With shorter days in fall and winter, it is often dark outside when families return home from work and school. Navigating dimly lit areas can be dangerous, as there’s an increased risk of tripping or encountering burglars lurking in the shadows. Making adjustments to the current outdoor lighting scheme, outlined here, will improve property safety and the ambiance of open-air areas.  

How to Use Outdoor Lighting to Boost the Safety & Tranquility of Your Home

Install Path Lights to Illuminate the Ground

If street lamps are the only source of light leading up to the house, you could easily fall on loose gravel, raised sidewalk slabs, and additional obstacles on the journey. To make it easier to navigate the area, line driveways, walkways, and outdoor staircases with path lights. The small posts have built-in bulbs that project light downwards to your feet. The fixtures can also be placed around flowerbeds, trees, and shrubs to illuminate the beauty of the landscape.    

Place Motion Sensor Floodlights Near Entrances

Apart from installing a security system, placing motion sensor lights near doorways and windows could also keep your property protected. Mounted on walls or eaves, the fixtures will turn on when they detect heat waves radiating from moving objects in the sensor path. The glow from floodlights covers large areas, making it difficult for would-be intruders to find places to hide. When family members approach doors, the extra light will make it easier to see the surroundings and any potential threats.    

Install Strands of Lights Over the Deck & Patio

In warm-weather climates, many homeowners spend time on patios and decks throughout the year. Hanging strands of twinkling lights from posts, buildings, or trees will provide an open-air ceiling to keep outdoor living spaces illuminated long after dusk. Shadows will play off the soft, romantic glow, adding depth and visual interest to furniture, plants, and other objects on the hardscapes. 

 

If you want to try the above outdoor lighting solutions or need other design lighting ideas for your California home, the Wilton-based technicians at Shaffer Electric are eager to help. From mapping out the lighting scheme to providing fast, efficient installation, the bonded, insured, and licensed electricians are committed to improving the value, comfort, and safety of clients’ homes and yards throughout Sacramento County. They will also share tips to lower monthly electricity bills. To schedule an outdoor lighting consultation, call (916) 687-7555. Visit the electric technicians online to see how they will lend their expertise to your project.