Outdoor Lighting
Some people want outdoor lighting to accent their garden design. Others want security from unwanted company. Some want to light their outdoor activities without falling over their own shrubbery. Most want a combination of all of the above.
The good news is that there is no need to stick to one type of outdoor lighting. Most people combine several types of outdoor lighting without sacrificing style for function. The first step is to identify exactly what you need from your lighting and where. Then the fun part - choosing the perfect fittings for practicality and design. Read on for an overview of all the types of outdoor lighting you could possibly need.
1. Wall Lights
With reality TV shows like The Block, outdoor wall lighting is growing in popularity at a rate of knots. There are styles to suit any architectural style: modern, rustic, nautical, traditional, vintage, industrial. They can be flush mounted or semi flush mounted.
Flush Mounted Wall Lights
Flush mounted wall lights are mounted flush to the wall, with no space between the wall and the light. They are often found flanking the entrance way of new houses. They can come with a slim profile, which makes them a good option for lighting stairs and narrow outdoor corridors, such as between the side wall and the fence.
Up/Down Lights
Up/down lights are a sophisticated, modern style of flush mounted wall lights. They illuminate from both the top and bottom of the light fitting, creating an elegant effect.
Due to the design of the light fitting, make sure you purchase up/down lights with a high IP rating.
Semi Flush Mounted Wall Lights
Semi flush mounted wall lights have an arm that connects to a plate which is attached to the wall. The styles are often larger and more ornate, adding curb appeal to the dwelling.
Wall Lanterns
Also known as coach lights, these are the type of semi flush wall lights most commonly found providing light outdoors for Australian residential homes.
Most styles are vintage or rustic, but there are some lovely new styles around today which look fabulous on older style and modern houses alike. The coach light pictured was made popular on The Block and is now a feature of many homes.
Barn Lights
Also known as Gooseneck Lights, Barn Lights are a simple style of semi flush mounted wall light. They have a large round shade at the end of an arm, giving downward facing light and even illumination. A major tick for barn lights is ease of cleaning. No glass canisters to fill with bugs and dirt.
One of the reasons they were commonly used in barns is because they eliminate shadows which can spook livestock.
2. Floodlights
Floodlights are used for light cover and security rather than aesthetic appeal. They have been proven to discourage property damage and theft. An adjustable angle, which can be rotated, allows focus on a specific area.
With a high light intensity and broad area coverage, floodlights light up areas such as driveways, front verandahs and lawns in residential properties. Commercial premises rely on them to light sports grounds, outdoor car parks and large buildings.
They are usually mains connected due to the amount of power required to run them.
3. Spotlights
Spotlights are similar to floodlights, but with a narrower beam. As per floodlights, they are great for security, especially when installed with motion sensors. However, they are a little more adaptable, with their ability to point in one direction and light up single features.
Mounted from above they can light driveways, pathways and lawns. Placed on a spike in the ground they can light up trees, bushes or walls.
Wall Washing
When the spotlight is pointed upwards at a wall it create a wall washing effect. This is when a whole wall or entrance area is evenly lit or ‘washed’ with light. The spotlight needs to be placed far enough from the wall to light it up from top to bottom. This effect makes small spaces seem larger, adds depth and creates ambience. However, it doesn’t work well for polished stone or dark colours.
Wall Grazing
When the spotlight is positioned close to the wall it lights up part of the wall, creating the 'wall grazing' effect. It highlights a texture such as wood, stone or brickwork, or a feature such as a statue or plant.
Spotlights range in brightness and area covered, so as always, identify exactly what you want your lighting to do for you before selecting the fitting and bulb.
4. Step lights
Popular on both stairs to entranceway and deck stairs, step lights are either placed on the wall beside each step, or on the vertical face of each step. Not only do they look fabulous, they are important for safety when using stairs on dark nights.
5. Garden lights
Garden lights can be run on solar, batteries (transformers) or wired directly into mains electricity. Solar lights are cheap and easy to install yourself, just remember to keep the solar panels in direct sunlight. However, the poor light intensity means they can only be used for decorative lighting.
Often 12 volt garden lights are connected to transformers and plugged into mains, with cable buried under the soil. Kits can be purchased with transformers, in order to install your own lights, however it is best to have an electrician install them unless you know exactly what you are doing! 12 volt lights can be halogen, which have a higher light intensity, or LED which use less energy and last longer.
If the lights are higher voltage or need to be wired into mains electricity, you must have an electrician install them.
Garden lights are made to illuminate plants and other garden features, without blinding people with light directly to the eyes. They can be used to accent, highlight, create silhouettes and wall wash just to name a few.
Spike Lights
Spike lights can illuminate plants, giving a glowing, green effect at night.
Named for the spike at one end, which is pushed into a soft area, such as soil or grass.
They are often battery or solar powered and are easy to install.
Recessed and Inground Lights
Often referred to as ‘deck lights’ when built into a deck, these lights are embedded in walls or the ground.
Often they are embedded in walls next to steps as a form of stair lighting.
Inground they are used as borders for lawns or paths, as the upward facing lights don’t cast much light.
Bollard Lights
Bollard lights can give off 360 degrees of light. However, first check exactly where the bollard will cast light as some shine in every direction, whereas others only illuminate a certain area.
They are usually used to light up larger pathways, driveways and lawns which people use at night. They are most commonly found lighting up larger garden areas in commercial properties. Due to their chunky size and design, they should be avoided in smaller areas, or it will end up looking cramped.