Important Principles for Outdoor Lighting in the Night

Often, the electrical lighting installations for outdoor spaces at night become excessively bright. This means that they remain illuminated even when not needed, and we know that this is harmful to the environment. Light pollution is a growing global issue that can have a negative impact on the environment and affect our quality of life. Therefore, it is important to design outdoor lighting with important principles, which are mentioned below.

By applying these principles, the lighting of our house or garden can have its own special beauty while also considering its practicality. Designers who pay attention to these principles save energy and costs, reduce light pollution, and minimize environmental disturbances.

Five important principles for better outdoor lighting design

1. All lights should have a specific purpose:

Before installing or replacing a light, determine whether it is necessary or not. Consider how the use of light affects the area, including the courtyard, terrace, or garden. The use of reflective colors or various wall washers can create a special effect in addition to illuminating the space at night.

2. Light should be directed only where needed

By adhering to this principle of outdoor lighting, you will avoid using energy-consuming equipment. Therefore, you should use suitable and precise equipment to direct the light beam properly. It is better for the direction to be downward and not to scatter light beyond where it is needed. For example, the use of various garden lights can achieve this goal. These products usually have classic designs and create an extraordinary effect in the intended outdoor space.

3. Light should not be excessive

Use the minimum amount of light required. Pay attention to the conditions of the ground surface and walls because some surfaces may reflect more light than intended. In this regard, the use of buried lights is highly effective. You can use lights installed in steps or along the edges of the garden to achieve different lighting and desired brightness.

4. Light should be used only when useful

Use controls such as timers or motion sensors to ensure that the light is available when needed. When considering the important principles of outdoor lighting, these devices help us prevent excessive energy consumption while maintaining the necessary illumination. However, this principle is not defined for facade lighting since small and beautiful lights should remain on for some hours of the night in these situations. However, it can be very influential in small garden corners and pathways leading to villas or cabins.

5. Use warm-colored lights if possible

Limit the amount of light with shorter wavelengths (blue-violet) to the minimum required. In fact, by identifying the specific location that requires light and the duration of this illumination, suitable lighting can be designed with warm-colored lights.

If you are considering outdoor lighting for your garden and villa, keep the following in mind for proper use of color combinations:

• White is the safest color. It creates the most natural effect and displays colors in the best way.
• Yellow color makes the green leaves and plants appear sick and dead.
• Red color makes the branches and leaves look brown.
• Green color showcases the branches, leaves, and grass but provides an unnatural greenness.
• Blue gives a mysterious and unusual appearance to the surroundings. However, its effect on blue spruces and lightly colored green plants is interesting.

Why is outdoor lighting important at night?

Many people overlook these principles and settle for installing a simple light. It should be noted that outdoor lighting is more than just a few simple rules. By doing so, we achieve the following goals that cannot be ignored:

• Increasing the usability of space: We need proper lighting to continue using a space during the night. This space can influence our life, work, or sports activities.
• Increasing safety levels: By providing adequate lighting to outdoor spaces, we create a safe movement possibility.
• Enhancing security levels: Especially in our homes and gardens, this is crucial for reducing the risk of crime. It is very important.
• Improving visual enhancement: Ultimately, by using various lights to highlight a specific outdoor space at night, we create a beautiful visual effect.

Final words

In general, it is important to follow the mentioned principles to achieve proper nighttime lighting. This lighting effect should be designed with a specific purpose in mind so that light is directed only where needed. We should also avoid excessive light in the area, and the lights used should only be turned on when needed. Additionally, we mentioned that if possible, use warmer colored lights for outdoor lighting to achieve a different visual effect.

FAQs

What type of equipment do we need for bottom-up lighting? Attractive ground lighting is done with various buried lights. These devices provide sufficient light to the passageways.

Can we use linear lights for building facade lighting? It is not so common to suggest using these lights, but with a different design, you may be able to use them.

What is the importance of outdoor lighting at night? Having sufficient light in an outdoor environment helps us not only achieve a different aesthetic design but also raise the level of safety and security in the area.