Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life with Allscape Lighting | Outdoor Patio Lighting Tips

Bringing Your Outdoor Space to Life with Allscape Lighting

Your outdoor living area is an extension of your home - a space to relax, entertain, and make memories. And just like any other room in your house, proper lighting is key to making your patio, deck, or backyard truly shine once the sun goes down. This is where allscape lighting comes in. Allscape refers to lighting systems and fixtures designed specifically for illuminating outdoor spaces. Read on to learn more about how allscape lighting can completely transform your outdoor oasis after dark.

Ambience Lighting Sets the Mood

One of the biggest benefits of allscape lighting is the ability to create an ambience or mood for your outdoor area. Ambience lighting includes any fixtures that provide general soft, diffuse light to the space - think strings of Edison bulbs, lanterns, uplighting in trees or planted beds, etc. This type of lighting makes the space feel warm, cozy, and inviting in the evenings. You can go for a romantic vibe with string lighting intertwined above a patio set. Or create a relaxed backyard oasis with tropical-inspired lanterns and post lights lining the lawn or garden. The options are endless!

Task Lighting for Visibility and Safety

In addition to ambience lighting, allscape systems include task lighting to illuminate specific areas and provide visibility and safety. Path lights lining a walking path or stairs are a prime example. These lights ensure guests can navigate your yard safely after the sun sets. You may also want to install task lighting to brightly illuminate a cooking or dining area on your patio or deck. Other options include installing landscape spotlights or flood lights to showcase architectural features, light up a lush garden area, or brighten a darker corner of the yard.

Accent Lighting Puts the Focus on Features

Accent lighting is a key component of allscape systems. As the name implies, accent lighting illuminates specific features, surfaces, or objects to put the focus on them. Uplighting around trees to highlight branching patterns or textures is a popular accent technique. You can also install landscape spotlights to spotlight architectural features like fountains, statues, or the exterior of an outdoor kitchen. Using LED strip lighting to showcase the edge of a deck or lining stairs is another accent idea. Accent lighting adds depth, dimension, and visual interest to your outdoor space at night.

The Latest in Outdoor Lighting Tech

Thanks to advances in lighting technology, today's allscape systems take outdoor illumination to the next level. LED lighting offers longevity, energy efficiency, and brightness ideal for outdoor use. Smart technology allows you to control lighting via app and automate when fixtures turn on/off. LED color-changing lighting using RGB technology gives you the ability to create custom colors and effects like simulating a sunrise/sunset or coordinating colors with music. Waterproof, low-voltage fixtures are designed to withstand the elements. And solar-powered lighting options eliminate the need for electrical wiring.

Designing Your Allscape Lighting Layout

Achieving a well-lit outdoor space requires careful planning and design. Professionals recommend dividing your outdoor area into zones based on usage - for example, a dining zone, sitting zone, kitchen zone, pathway zone, accent zone, etc. From there, select lighting fixtures and position them strategically within each zone. Use a mix of lighting types (ambience, task, and accent) to provide both overall illumination and highlights. Most experts suggest a combination of high, medium and low-level fixtures throughout the space for optimal coverage and visual interest. Don't forget to incorporate lighting in trees and planted beds as well!

Bring Your Outdoor Vision to Life after Dark

Allscape lighting takes your outdoor living space to the next level, allowing you to enjoy it long after the sun goes down. With the right fixtures and layout, you can transform your patio, deck, or backyard into a gorgeous oasis full of ambience, visibility, and eye-catching accents. So consider adding allscape lighting to your outdoor improvement project list. With the flip of a switch, you'll bring your outdoor vision to life after dark!

FAQs

What types of lighting make up an allscape system?

Allscape lighting includes three main types - ambience lighting to set the mood, task lighting for visibility and safety, and accent lighting to highlight features. A typical system incorporates all three types of fixtures.

What are some popular allscape lighting techniques?

Some popular techniques include uplighting trees, illuminating pathways with path lights, installing post lights along a lawn, using LED strips to accent deck edges, and spotlights to highlight architectural features like fountains.

What are the benefits of using LED lights?

LEDs last longer, are more energy efficient, remain bright in cold weather, can produce a variety of colors, and offer control options like dimming and automation when used with smart technology.