If you have ever driven by a home illuminated at night and thought “Wow! Now that is gorgeous!” then you have seen the transformation that strategic outdoor lighting can bring to a landscape. There are various types of outdoor lighting options that can provide a similar effect for your Winnetka, IL, home. Here is how to highlight features of your landscape that may not be at the forefront during the daylight hours.
Lighting for Safety
If there is even one corner of your home that gets dark at night and makes you feel uncomfortable, increasing the exterior lighting around your home can bring an increased sense of security in the later hours. When you increase the lighting that is on the perimeter of your home, it does not have to be bright and garish. Consider subtle wash lighting that shines up on the sides of your home to bring a soft glow, but with enough light for you to see all of the nooks and crannies clearly.
Illuminating your driveway can make it much easier for your friends and family to locate your home after dark, also easing the task of parking in the dark. Lit walkways not only look pretty at night but help your guests to find their way to your front door without fear of tripping over parts of the sidewalk that might have shifted. This can be especially helpful for the older people who come to see you when it is dark outside.
Related: How Outdoor Lighting On Timers Can Increase Your Property Safety In Buffalo Grove, IL
Lighting for More Time Outdoors
Imagine knowing that at the end of a hectic week you have a patio with comfortable furniture waiting for you to sink into and relax. This can be a strong motivator to finish your work quickly and get home. When your patio area has sconces on the house and lights that shine up into the trees, as well as lighting for the perimeter of the patio, you can stay outside as long as you like into the night. This can quickly become the place where you enjoy sitting with your friends to catch up on life.
You might even consider adding a covering to your patio with a special chandelier to add some drama to your outdoor space. This can also keep the elements from limiting how much time you are able to enjoy your outdoor area.
Lighting for Landscape Features
Outdoor lighting for landscape features can focus on a textured stone wall that graces a side of your home or a water wall that sits in your front courtyard. There are many features of your landscape that just seem to be part of the whole during the daylight but can take on a special focus once the sun has set.
You could illuminate a low retaining wall that sets a landscape bed apart from the rest of the yard or bold stone columns that form the foundation of your entryway. A special tree can take center stage when lit at night, as can a lattice filled with draping blooms.
How Landscape Professionals Can Help
Your Winnetka, IL, landscape service can design a customized plan for your home and landscape to bring out the beauty after dark. With ideas for lighting focused on water features, garden lighting, façade and architectural lighting, they can illuminate the special parts of your home’s exterior.
Related: Add Contrast And Dimension To Your Landscape With These Outdoor Lighting Techniques