It's beyond dispute that today's residential architecture is a true beauty to behold. Considering this fact, it would be a disgrace to not show off that beauty once night falls. That's why many homeowners enhance the curb appeal of their property with well planned landscape lighting. In addition to the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the lighting, it also makes your guests safer around unfamiliar landscape features such as pools, spas, decks and tiered walkways. Thus, providing you with peace of mind and in our litigious society, less liability.

There are many inexpensive ways to utilize landscape lighting that will add style and charm to to your property. Unfortunately, there are just as many ways for you to do a less than stellar job in the design phase of the project. If it starts bad, I assure you it will end bad. So, I suggest you consider a landscape designer for the overall development of your outdoor lighting plan. Once you have your plan, then you can decide if you would like to perform the installation yourself. DIY installation is definitely doable if you utilize a low voltage system. If you are using any regular high voltage lights in your design these will be best left to a professional to install.

While I recommend using a landscape designer, you should also familiarize yourself with the type lighting available and have some ideas of what you would like to see on your property when you have your initial meeting with the designer. The best way to start is to take a good flashlight and hit the yard after dark and try out some different effects. You won't achieve perfection with this method but you can see what some of the individual effect the lights will display.

There are some different types of basic lighting effects that you can achieve. 
 
- Uplighting:    Lights are aimed upward to accent trees, statues or wall textures.
- Downlighting:  Fixtures are mounted high and aimed downward to cast broad illumination over wide areas for entertaining and also security.
- Spotlighting:  Lights focus a narrow beam on small shrubs, statues, flowers or other focal points in your landscaping.
- Crosslighting:  Utilizing two or more fixtures from different directions to reveal a three-dimensional form for a striking perspective.

If you are using high voltage electric fixtures as part of your landscape lighting, consider colored bulbs for the different holiday seasons.  Pastel colors in the spring for Easter and reds and greens at Christmas time provide some fun, easy decorating ideas.

Finally, use lighting controls such as timers and photocells to turn your landscape lighting on and off automatically.  Keep in mind that there is little advantage to having all the lights stay on all night.  Few people will see your property in the wee hours of the morning.  Have a few low level lights stay on all night for security.  Any more is just a waste of energy and a source for higher utility bills.