It’s all well and good having a beautiful home, but if you have no outdoor lights, no one will be able to see it come night time. Apart from showing off your humble abode, there are plenty of other reasons to have exterior lighting at home. We’ll cover a few of the benefits that we find most important so you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not to invest in outdoor lighting.
Benefits of LED outdoor lights
1. Outdoor lights are practical
Outdoor lights enable better visibility, making outdoor activities easier at night – i.e. braaing, walking down staircases, walking along pathways etc.
2. Outdoor lights improve security
Placing lights around your home’s perimeter, like floodlights, can be an effective security measure, deterring criminals from attempted break-ins.
3. Outdoor lights improve safety
Outdoor lights enable better garden visibility at night, which allows family members to easily check on one another for safety reasons. For example, floodlights make it easier to keep an eye on the kids when they are in the pool and play areas at night.
4. Outdoor lights assist security patrollers
Having your home’s exterior well lit allows patrollers from your security company security to easily spot intruders on your property when you are away.
5. Energy-efficient
LED outdoor lights are more energy-efficient than halogen and incandescent alternatives, helping you save money and the environment.
6. Low-maintenance
Outdoor lights are usually waterproof and durable, making them long-lasting, less expensive and require a lot less maintenance.
7. Easy installation
The majority of outdoor lights are very quick and easy to install, reducing your electrician’s labour costs.
Types of outdoor lighting fixtures
There are various outdoor light fixtures available that serve different purposes in gardens and around homes. Some of the most popular are as follows:
Spotlights
Typically mounted in an elevated position and angled downwards, spotlights cast a bright, narrow beam of light (about 45 degrees) onto pathways, driveways and lawns.
Floodlights
Similar to spotlights but with a broader beam (up to 120 degrees), floodlights are ideal for illuminating large outdoor areas like driveways and lawns. Some floodlights will be offered with a PIR motion sensor, making them a popular choice for domestic security lighting.
Up/Downlights
Up/down garden lights are usually wall-mounted sources of light, shining up and down. These lights are effective for lighting up the exterior walls of homes and garden vegetation.
Step Lights
Thin and longitudinal step lights serve one purpose: to light up staircases so one can see where one is stepping. They are a necessary security feature in gardens with a lot of foot traffic at night.
Bollard Lights
Bollard lights stand vertically from the ground, and look a bit like little street lights. Some Bollard lights emit a beam of 360 degrees, and are therefore suited to large gardens with a lot of wide, open lawn space.
In-ground lights
In-ground lights sit flush against the ground, with their beam illuminating upwards. (Though they can sit horizontally in walls too). They are typically used to illuminate the edges of pathways and driveways.
Strip Lights
Decorative and delicate-looking, strip lights work well along garden walls, bulkheads, around swimming pools or under staircases. String lights are a particularly aesthetic choice, creating a relaxed atmosphere at night. Strip lights are highly flexible and customizable making them a preferred choice.
Need some outdoor lights for your property?
If your home needs some brightening between dusk and dawn, take a look at our quality range of LED outdoor lights. You’ll find that we have all the LEDs you need, from floodlights to strip lights.