Lights.com—Outdoor Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is designed not for security or functionality, though it can contribute to overall security, but to enhance a property's aesthetic value. Existing decorative elements, like architectural elements, statuary, fountains, trees, plants, steps, or anything you feel deserves to be accentuated can be enhanced with good lighting. Accent lights are often used indoors to throw soft light onto works of art, to add a warm glow to handsome wooden appointments, or for other decorative purposes.
Many of the same lights that are used indoors can be used outdoors as well. Track lighting can be used on the ceiling of a sheltered patio to highlight plants or provide functional lighting. Miniature spot lights, pointed upwards, are often employed to back-light architectural elements and details, to showcase fountains and statuary, and to draw focus to beautiful stone-work that would otherwise be missed in the dark. The creative use of light can greatly enhance a home's inherent beauty.
Lighting is so important that some companies base their entire operations on custom designing and installing exterior lighting for homes. These companies do more than light walkways, steps, and statues. Many lighting design companies approach your entire property as a work of art that should be highlighted and accentuated. Even if you want to do your own lighting design and installation, these companies are often a great place to look for ideas. The more complex your ideas get, however, the more you should consider hiring a professional to put them into action.
Designing and Installing Accent Lighting
As you begin to design your lighting plan, remember that most of your exterior lights will still need to be plugged into power sources. There are solar lights and battery-operated lights that can operate independently, but most outdoor accent lights must be plugged in. Accent lights that operate on low voltages must also be plugged into a transformer to step down the household voltage. Remember these wiring requirements as you design, and keep it as simple as possible to avoid frustration.