Every homeowner loves to enhance the external decor of their home, and if you own a beautiful home in or near Seattle, your home deserves it, too. This article discusses some of the best ways to improve your new backyard design with outdoor lighting Seattle.
Why is outdoor lighting important in Seattle?
While the main purpose of outdoor lighting is to enhance your home’s outlook, it serves many other purposes too. Here are some of the reasons that make outdoor lighting beneficial for homeowners:
- Safety: Outdoor lighting helps to create a safe environment safety. It can help you and your guests find footing and safely move around your yard. Lanterns are perfect for driveways and stair railings, while outdoor wall lights and sconces can illuminate entrances and aid in identifying gateways and exits.
- Security: You want your home protected at all costs. Outdoor lighting can make it easier to detect suspicious movements. Installing motion detection lights or lights on timers is a smart way to discourage intruders or burglars from entering your property.
- Increased Home Value: Professional outdoor lighting in Seattle enhances the value of your home in various ways. It draws attention to specific elements or makes an area look larger. It not only adds beauty but also makes the outdoor areas more functional. Increasing visual appeal with an entrance makeover is one of the simplest, most economical ways to enhance your home’s value. You’ll be amazed at how a fresh coat of paint, new lighting, and one or two accent pieces can transform the curb appeal of your home in Seattle.
Choosing the best outdoor lighting Seattle solution
When it comes to choosing the ideal outdoor lighting solution, there are usually two options that come to mind; Solar lighting or Low Voltage lighting. These two are the most popular landscape lighting options.
Solar power landscape lighting
As the name suggests, solar power lighting harvests energy from the sun using solar cells. They come in various shapes and sizes with different price tags. Although the more expensive models are typically connected to an external solar panel, some solar lights have their solar panels built into the light frame.
Pros of Solar Powered Landscape Lighting:
- No electrical connection required: You don’t have to go through the hassle of extra wiring or electrical connection since it is fueled by the sun. This makes it conceivable in remote areas of the yard where the electrical wire is not easily accessible.
- Simple to install: Since no electrical connection or wiring is involved, you don’t need to call an electrician to install solar-powered lighting. All you need to do is assemble the light and place it in a suitable position.
- They’re inexpensive: you will often see these for sale for only a few dollars per light.
Cons of Solar-Powered Landscape Lighting:
- They’re cheap: solar lighting is definitely a ‘you get what you pay for’ scenario, and will usually need to be replaced every year or so.
- No sunlight, no party: The biggest drawback of solar-power lighting is that it requires solar energy. You can get consistent lighting if the lights are located in areas with adequate sunshine, but that’s not always the reality here in the Puget Sound. As well, dark corners and covered patios are some areas where solar lighting is not a good option.
- Variable Lighting: On cloudy days with fewer daylight hours, like a typical winter in Seattle, the solar lights may not obtain the required charge. As a result, you would have to wait longer for it to recharge. Typically, solar-powered lights do not provide as much illumination as wired ones.
- Consistent Maintenance: If you want your solar lights to continue lighting your yard, you’ll need to keep leaves, snow, and dirt off the solar panel. The lights are durable, but you still have to check in often to ensure they are getting enough sun to recharge themselves.
Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
As the name suggests, low-voltage lighting uses very little energy to function, typically around 12-18 volts. These lights are connected to a transformer on your property that steps your household voltage (120v) down to what the lights need. Usually, the wires are buried deep, making them practically invisible. This wired option gives you more control over your lights. Dimmer controls, automated sensors, and timers are some ways you can manage your low-voltage landscape lighting.
Pros of Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting:
- Energy Efficiency: The biggest advantage of low-voltage lighting is its ability to create sufficient light, spending only 20% of typical household voltage. They operate well with dimmer switches, which aids in energy efficiency and enables you to reduce the cost of lighting by saving money on your energy bill.
- Zero to Little Heat Contribution: These lights are cool to the touch and generate very little heat compared to most competing bulbs. Low-voltage lights don’t add to the house’s heat and do not pose any kind of heat concern.
- Longer Life Span: Compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, low-voltage LED lights have a longer lifespan. So you are not only saving on electricity bills but also on bulb replacements.
Cons of Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
- Not enough light: While most people do not complain about the illumination of low-voltage landscape lighting, some people claim that the lighting is not as bright as other lighting options. A professional team, like AdvancedInc., can help you design the right lighting solution to give the light you want to the space you love.
- Wire damage: Since this lighting option is wired, the buried wiring can potentially be damaged by pests or over-zealous gardeners.
Low-voltage wired lighting is a great option for yards and properties around Seattle and the Puget Sound area for homeowners who want to enjoy their yards all year long. We don’t recommend using solar solutions at this time until the technology improves significantly.
If now is the right time to bring elegance, style, and security to your home through outdoor lighting Seattle, check out our landscape lighting services.
