After dark, the right landscape lighting can transform your outdoor living areas into an atmosphere-filled delight, with the flick of a switch, whether your preference is for drama or serenity. Here are our tips for incorporating reflective surfaces into your outdoor lighting plan in Yorktown, Westchester County, NY.
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Serenity
Modern life can be hectic and stressful. Few things in life are more soothing than relaxing by a tranquil reflecting pool at the end of the workday.
By day, a reflecting pool will take on the character of the sky and surrounding vegetation. You can enjoy the reflection of passing clouds, the stillness of tree limbs, or softly swaying ornamental grasses. The color of the water will change according to the day and hour, from the rosy hues of early morning, to the bright blues of afternoon, to soft greys on a cloudy day.
By night, artfully placed outdoor lighting creates a softly illuminated space free from harsh shadows and stark contrasts. Placing light fixtures under vegetation or along vertical surfaces will create beautiful ambient light that brightens dark corners without over-illuminating the space.
You could emphasize the surface of the water by installing lights that are positioned to softly illuminate landscape features around the reflecting pool. The light will reflect on the surface of the pool. The slightest breeze can create a shimmering effect on the water’s surface. This in turn will be reflected on vertical surfaces near the pool, such as the home’s siding.
The best reflected effect will come from a smooth vertical surface where individual “waves” will be reflected. A more subtle effect will come from a textured vertical surface, where you’ll catch glimpses of the dancing light.
Moonlighting - or placing a bluish-white light fixture high in a tree canopy - will give the illusion of a full moon reflecting on the water’s surface.
Drama
Illuminating a reflecting pond from below the water’s surface using a submersible light will create a completely different effect. Because the water is still, you won’t get dramatic dancing light reflections except on a windy day. Submersible lighting places the emphasis on what’s beneath the still water. This is where you can add drama to your landscape after dark.
Smooth river rock lining the bottom of the reflecting pool could offer a stunning contrast to a sleek modern reflecting pool with clean lines and minimalist embellishment by adding texture and rounded shapes.
A Romanesque reflecting pool could be made dramatic if lighting were to illuminate an underwater mosaic.
Spotlighting under a tree will emphasize the texture of its bark - and this reflection will be cast on the reflecting pool.
If your reflecting pool features floating aquatic plants such as lily pads, the shadows created by underwater lighting will reflect on nearby vertical surfaces.
Submersible light fixtures can use differently colored bulbs for dramatic effect when you’re entertaining. Adding a few extra light fixtures under the pool’s surface allows you to change the mood by changing the color of the lights on a whim: for example, a rotating progression of blue to red, red to yellow, yellow to green, and green to blue.
A Little of Both
A well designed outdoor lighting plan will allow you to choose between drama and serenity to suit your mood. Some nights, you may want to chill by the pool and just let ambient light reflect softly off its surface. Other nights, you may want to imbue your landscape with a festive feel with colorful submersible lighting.
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