Outdoor Lighting Yorktown NY - Backyard Retreat
As beautiful as a finished landscaping project looks during the day, with the right outdoor lighting, the space can become absolutely stunning after the sun goes down. It is sure to become your new favorite place to hang out on summer evenings. Here are some inspiring outdoor lighting ideas for a backyard retreat in Yorktown, NY.
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The right landscape lighting is especially important today. Many people work long hours and don’t come home until dark, and when they get home they’re often stressed. There’s nothing more relaxing than a quiet evening on the patio, listening to the crickets and the gentle bubbling of a water feature. Consider the alternative of sitting under the harsh glare of a single floodlight mounted on the house. Many people still have lights that illuminate the backyard like a football stadium. Anything that isn’t directly in the beam of light is pitch black. This includes the far corners of the landscape or even areas that should be illuminated but are out of reach for that one mega-watt bulb.
Thankfully, those days are over and you have choices. Modern landscape lighting offers a perfect mix of convenience, ambiance, drama, and, of course, safety and security. Thanks to efficient LED lighting, you can accomplish exactly the look and function you want. Uplighting, downlighting, spotlighting, moonlighting, grazing, silhouetting, washing, and submersible lighting are just a few of the lighting techniques that bring your landscape to life after dark.
Great landscape lighting design starts with function. The various parts of the landscape have different lighting requirements that make the space user-friendly and safe. Today, most light fixtures can be installed on the ground or lower than knee height. The low positioning of light fixtures offers a softer, more welcoming look that illuminates the ground for safety, but it doesn’t blind anyone or cast harsh shadows.
The other element of landscape lighting is artistry: highlighting textures, bringing attention to focal points, and setting the right mood for the right space. Here are some ideas to try:
Bring attention to the vertical elements of your landscape with spotlights or washes. Trees, retaining walls, the home’s siding, water features or outdoor fireplaces take on a whole new character when their textures are emphasized.
Highlight garden sculptures or your favorite tree with a combination of uplights and downlights.
Create an interesting silhouette of a tree, sculpture, or large shrub on a smooth-textured wall.
Install light fixtures under the coping ledge on a retaining wall or seat wall for wonderful ambient light, dramatic texture, and clutter-free lighting.
Install fixtures low to the ground to give a walkway a romantic feel.
Add a light or two to the underside of each garden step riser.
Use underwater lighting to transform a water feature into a nighttime oasis. The mesmerizing dance of watery shadows on nearby surfaces is enchanting; for even more fun, add to the effect with colored bulbs.
Place a decorative lantern on top of pillars for a luxurious look.
Install blue-tinted downlights high in tree canopies to mimic the look of moonlight and cast beautiful dappled shadows on the ground below.
Space a few small lights throughout planting beds to add dimension and interest without lighting up the whole neighborhood.
If you’re tired of the harsh contrasts of old-school landscape lighting, give us a call! We’ll transform your landscape into a gorgeous “lightscape.” Your landscape will become a retreat you can’t wait to come home to!
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