Outdoor Lighting Tips: Creating Ambiance Without Overdoing It

I get questions all the time about outdoor lighting: how to use it, where to place it, and all those different things.

Today, I’m on a job site that uses a ton of landscape lighting, so I wanted to show you a few different ways to use it, how we spaced it out, and how we created ambiance without overdoing it. It’s easy to make landscape lighting look like an airport runway if not done correctly. Let’s dive into some tips and examples from this project.

Path Lights

Path lights, also known as garden lights, are essential for guiding people along paths and highlighting landscape beds softly.

These lights often have a mushroom shape on top to cast a gentle glow downwards. In this project, we spaced them about 30 feet apart to avoid over-illumination.

 We complemented them with wall wash lights every 15 feet to maintain a balanced look.

Wall Wash Lights

Wall wash lights are positioned to shine downwards along the fence line, creating a uniform glow.

We ensured all wall lights were at the same height, despite the fence heights varying between six and eight feet. This uniformity makes the perimeter appear as a continuous line of light at night, avoiding a staggered, uneven look.

Creating Boundaries

The key to landscape lighting is to define the boundaries of your yard. When viewed from your indoor space or patio, the lighting should gently indicate where your property ends. It’s not meant to act as a security light but to enhance the aesthetic and ambiance of your outdoor area.

Uplights

Another effective lighting method is the use of uplights, which highlight trees, columns, or other special elements in your landscape. These lights are directional, staying on the ground and pointing upwards. It’s important not to overdo it—highlighting every tree can be excessive. In this backyard, we used three different types of lights spaced far apart, totaling about 30 fixtures. Despite the number, they are low amperage and emit a soft, warm light.

Warm Lighting

As many of you know, I love warm lighting. The lights we used are either 2700K or 3000K in Kelvin temperature, providing a cozy, inviting glow.

Final Thoughts

If you have any questions about landscape lighting, please comment below. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have that we haven’t covered in today’s segment. Creating the perfect outdoor ambiance with lighting is all about balance and thoughtful placement. Happy lighting!