Lighting

Simple Outdoor Pergola Lighting Ideas

A pergola can be a relaxing and beautiful place to hang out in at night. Here are some pergola lighting ideas that will turn it into an amazing outdoor space:

Overhead: A light can be fitted to one of the overhead beams (1). Depending on where you live, you might not want a light that hangs down, say a pendant light, as it will sway around a lot in the wind.

The Posts: There are quite a few lighting options when it comes to the posts of the pergola. These will need some electrical and wiring work done. Some ideas include fitting small wall lights, down lights, or having lights embedded into the posts (aka recessed lights).

If you choose to use solar lights, all you’ll need to do is just screw the fixtures to the posts – quick and simple (2).

Whimsical Lighting For Pergolas: To create a more whimsical and enchanting outdoor setting, have a look at using string lights (3). These can be easily wrapped around the posts of the pergola, or you can hang them on the beams overhead to create a starry night effect.

Tabletop: Tabletop lights would be the easiest way of subtly lighting a pergola. Some ways of doing this is to use candles (4), oil lanterns, table fire pits or bowls, or solar power lanterns like the SunJar (5).

Other Lighting Ideas and Solutions: Attach a spotlight to the wall of the house pointing toward the pergola. Another simple and inexpensive idea is to plant tiki torches in the soil around the pergola, or plant them in buckets of sand to hold them upright (6).

February 12, 2013 in Lighting, Outdoors

Home Style and Safety with Outdoor Security Lighting

It’s pretty amazing the power one light bulb can have. Take for example Stockton, California. They have a high crime rate, so Councilwoman Diana Lowery is making sure every house has at least one light bulb on by their front doors. The Police Chief backed the campaign which has the slogan “Light up the night, crime hates the light”.

Outdoor security lighting is not just great for safety, but it also adds to the curb appeal of the house. A well lit home looks elegant, and also makes it easier and safer to get yourself in and out at night. All of the following lighting ideas are great for security, curb appeal and also personal safety.

The Front of the House

Let’s start at the front door and work our way out. Having a wall light right by the door is a good place for a light fixture as seen in picture (1), to deter intruders and also in making it more convenient for you when you are by the door at night (finding keys, etc). It is also works to light up your house number if you have it here. The sides of the garage doors is another area that could use wall lights (2). High up on the garage, or on the wall of the house or a tree, a great security light to have fitted is a motion sensor flood light (3). Once again, great for security and also for helping to light up the driveway for you at night.

Welcome Home: Front Door Ideas and Designs

The Driveway

Now leading out of the driveway – having lights line this area would be a good idea just like in picture (4). Stake lights work well, or if you want less intrusive lighting, take a look at recessed lights that can fit into the driveway itself. You’ll want to avoid the runway effect which is when you place lights in rows – just like a runway. Instead alternate the sides you put them on. The same applies to any pathways you have out front.

The Entrance

Then we come to the outer edge of your front yard. Some people will have a gate or posts to mark the entry of the driveway. Here is another place to put lights just like in pictures (5) & (6). Once again this is great for security, but also for safety when driving in or out of the driveway (to see if there are any pedestrians crossing). And also if you have your house number hung up here.

The best security lights will be electrical. They will shine brighter, be more reliable, and will add value to your home. They can be hooked up to a timer to save you the hassle of turning them on and off. But not all of your exterior lights need to be electrical. Solar powered lights, all of which will automatically come on at night, can help save on your electrical bill. You can find solar powered display lights for your house number (7) or there are even solar flood lights available. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

February 12, 2013 in Lighting, Outdoors

Design Guide: Basement Lighting Ideas and Options

(1) Recessed lights are the standard and best way of adding lighting to a basement. A false ceiling is needed to fit these lights into, and since all the light fixtures are hidden away you are left with a sleek, clean and modern styled space. You can even hook the lights up to dimmer switches to easily change the mood in the basement.

(2) Cove lighting will make a finished basement feel large and grand. Light fixtures are hidden away and bounce light onto the ceiling and into the room. One way of doing this is to install a false ceiling and have a cut out (usually circular). Another way is to install crown molding a few inches below the ceiling and have lights sit on the molding.

(3) Basements can be very dark – so a safety concern is needing lights for the stairwell (especially in unfinished basements). A simple way to do this is to fit a light to wall above the door. Hanging lights are another option and also fitting lights low down on the walls by each step – or in the steps themselves as pictured.

(4) In the day time, there is no better way to light a basement than with natural daylight shining through windows.

(5) Lighting up the ceiling and all the corners of a basement will make the space feel large. Doing the opposite, avoid lighting the ceiling, will make the space feel cozy and secluded. This can be done by using a range of table and floor lamps. Another idea is to install dimmer switches so you can turn down the ceiling lights.

(6) Mood lights are another option when it comes to basement lighting ideas. These lights can also help create a cozier basement space. Pictured is the Yantouch Jellyfish. You can make it shine a specific color or have it cycle through different colors. Use bright green to brighten up the basement, or a deep red or blue to create a romantic movie night setting.

(7) Specific areas in a basement (such as bar tops, kitchen counters, desks, etc) will need task lighting. Hanging pendant lights bring light down from the ceiling and closer to the areas. Another way of adding task lighting is to use track lights. These can be angled to face a specific spot. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

February 7, 2013 in Basement, Lighting

Home Deck Lighting Ideas Mood Board

(1) The railing is an area where it is simple to install lights. String lights can be wrapped around them, or rope lights can be attached under the railing. (2) You can find lights that can be attached to the posts, or ones that can be installed into the posts (recessed lights). These can come as either solar or low voltage powered lights. Some of the simplest deck lighting ideas revolve around solar powered fixtures. One of the easiest types of deck lights to fit are solar caps – find the right size and pop them on top of the post (the one in picture (3) above is from Moonlight Decks).

From candle light, oil burners, and table top tiki torches, to solar umbrella lights, and battery powered lanterns – there are a ton of cheap tabletop lighting ideas and options (picture (4) is a solar SunJar ). (5) To create a whimsical outdoor setting, hang string lights over the deck (hang them from the walls, trees, or erect a pole). These can be arranged in columns or hang them up to a point to create a canopy of lighting. At night these lights will create a starry sky effect. (6) Wall lights attached to the house are another way of providing lighting for a deck. (7) A fire pit will bring a romantic glow and heating. (8) Tiki torches can be planted around the deck in the soil or you can plant the torches in buckets of sand which can be placed on the deck. If you use citronella oil as fuel you’ll have an organic insect repellent. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8