Every homeowner wants to up the value of his home, not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for the future, in the event that he decides to sell his house. According to a blog post on WDSUNews.com, installing certain lighting trends can help increase the stock of a house and make it more eye-catching than it has ever been. These trends use safe and economical low voltage outdoor lighting solutions that are becoming favored alternatives to conventional options. The blog mentioned key areas of the house where homeowners can install the trendy fixtures. One of these is the deck. Houses that have decks will benefit from these being properly lighted, as lights can enhance the beauty of the houses' exterior. Homeowners who opt for this can get low-voltage lights, which are safer for use and sturdier during inclement weather, as compared to traditional ones.

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A homeowner has outdoor lights installed for a variety of reasons. These range from enhancing the overall beauty of the home to providing an opportunity for residents to spend quality time in the evening under the stars. What a homeowner might not realize is that outdoor lights can also increase security for his or her property. Below are three outdoor lighting ideas from an article on Memetics.com that one can apply to make sure relatives or guests are always safe when on the premises. One idea is to use outdoor lighting to create safe pathways. Paths indicate routes to and from the home, particularly through a garden. If the homeowner holds parties in his or her backyard at night, well-lit pathways create visible boundaries between walkable areas and turf, which cannot be missed. As such, these can prevent accidents or injuries from occurring.

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According to a news post on Bernews.com this August, the Bermuda Police service has noticed a “persistent rise in commercial burglaries around the island.” This came following three separate incidents that happened within 24 hours in establishments on Lover's Lane in Paget, Parliament Street, and Laffan Street. In the wake of investigations, police officials urged business owners to review the safety and security solutions they are utilizing, including the commercial outdoor lighting systems they may or may not have installed around their premises. Authorities also called on business owners to heed some tips they provided if they want to avoid being burglarized.

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Individuals spend a lot of time, money, and effort to make their gardens or open-air living spaces attractive and lively, especially at night. A number of homeowners especially take care to install lights to achieve this effect. However, some tend to commit outdoor lighting mistakes that could get in the way of their plans. Thankfully, experts are ready with advice on how to fix them. The first of these mistakes is not having a sufficient design plan in the first place. Frank Crandall, who writes about landscape lighting at the news portal GoLocalProv, says that the design should come first because it is very important for homeowners to identify what they need to get their desired outcome. Crandall suggests they pre-plan details like the number of needed bulbs and wires, the placement of light sources in the landscape, and the kind of lighting techniques to be used.

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Some homeowners have been asking if LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting for their yards or gardens makes sense. Two years ago, landscape experts would have told them to consider other options. But, as Lawn & Landscape magazine points out, LEDs are now gaining acceptance and popularity among designers. So, why should homeowners consider LED outdoor lighting now? There are three reasons these lights can benefit homeowners despite the costs involved. One reason is that LEDs are better than traditional incandescent bulbs, even for brightening outdoor spaces. LED bulbs are 75 percent more efficient than incandescent ones and last possibly up to 15 times longer. LEDs are also energy-efficient, especially if they display the Energy Star rating. In fact, one landscape designer based in South Carolina told the magazine that LEDs have evolved so quickly and considerably that they are now part of his daily designs.

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Outdoor lighting can really add character to your home. However, the budget-conscious may think that this is a bit superfluous, especially given today's tough economy. Nature lovers might also scoff at it as yet another reason to consume electricity, which ultimately results in carbon emission.

Light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, which have been recently gaining popularity, might allay the concerns of both parties. Unlike the standard incandescent bulb, LED bulbs produce light when electrons move across semi-conductive materials. They can shine for up to 50,000 hours when incandescent bulbs already putter out at 750.

Since LED bulbs are often constructed of plastic instead of glass, they won't shatter as easily as incandescent ones. They also don't have a filament, which is fragile and easily damaged (by an electrical fluctuation, for example). In other words, they're the perfect set-it-and-forget-it lighting source for a patio or lawn.

While the cost of installing outdoor LED lighting may be more expensive than traditional lighting, LED bulbs will serve you for years and will pay for themselves in savings before you know it. Fortunately, as LED lighting becomes more mainstream, cost could become less of a deal. Now, you have an outdoor lighting solution that will beautify your house while being kind to the environment.

Make it look as if someone is at home. This is the advice Police Lt. Brian Piekarski of Sagamore Hills, Ohio gave to individuals who want to prevent burglars from targeting their houses. “Keep your home lit up. Outside lights are great. Indoor lights are good,” Piekarski was quoted as saying by Fox 8 Cleveland, following a string of burglaries in his neighborhood. “The darker your home, the more attractive it is to somebody who wants to burglarize it, because it’s going to be less noticeable for them kicking in the front door.” Take note of that line: outside lights are great. Strategically placed outdoor or landscape lighting can effectively boost the safety and security of one’s home, on top of enhancing the beauty of its exteriors.

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LEDs, otherwise known as light emitting diodes, have gained popularity in recent years because they are useful for various outdoor lighting applications. In contrast with incandescent and fluorescent lights that have filaments in glass bulbs with gases, LEDs are solid-state lights that have a longer life expectancy. Their size measures from 3 to 88 mm, which makes them ideal for use in spaces that have been considered too narrow for other lightbulbs to fit in. Another notable feature of LEDs is that they emit light in a particular direction, making them more efficient than incandescent and fluorescent lamps that emit light in all directions.

Moreover, the life of a high-powered white LED lasts from 35,000 to 50,000 hours, as opposed to 750 to 2,000 hours for an incandescent bulb, and 8,000 to 10,000 hours for a compact fluorescent lamp. It is also practical to opt for LEDs since they remain cool, unlike conventional lightbulbs, which waste their energy as heat. Additionally, LEDs have no glass components, so they are unbreakable. This makes them a popular choice for sports facilities and high-crime locations.

If LEDs have been poorly designed, they cannot last for long and may become inefficient. However, those which have passed the standards of Energy Star are expected to show a stable light for a longer period of time. Quality LEDs are also expected to light up as soon as they are turned on. Neither should they flicker nor consume any energy when they are turned off. 

Your business sustains your family and your employees, which is why it's only reasonable to invest in the appropriate anti-theft measures. Among other things, you might want to install commercial outdoor lighting fixtures that can make it a lot tougher for would-be burglars to conceal themselves and sneak into your property.

When choosing commercial outdoor lights, you’ll need to consider several factors. Among other things, you need to take into account the probability that crooks might attempt to break your lighting fixtures so they can enter your property under cover of darkness. Therefore, you need to choose a set of lighting fixtures with sturdy casings that do not break easily.

You might also want to entertain the possibility that your chosen lighting fixture may not come with a secure locking mechanism. Chances are high that you'll need to check your lights regularly, which is something you wouldn’t want to waste too much time doing. As such, see to it that these lights are installed properly for good.

Unauthorized disassembly is another security issue you’ll need to take into account when installing commercial outdoor lighting. Crooks will try to disassemble your outdoor lights, so it's highly recommended to install lights with tamper-proof screws or any other components. This way, you can worry less about possible tampering and avoid costly replacements.

Street lights and lamps have changed a lot over the years. Compared to oil, gas, and candle-based lighting fixtures of old, most outdoor lights these days run on electricity and even sustainable solar energy. Given the wide selection of lighting fixtures available, it would be wise to know which indoor and outdoor lights can best suit your home.

A good number of street lamps these days consist of fluorescent variants, which are essentially low-pressure mercury lamps that boast of decent illumination and light diffusion at affordable prices. Fluorescent lamps are also considered energy-efficient and eco-friendly since they contain low amounts of mercury vapor, albeit at the expense of comparative longevity. Mercury vapor lamps, meanwhile, are considered improvements over fluorescent lamps, although these variants are mostly suitable for use in sports stadiums and arenas rather than in residential properties.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs), on the other hand, have quickly become popular thanks to their revolutionary design. Unlike the aforementioned “discharge lamps”, LEDs don't rely on radiation to create light; rather, they generate electric currents to produce illumination. The absence of gases also means that LEDs don't burn out quickly, thereby granting them greater energy efficiency and service lives that set the bar for future lighting technologies.

Celebrations held at home tend to be intimate yet long-drawn affairs, which is why you need to make sure that your property is well-equipped to handle such occasions. You’re likely to entertain on your deck, yard, or patio if you have rather limited space inside your house. However, these outdoor spaces will need proper illumination if you plan to host festivities that extend well into the evening.

Outdoor lighting is unlike the kind used indoors; for starters, the fixtures need to be tough enough to endure day-to-day exposure to the elements. These lights also need to be bright enough to illuminate the whole expanse of your deck or patio, yet also energy-efficient enough to not burn through your monthly utility budget. It is, thus, not surprising why powerful, affordable, and low-energy and LED lights are the favorite choice due to the affordability, brightness, and low-energy LED bulbs are a favorite option when it comes to outdoor lighting.

If you’re building a new home, you can consult with your landscape contractor about suitable outdoor lighting options that can be incorporated into your home’s overall building plan. Planning for outdoor lighting while a house is being built also allows electricians to come up with a proper wiring layout. Thereafter, you can add solar-powered outdoor lighting fixtures if you wish so you don’t need to tinker with the wiring system.

Unlike interior spaces that have defined measurements, it can be harder to lay out a plan for outdoor spaces. Things can be even more complicated when outdoor lighting is involved, since lighting fixtures need to be added in such a way that they don't mar the beauty of your yard or garden. Interestingly, there's actually an art to outdoor lighting, and homeowners might want to learn a thing or two before plopping down a couple of lanterns.

Outdoor lighting will no doubt add to your electric bill, which is why you need to take into how much energy the new lighting setup will consume on average. You might want to first calculate the total wattage of each lighting fixture before rushing headlong into the project. You certainly wouldn’t want to invest in fancy lighting fixtures only to see your power bill shoot up tremendously in the succeeding months.

Another aspect you’ll need to consider when installing outdoor lights is the mechanism by which you can control them. While a simple switch setup might do, you need to be conscientious about turning it off; otherwise, you might encounter some nasty accidents or unnecessary bill spikes. You might want to opt for an automated system with a timer and/or motion sensor so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving the lights on all night.

Gardens and other landscapes lush with foliage could always use some lighting so that homeowners can appreciate them even at night. Lights will also provide illumination so that people walking through a yard won't trip over something. While there is a clear need for outdoor lighting, there is also the question of how to position the fixtures, especially when plant growth is considered.

Having a permanent light fixture in the middle of plant growth can be a recipe for disaster. The greenery can end up entwining with the fixture and ruining its wiring. It will be a real chore to constantly clean up and fix permanent lights if the plants keep getting in their way. The better alternative would be to use semi-permanent low voltage lighting that can be repositioned when necessary.

Low voltage lights are typically available in a series and have to be wired to transformers. They are also quite easy to reposition, as they can just be pulled out of the ground and then placed somewhere else. These lights are perfect for landscapes that have yet to fully flourish or for yards with designs that haven't been set yet. True to their name, low voltage lighting also uses up less energy than regular lights, so they can help homeowners save on their bills.

The most exciting house parties last more than just a couple of hours. More often than not, such affairs carry on for the entire night. The bigger the party is, the longer guests will linger. Sometimes, staying cooped up indoors during these gatherings can make a party boring real fast. Taking it out to the patio can keep the festivities going and give merry-makers a breath of fresh air.

You can kiss those outdoor parties goodbye, though, if your patio lacks lighting. Expect guests to stumble and trip over things in the dark, regardless of whether or not they're drunk. Obviously, you'll want to outfit your patio with enough lights so people can still mingle easily.

It would be great to install solar-powered lights along the patio. These lights won't just illuminate the party space. They'll also save hosts a lot of money since they'll be running on stored solar energy. Another great lighting idea would be to use a set of lanterns and let these dangle above the patio to create a warm and intimate atmosphere. There are many more lighting options available, so homeowners should carefully choose those that they think can add more life to their party.

If a well-lit home can be an attraction in the neighborhood, so can a well-lit commercial establishment. A dim or dull business outlet might seem dubious and uninviting for would-be clients. They would have second thoughts of even entering the premises and would most likely avoid it like the plague.

On the other hand, a brightly illuminated commercial building will be an inviting place for customers to go into. Shoppers will be easily enticed to visit it, with the lights serving as a come-on. For these reasons, any retail outlet wanting to increase profits would do well to install an excellent commercial outdoor lighting system.

This is especially essential during the holidays, when people are eager to shop and usually have the money to do so. Commercial outdoor lights can even be used to create the proper mood and environment, keeping with the holiday season, that would encourage shoppers to feel the Christmas cheer and indulge in a spending spree.

Commercial outdoor lights do not only make an establishment attractive, but also give shoppers a feeling of safety and security. The holiday spirit—and a business itself—can be kept alive with the help of great outdoor lighting enhancing business profitability and marketability.

A higher voltage doesn't always mean brighter light; in fact, voltage isn't power (that's measured in watts). Voltage refers to how much force is exerted to create a current along the line from the power source to the outdoor lamp. High voltage simply means there's more electricity flowing at a given time but not necessarily a stronger one. People often mistake voltage for wattage. This is something that must be clarified prior to work on any home improvement project.

You can still have bright light with a low-voltage system for your garden. Power-wise, a 60-watt lamp operating on 12 volts is hardly any different from the same lamp operating on ten times the voltage. Keep in mind, however, that voltage can drop if a line is connected to several fixtures, in a set-up called a daisy chain. If you see that some of the lamps in the garden aren't as bright as the rest, the problem isn't necessarily with the wattage but the voltage.

In fact, experts recommend against daisy chaining in outdoor lighting. You can arrange the electrical system to “form a T” for the lights to receive an equal amount of voltage. This is recommended for low-voltage systems so an equal amount of light can be sustained across a landscape. 

Thieves love the dark. Under the cover of night, they can slip past your fence, steal your valuables, escape unseen, and pull off a successful heist. Imagine a robber making it across your front yard, with the only thing standing between him and the loot being a couple of outdoor lights in your garden. If you had any doubts about installing those before, consider your investment worth it now. In this situation, they're exactly what you need.

With the outdoor lights on at night, a thief's stealthy advantage disappears and his chances of getting caught by neighbors—if not the house owner—increases. Experts say that outdoor lighting can do a great deal in deterring thefts in homes. Thanks to these and a good security system, any trespasser will most likely be caught in the act before he can scoot off a property with the loot. Haven't you ever wondered why agents in movies avoid floodlights while spying?

If you're looking for an affordable addition to your garden and security system, look no further than outdoor lighting. Go for LED lighting to get the most value for your money. While a more expensive choice, LED makes up for it by giving off brighter light for less power. 

Installing landscape lighting is the easiest way to create the right kind of ambiance for any outdoor occasion. More than this, it can also make your lawn or garden just as beautiful at night as it is in the daytime, as well as provide your home with added security. Various outdoor lighting may be used to create a special mood in your garden or lawn.

Path lights along the walkway create a welcoming atmosphere for guests, as well as help them avoid accidents by helping them see where they're walking. Lights on step risers can also help ensure safe footing and prevent any mishaps.

Spotlights targeted on beautiful trees or other features of interest in your yard can create a stunning effect. If you want to highlight a bed of flowers or shrubbery, rope lighting may be appropriate. Wall mounted lights can accent an interesting wall texture or design. The right deck and porch lights can also create a soft, warm glow around your home at night.

Experts say that the most effective landscape lights are those that give off a soft glow rather than a harsh glare. Not only do these types of lighting give your home a quiet kind of beauty, they are also more energy-efficient and economical. In particular, LED and solar-powered lights are ideal for creating that enchanting outdoor look without incurring high energy costs.

The patio is arguably one of the best places in the home where friends and loved ones can spend time together at night. It is a place where they can have dinner outdoors or simply hang out and enjoy each other's company. The experience can be enhanced further if the patio has some high-quality outdoor lights installed, the most common of which are floodlights and spotlights.

Floodlights are typically chosen by homeowners who want to illuminate a large area, and this is done by emitting a 120 degree beam of light over a wide space. They can be useful not only in lighting up the pathway leading to the patio, but also for providing some degree of security since would-be intruders would find it more difficult to navigate through the area. LED floodlights have the additional advantage of being more economical since they can last for about 50,000 hours or more before they need to be replaced.

On the other hand, spotlights are designed to illuminate only one particular area by focusing all the light into a narrow “spot”. The light they emit is much brighter and more useful in highlighting specific areas in the patio like furniture, sculptures, and other patio decorations. Many outdoor decoration/landscaping companies use permanently-fixed spotlights extensively to illuminate fountains and gardens at night.

Commercial facilities need outdoor lighting for both aesthetic and functional reasons. They brighten up gardens and highlight architecture, as well as deter burglars and other kinds of trespassers. Commercial lighting comes in a variety of types, which have various lighting effects on surfaces. Here are some of them:

Wall or Awning Light

Most outdoor lighting withing this category are used for illuminating surfaces and signs along retail and commercial buildings. They are installed to keep signage visible to customers even from a distance, in some cases, they are used to illuminate directions or names of a room or building. Some models may come in adjustable shades and customizable mounting options.

Security Light

Unlike wall or awning lights, security lights provide a well-illuminated environment for people to have a wider visual. This is designed to deter criminal activities and/or monitor activities within a property. Modern types come with motion sensors, weather-resistant features, and surge protection for better and longer performance.

Marine light

Mostly seen in docks, marine lighting provides underwater lighting for boaters to see at least part of the water bed. Some come in a variety of colors to create exquisite effects in fountains and pools. They have waterproof light fixtures and can be used to communicate when using boats.

Pretty, dazzling, yet practical; these are the words you might associate with outdoor lamps and lights. While they have the mundane purpose of providing illumination to your property at night, sconces, LEDs, and lighting fixtures do more than just brighten up the place. For one thing, a dimly-lit pathway is an accident waiting to happen, especially when children or senior citizens walk through it at night all alone.

Outdoor lighting also provides security: would-be trespassers and burglars will have a difficult time getting into your property undetected if there are plenty of outdoor lights around. In addition, simply having these lights turned on, even when you and your family are away, gives the impression that there are people inside the property, dissuading criminals from getting any funny ideas. Outdoor lights can also be used in tandem with other security devices like motion detectors to provide even better security.

When they're installed for landscaping, outdoor lights can serve as beautiful decorations that can impress your guests and neighbors. It is fairly common to install lights in lawns and gardens to make them look prettier. Increasing the aesthetic appeal of a house also increases its retail value, giving you a better selling price if ever you decide to put your property for sale. 

Building a porch, a deck, a pool, or a patio can considerably increase the value of your home. If you have a beautifully landscaped garden to boot, it can further enhance the beauty of your property. However, you may not be able to enjoy these additional outdoor living spaces fully.

As the sun sets and darkness covers the outdoors, you may have to retreat to the interiors of your house. If you're hosting a party, darkness might stop the merry making and your guests may have to go home earlier than planned. However, all these would not happen if you have the foresight to install an outdoor lighting system. Not just any conventional lighting setup, but a LED outdoor lighting system.

With such a lighting system provided for your outdoors, you don't have to worry about not having enough time to entertain your guests. In fact, they can enjoy your outdoor living space for as long as they have the energy. You can also bond with members of your family even when the sun has already set because the outdoors will still be visible and beautiful with your lighting system in place.

LED lights are not only used to illuminate the outdoors, but to make them more beautiful and safe. You can have more fun with LED lights brightening up your outdoor living spaces.

Landscape light is arguably the best way to add significant curb appeal to your home since it can highlight design features in your home even at night. While you can easily buy light fixtures in hardware stores, a better option is to consult lighting companies. These companies can customize a design that will complement your home and highlight its beauty.

For instance, if you want to highlight the water feature in your home, lighting companies can install strategically placed fixtures that will make your landscape stand out. The problem with lights bought at hardware stores is that they tend to have cookie cutter designs and, occasionally, are not all that flattering. That said, some companies will assist homeowners in picking the right color rendering for their landscape so they can put their home in the best, well, light.

You have more creative control by choosing specialized companies instead of just buying light fixtures and having them installed by a neighborhood electrician. The choices of design and lighting will ensure that you get the best possible illumination. Just make sure you go to a reputable company so you'll know that they can do a good job and make your house look good even in the dead of night.

Colonial style houses are still relatively popular in North America because it evokes an old world charm that's simply timeless. These types of homes have a tendency to be symmetrical, and have rectangular and square shapes; as a result, a contrasting curvy path will serve as a great landscape for colonial-style homes. You can also install a water fixture or a sitting area for additional curb appeal.

You can also highlight the beauty of this style of home with strategically placed landscape lighting. You don't even need to go overboard with the light fixtures; just place it in strategic areas so your home will still look great even during the evening. Just make sure that you pick the type of lighting design that will go well with colonial style homes so there won't be a clash in motif.

Aside from the particular style, you may want to buy LED lights so you can save money in the long run. LED lights are reportedly eighty to ninety percent more energy efficient compared to traditional lighting materials. Compared to light bulbs, LED lighting also lasts significantly longer so you get to enjoy the nighttime illumination that will highlight the timeless appeal of your colonial-style home.