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Outdoor Lighting Tips
Outdoor
lighting enhances the beauty of your property,
makes your home safer and more secure, and increases
the number of pleasurable hours you spend outdoors.
And it is an investment that pays off handsomely in
the value it adds to your home.
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A
well-lighted front entrance enables
you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall
lanterns on each side of the door will give your
home a warm, welcoming look, while assuring the
safety of those who enter. A separate rear or
side entrance can be lighted with a single wall
lantern installed on the keyhole side of the door. |
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Under
a porch or other
overhang, you can use recessed, chain-hung, or
close-to-ceiling fixtures. |
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For the safety
and security of
family members using the garage at night, you
can install a wall fixture on the face of the
garage. Photocells are available that will turn
fixtures on at dusk and off at dawn, reducing
energy consumption and providing security when
you're away.
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For
added security, illuminate any side of
the house that would otherwise be in shadow.
To conserve energy, install a motion- or heat-sensitive
control that will switch on the light only if
someone approaches that side of the house. An
automatic timer can control a portion of your
outdoor lights to turn off at a certain hour,
while basic security lights can be left on through
the night. Another proven safety measure is
to use timers on interior lights to make your
home look occupied when you're away.
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Steps,
paths, and driveways should be illuminated
to make sure family members and guests are able
to move about easily and safely after dark. You
can install path lights or post lanterns or attach
lights to the side of the house. Low-level path
lights, which spread circular patterns of light,
will brighten your walkway, while highlighting
nearby flower beds, shrubs, and ground cover.
These close-to-the-ground lights are available
in fixtures using energy-saving low-voltage current.
They are simple to install and can easily be moved
to reflect changes in your landscaping. |
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Low-level
path lights can
also be used to define the boundaries of long
driveways. Bollards, which stand 30 to 36 inches
off the ground, also work well. Use shielded fixtures
to avoid glare. |
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Decks,
porches, and patios
can be converted into romantic evening retreats
by concealing low-voltage mini-lights under steps,
railing, or benches. |
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Another
idea is to install
spotlight in the branches of a nearby tree |
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Don't
forget to add stronger lights
over the barbecue
or serving area. To
accomplish this, install a recessed spot-light
on an adjacent roof overhang or mount spread lights
on a railing behind the grill. |
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