Appropriate garden lighting adds what has become known in real estate circles as curb appeal. This simply refers to the impression that a passerby or visitor gets when he or she approaches your home. Lighting can induce a feeling of luxury and a cozy atmosphere. It conveys the message that you are proud of your home and wish to accentuate its beauty. Lights are being used by outdoor decorators to enhance the appearance of plants and trees, as well as being placed strategically around the house itself.

Safety is an added bonus achieved from garden lighting. Dark corners of the yard and areas around your home can be prime hiding places for intruders at night. Even low lighting can discourage a predator. It simply feels safer to enter your home from a lighted area.

After you have made the decision to install decorative outdoor lighting, there are still some things to consider before you make your final purchase. Would you choose solar or electric lighting? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

A definite plus for solar lighting is simplicity of installation. With no wiring required, installation of most solar lights consists of merely inserting the provided posts into the ground. After some research you may learn that while the cheaper solar lights may not last very long, higher end brands will actually work very well for several years. Improvements in the quality of solar lighting have helped make their current sales competitive to those of electric lighting.

Electric outdoor lighting is still very popular. Many consumers consider it preferable to solar. It is more complicated to install due to the necessity of running wiring from a power source to the lights. This usually means digging a small trench in which to bury the wires. It is possible to run the wiring on top of the ground in plant beds, for example, where they would be covered with bedding filler. This is inadvisable because of the potential danger to pets and children.

While it true that outdoor lighting is attractive and eye-catching, be aware that the placement of lights will be important as you are mowing and trimming in your yard. You do not want to place them in open areas which will make mowing inconvenient. You will likely forget how beautiful they are at night, when you are having to do much additional weed-eating on a very hot day. Consider placing them in borders, or next to trees where you can’t go with a mower.

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Paths can be straight or curved, thin or wide, casual or sophisticated. It all depends on the look and feel that you want to communicate.

Steps are another important gardening/landscape area that need good lighting to prevent accidents. A brighter, multi-LED solar light is preferred in this area to ensure that there is enough light.

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