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Outdoor lighting has come a long way in recent years. No longer is it simply a motion detector light above the garage door. Today there is outdoor lighting available to spotlight a single plant or tree, or to light an entire parking lot.
Many people don't realize how important exterior light fixtures are for the security and aesthetic appeal of your home. Illuminating your landscape, walkways, gardens and decks with lighting can also add value to your home for a very low price on your part.
When you are considering outdoor light fixtures for your yard, driveway (either long or short), for your house, for a sports area such as basketball for the kids, or for the doorways, it is wise to look at the big picture first. This will help you plan and organize what type of lighting you want to use in each area of your yard or driveway. The low voltage and fluorescent styles are both very good at keeping your electric bill down and if you can combine those with the motion sensor lights that only turn on when they are needed, then you will effectively reduce your electric payments. Then you could choose landscape lighting or lanterns for your accent areas and have them on separate timers so they would automatically turn on and off.
- Landscape – either spot light or large areas.
- Low-voltage lighting – very cost efficient.
- Motion sensor lighting – detects human motion and automatically turns on and off.
- Lanterns – for accent lighting.
- Dusk to dawn - for timed lighting.
- Fluorescent Lighting – very cost efficient.
- Flood lights – large and small.
- Underwater lights – for ponds or pools.
- Entry lights.
- Porch lights.
- Vandal proof lighting – totally enclosed and protected.
- Motion-sensor.
- Wall and post lanterns – to accent any area.
- Step lights.
- Entry lights.
- Yard lights.
- Dusk to dawn lights.
- Low-voltage post light.
- security light fixtures - a great way to keep thieves away from your residence is to illuminate the exterior walls and walkways with spot or flood lights that are triggered by sensors. I have these on my home and it's
- path lights - these type of light fixtures are designed for 2 purposes, security as well as accent lighting. Path lighting can consist of exteriors street lanterns,
- garden lighting - illuminate your garden with a technique called up lighting, which means you have low level lighting facing upwards, in this case onto plants. This type of mood lighting creates stunning shadows and low light that looks great.
- down lighting - placing lights in a tree or high on your home or garage and then aimed towards the ground is called down lighting. This technique uses flood lights and is designed to copy the look of moon light.
- installing underwater lights - installing light fixtures underwater gives your pond or waterfall a soft feel.
- deck lights - deck lighting consist of low lights that are designed to illuminate stairs or your exterior deck or patio area.
- party lights - these type of light fixtures are designed to be installed on the perimeter of patios or gazebos
- outdoor wall lights - for the front door installing wall sconces, post lights and hanging exterior lamps can light up the the front entrance to your house, as well as adding a warm glow.
- front Lighting – this technique requires the light fixtures to be placed in front of an object. The purpose it illuminate details on an object such as a rock or tree.
Some of the styles that you can find include for exterior light fixtures include, traditional, Tiffany / Mission, contemporary, art deco, coastal, wrought iron and rustic. Choose from brand such as Malibu, Cooper, Twilight, Kichler, Toro, Hampton Bay, Portfolio, Vista, Hinkley, Craftsman, Coleman, Quoizel, Progress and Murray Feiss.
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