Good landscape lighting is an important piece of your home’s curb appeal. A well-lit property will also help make it safer for you and your guests at night. However, it’s important that you plan your landscape lighting design carefully. Partnering with a professional landscape lighting designer is a great way to ensure your outdoor lighting enhances your home’s features and creates a dramatic presence in your neighborhood. There are many common lighting mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Two story home with new landscape lighting at dusk.

1. Using Too Much Light

One of the most common mistakes made with landscape lighting design is using too much light. This can create an uncomfortable and unappealing effect. The whole point of landscape lighting is to enhance the safety, security, and visual charm of your property. Blinding anyone that tries to look in your property’s general direction won’t achieve any of this.

It’s important to use the right amount of light for the right purpose. Having too many lights along a driveway, for instance, can create a runway effect. Secondly, positioning your lights properly by blocking the light source from the viewer’s eyes is a must. A professional installer will know to use glare shields on any spotlights and floodlights to avoid that direct glare.

2. Using The Wrong Fixtures

Another common mistake is using the wrong type of fixtures for the application. For example, if you’re trying to light a pathway, you’ll want to have path lights installed rather than up-lights or spotlights. Using up-lights along your walkway will only blind anyone walking up to your house. On the other hand, using small pathway lights in an attempt to emphasize certain features on your property, such as a beautiful tree, won’t work either. Different lighting fixtures serve specific purposes, and it’s best not to try using them in a multipurpose way.

3. Not Using LED Lights

There’s really no point buying any type of bulb other than an LED. Although LEDs are more expensive as far as upfront costs go, they will save you a considerable amount of money in the long run. Not to mention LEDs will significantly outlast other bulbs, which also lends to their appeal in outdoor applications.

The average lifespan of an LED bulb is around 50,000 hours — and they use about 75 percent less energy than their halogen bulb counterparts. Basically, it costs much less to use them and you won’t have to replace them for a very long time (other types of bulbs will have to be replaced within the year or less).

4. Not Using Waterproof Connectors

If you’re not using waterproof connectors, you’re making a big mistake. Inevitably, your landscape lighting fixtures will come into contact with moisture at some point. When this happens, your wiring could short out and create a fire hazard. Make sure all of your connectors are waterproof so that you don’t have to worry about this.

5. Implementing a Poor Lighting Design Layout

Take the time to find the right outdoor lighting professional to help you choose the right fixtures and plan the layout of your lights. The placement of your light fixtures matters a lot, and if you don’t start with a good design plan, they might work against each other, creating glare and shadows where you don’t want them.

These are some of the common mistakes that can ruin your landscape lighting design. To ensure that your landscape lighting enhances your property, partner with a professional who can help bring your vision to life. If you’ve been considering adding new outdoor lighting on your property, we can help. We have the experience and knowledge you need to get the look you’re after. Contact Sprinkler Pro today.