the layout of your outdoor space and how bright you want it to be, there are a few things to consider when choosing the best garden lights to illuminate it. We searched the Internet for the best garden lights to illuminate your space, considering the energy sources needed for different types of lights to work, the styles of lights that would work best for a variety of outdoor spaces, and affordability.
Finally, we consult research carried out by expert gardeners at The Strategist to offer you the best garden lights for your space. The top 3 outdoor lighting brands are Unique Lighting Systems, Kichler Landscape Lighting and FX Luminaire. They are great looking accessories that last, have excellent customer service, and can give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Combining path lights and spotlights, this landscape lighting kit helps illuminate your entire patio.
These versatile and compact luminaires are often equipped with bulbs that project a narrow beam, ideal for accurately illuminating the features of the house, tree trunks and structures. Since 12-volt electricity does not present the risk of electric shock, low-voltage garden lighting systems are safe for homeowners to install on their own. After taking stock of the types of shrubs, trees and gardens you have around your lawn, find the lights you'll need with this simple guide below. If you are looking for a durable landscape lighting set, you will discover that this set is made of die-cast aluminum.
We love its spotlight effect with a 270-degree adjustable head that offers a 45-degree beam angle, which is great for focused lighting. A lantern style garden lamp will look charming in traditional landscapes, while mushroom style lights shine brighter in modern or contemporary settings. Integrated LED lighting throughout the terrace area, from the roof to the steps, creates a warm and soft glow that makes it easy for guests to find their way after sunset. Illuminate large areas of your patio and help increase home security with this set of 4.5 watt wide-angle projectors, which are floor mounted and connected to a transformer.
Solar landscape lighting uses a small solar cell to charge a battery that provides power for the lights when the sun goes down. This Newhouse Lighting accent light emits 1,400 lumens of light and is the perfect accessory to illuminate trees, walls, flag poles and other notable outdoor details thanks to its adjustable mounting bracket. For more outdoor lighting design ideas, visit the FX Luminaire Learning Center or check out the classic guide The Landscape Lighting Book, by Janet Lennox Moyer. Step lights are built-in fixtures to illuminate ramps, walkways and areas next to walls or around outdoor kitchens.
Next, get the 411 in the best outdoor spotlights, reflectors, step lights and garden path lights on the market today, plus how to incorporate each type of outdoor lighting into your landscape design. . .
