Outdoor Lighting: What to Know Before Buying

What Do You Need to Consider When Buying Outdoor Lights?

A: Choosing the right outdoor lighting requires a strategic approach. Start by determining the exact location and mounting method, which will narrow down the type and style of the fixture. Consider the desired intensity of the light (lumens) and the color temperature (Kelvin) that best suits the environment—warmer hues for cozy spaces and cooler tones for task lighting. Think about the purpose: do you need security lighting, accent lights, or general illumination? Also, check for durability and weather resistance, ensuring the fixtures can handle the elements. Energy efficiency is another key factor; opting for LED lights can offer long-term savings. Don’t overlook the design aspect; the light should complement your home’s exterior. If in doubt, consulting with a lighting expert can help clarify these choices and lead to a satisfactory purchase and end result.

Choices and Options in Outdoor Lights

• Luminosity (Lumens): Lumens quantify a light's brightness, distinct from energy consumption measured in watts. LED lights exemplify efficiency, emitting more lumens with less energy—for instance, a 6.5-watt LED can match the brightness of a 50-watt halogen. Selecting lumens is a balancing act, influenced by personal preference, area size, and lamp placement. Floodlights demand higher lumens, -20,000, to ensure safety and security. In contrast, softer illumination for garden paths or stairs typically requires 300 to 500 lumens.• Energy Consumption (Watts): Watts reflect energy usage, with higher wattage correlating to increased energy bills. Outdoor lighting benefits from the lower wattages of LEDs; 80 watts or less is ideal for general use, while 40 watts or under suffices for paths and garden beds. Lights under 80 watts often meet 'Dark Sky' standards, minimizing environmental impact.• Color Temperature (Kelvin): Kelvin indicates the color temperature of the light, with lower values casting a warmer glow and higher ones yielding a cooler light. For residential outdoor spaces, a Kelvin range of k-k strikes the right balance, where a K draws attention and is ideal for retail and areas needing more safety. A k setting is particularly effective in creating a natural, warm ambiance akin to a campfire's radiance.• Motion Sensors: LEDs with motion sensors activate upon detecting movement, enhancing security and energy efficiency. Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors are prevalent, responding to heat and infrared energy. Look for Microwave sensors on higher end fixtures to get longer range, more accuracy and the ability to program them.• Beam Angles: Beam angle dictates the spread of light from the source. The correct beam angle is critical for adequate illumination in applications like street, stadium, and security lighting—wide angles suit proximity, while narrower beams serve distant targets. Notably, a typical floodlight's reach ends at 70 feet, unless you are using 20-40 degree stadium lights.• Dusk to Dawn Sensors: Outdoor lights with dusk-to-dawn sensors feature photocells that respond to ambient light, powering down at dawn, and lighting up as dusk sets in. This functionality ensures consistent safety and a welcoming atmosphere for spaces like patios and driveways.• Tunable Lights: Tunable outdoor lights offer versatility, allowing on-the-fly adjustments to color temperature and brightness. This adaptability makes it possible to tailor lighting to specific needs or preferences, directly from the fixture itself.

Emerging Trends in Outdoor Illumination

• Tunable LED Lights: Uncertain about the desired ambiance? tunable led lights present a flexible solution, permitting you to decide the warmth and brightness post-installation. These adaptable fixtures cater to varying moods and settings, ensuring that your outdoor space is in harmony with your current preference.• Smart Lighting Integration: Control and customization are at your fingertips with smart lights, manageable via smartphone apps or remotes. These innovative lighting solutions offer an array of shapes and functionalities, including color-changing options ideal for festive seasons or social gatherings. Their user-friendly interface allows for individual adjustments in color, temperature, and intensity, creating personalized lighting landscapes effortlessly.• Focused Downlighting: Downlighting, once predominantly an indoor lighting technique, has transitioned outdoors, inspired by the dark sky movement and the compact nature of LEDs. These fixtures, designed to illuminate a specific locale, are perfect for pathways, architectural details, and garden highlights, ensuring safety and enhancing the beauty of outdoor spaces.• Enchanting Bistro Lighting: Bistro, or strand lighting, is a charming trend for al fresco areas. Strung above patios, gardens, or dining spaces, they transform any outdoor setting into an inviting, softly illuminated haven, perfect for entertainment or relaxation.• Innovative Hardscape Lighting: Traditionally, landscape lighting focused on softscaping, but the advent of miniature LEDs has expanded this to hardscapes. These discreet lights integrate seamlessly into driveways, steps, and retaining walls, offering both functional and decorative benefits. They spotlight the hard features of your landscape without contributing to light pollution, enhancing safety and visual appeal.• LED Rope and Strip Lighting: Resembling electronic circuitry, LED rope or strip lights offer a modern twist on outdoor lighting. Ideal for delineating paths or stairways, they improve nighttime visibility and safety. With remote control operation, these lights can shift in color and intensity, adding a dynamic element to the eaves and architectural outlines of a building, subtly shifting the perception of the space.Here is an image of bistro lights across a dinning areas where you can also see hardscape ground lights;• Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights: Advances in solar technology, such as improved photovoltaic panels, robust batteries, and high-efficiency LEDs, have significantly enhanced the performance and reliability of solar outdoor lighting. These sustainable solutions harness the sun's energy, offering a green, cost-effective lighting option. Here is an image of such a solar light:These advancements in outdoor lighting are not merely trends but are reshaping the way we think about and utilize light as an integral part of home security, design, and personal expression.

Conclusion

Outdoor lighting is an important aspect of enhancing the beauty, security, and safety of your outdoor spaces. Whether you want to create a decorative or functional lighting effect, you need to consider some factors, such as the location, mounting, brightness, color, features, and style of the outdoor lights. You also need to choose the right type of outdoor light fixtures, such as wall lights, post lights, floodlights, landscape lights, or stadium lights, depending on your needs and preferences. Moreover, you need to be aware of the emerging trends in outdoor lighting, such as tunable LED lights, smart lighting integration, focused downlighting, bistro lighting, hardscape lighting, LED rope and strip lighting, and solar-powered outdoor lights. These trends can offer you more versatility, flexibility, and sustainability in your outdoor lighting. By following these tips and guidelines, you can choose the best outdoor lighting for your home or business

About the Author:  Dara Greaney is founder and CEO of LED Light Expert with deep expertise in LED fixtures and Light design.  LinkedIn, Wikipedia or Twitter.  Editing by David Peguero.