Outdoor LED Lighting – Landscape Lighting Options

2009 September 4

tags: deck, decoration, led light bulbs, outdoor lighting, pathway, sconce, tips

by admin

Outdoor landscape lighting follows the same principles of indoor lighting design. Use a combination of general and accent lighting to achieve a layered lighting effect. Certain lights can be used in a more functional sense, for instance, lighting up a path. Other lights are used for decorative purposes, such as highlighting certain plants or architectural aspects of the landscape. For security, LED floodlights are a great choice. These bright lights don't produce UV light and so don't attract as many insects.

Functional LED outdoor lighting is adds safety to an outdoor environment. One of the most popular uses of LED light bulbs in the outdoors is in pathway lighting. This outdoor lighting illuminates dark paths and provides visibility to steps when going inside the house or around elevated sidewalks. The new LED pathway lights provide energy efficient style to any establishment. Many LED pathway lights are solar powered which alleviates the need to run wiring under lawns or walkways. Styles and quality vary, but we prefer the models that have a solar panel that is not built into the light unit if the lights are going to be placed in an area that receives a lot of shade in the day. This enables the solar panels to be anchored in a sunny area to get an optimum charge.

LED pathway lights are low to the ground and can simply be inserted into the dirt without much fuss. If you are looking for self standing pathway lights that are waist level, look into getting bollard lights. With the light source placed higher, these fixtures provide wider light coverage, but installation can be a bit more involved. These lights are on a post that usually require ground bolts if installed in concrete, or a post to be installed in the earth.

Wall lights and sconces are a great way to add accent lighting to buildings or at doorways. LED specific sconces are available, or one can simply replace the incandescent or fluorescent bulb with a LED equivalent. Below is an Break LED Wall sconce that uses only 3 watts, and below it is the After Hours Outdoor Wall Sconce by Hubbardton Forge that can have its halogen bulbs easily replaced by energy efficient LED MR16 equivalents.

LED deck and step lights are mounted low on walls or deck posts to provide illumination along the floor.

For general outdoor lighting, there are numerous fixtures that will accept LED replacement bulbs. Among them include outdoor chandeliers, pendants, post lights.