As a landscape contractor at Creative Landscapes LA, I’ve spent many busy days on the phone with homeowners who’d love to change the look of their front or back yards but are leery about doing so. The biggest obstacle for them is the fear of adding too much to their property, which means the aesthetic appeal is off.
Our first stop is landscaping lighting. It’s an area where homeowners and contractors find quite a bit of gray area. When it comes to curb appeal, the aesthetics of a yard aren’t as important as the functionality.
On the one hand, lighting can add a sense of decor to your property. Whether you want it to be used as a night-light or to accentuate certain features on your property, landscaping lighting can do the trick. A gazebo in the backyard, with a stunning wrought iron chandelier, adds a touch of elegance and class.
Lighting is also an effective way to maximize visual impact while minimizing the visual noise of siding. In other words, it brings the house into the yard, while at the same time making the front seem less cluttered.
But, even though the aesthetics are paramount, having lighting that enhances the function of your property is important, too. If you do a little research before you hire a landscape service, you can usually find the perfect combination of curb appeal and functionality, no matter what your taste in plants and fauna.
Many homeowners feel that landscape lighting is just another fancy addition that will take up space. While this may be true, the added curb appeal can help add more value to your home, while also keeping you from having to pay for your own landscaping lighting system.
When selecting lights, you should always ask if there are any plant colors you like. For example, if you like reds, that might be a good place to start.
You can use lights in different ways, such as for just the inside of the house, or for your yard, to give it a serene look. This might be the best place to put accent lights, as well.
Lighting shouldn’t be limited to just the front of the house. For instance, if you have the interior of your house decorated with your favorite statue, a high-quality landscape lighting fixture can be the perfect complement to that.
If you have a well-lit sidewalk that is flanked by a low-slung roof, consider adding accent lights to that side. Your neighbors won’t even know that you had that particular lighting system installed.
If you have a nice outdoor fireplace, a good landscape service can install outdoor lighting for both inside and outside the house. You can find outdoor lights that come in beautiful, soft colors, or those that are a little more stark and obvious.
These are great tools for landscaping and illumination. Don’t let the curb appeal stop you from installing something that will help improve the look of your home and enhance the functionality.