A great outdoor lighting system has a lot of benefits. With well-placed lights, you can increase your home’s curb appeal, get more use out of those outdoor spaces, and complement your home’s style. Residential lighting systems can also help enhance security, make outdoor activities more fun, and add great ambiance to parties and dinners. Having a well-designed system is key to getting all those benefits. Outdoor lighting companies can make your life easier by making sure the system you have is designed for what you want. They also know how to install and maintain the system so it looks and works great. 

Outdoor Lighting Companies Know Light Design

A well-designed system will give you the best look and require less maintenance. Professional outdoor lighting companies know what to look for, and how to interpret your priorities into a good design. Now, not all companies are equally good at design. Some will try to push you into their predetermined systems and one-size-fits-all designs. Ask questions, and find out how much customization is possible. A good outdoor lighting professional (hint: that’s us!) will work with you to create a design that’s perfect for your needs. 

Another aspect of good lighting system design is knowing how to lay the wiring. In the design, you’ll probably focus on what you want to light up: where the fixtures go, what they look like, and how bright they should be. Outdoor lighting companies will look at the obstacles, potential issues, and best routes for wiring to avoid issues. We have a lot of experience with lighting design, which means we can avoid problems you might not foresee. Our goal is to create a system that works efficiently and lasts through the seasons. In the lighting systems we install, we use contractor-grade wiring and connectors. The higher quality of our materials means they’re more durable, longer lasting, and require less maintenance. 

Outdoor Lighting Companies Provide Good Maintenance

A professionally installed lighting system will look and work great. But what happens after that big storm comes through, or a tree branch falls, or snow and ice knock your fixtures out of alignment? If you have a DIY system, then you also have a DIY maintenance plan. It’s you, doing the maintenance. Sometimes that’s simple enough: straighten a fixture, replace a bulb. But it can be more intensive, from digging up and replacing damaged wire to dealing with corrosion or pest damage. 

At Outdoor Lighting Solutions, we want to make sure that your system is going to look great and work at its best through all four seasons. Our annual maintenance plan is available for all our customers. If we’re installing a new outdoor lighting system, you get the plan at a 50% discount for the first year. It’s a load off your shoulders. We know how to repair and maintain fixtures, wiring, connectors, and transformers. We’ll also help you identify preventable problems to avoid future issues. It’s an affordable alternative to the pain of DIY repair and maintenance. 

Outdoor Lighting Companies Have the Good Stuff

What’s the final advantage to working with a professional outdoor lighting company? Well, to put it simply, we have the goods. You can pick up a cheap, boxed outdoor light system and it will work… for a while. But those prepackaged options will never give you the quality and customization of a professional lighting system. 

We insist on using fixtures that are the best, because we want our customers to have the best. This means you have access to a large catalog of premium outdoor lighting fixtures. The fixtures are manufactured from better materials, such as marine-grade aluminum and solid brass. They look better and last longer. The variety of finishes and design styles means you can find the right look to perfectly complement your home. The fixtures we use have warranties that provide coverage for years, or even for a lifetime. We make sure our customers get the best because that’s what they deserve. 

We also make sure that the lighting systems we install and maintain work the way you want them to. We use automatic timers, so that the system turns on and off according to your specifications. We customize the settings on the timers for your usage requirements and the changing seasons. There’s no need to waste energy–only have the lights on when you want them on. And there’s no need to hassle with adjusting the settings when we’ll do that for you. 

There are many outdoor lighting companies, but we hope you’ll work with us. We genuinely love helping our customers get just the right look. Our experience helps us find the best way to install lights for the look you want. And with our affordable annual maintenance plan, you can leave all the lighting worries to us. Find out more about our process, or get in touch today to schedule a free estimate. 

Fall is a favorite season in St. Louis—the humidity finally lets us breathe again, the breeze cools, and being outside is a delight, day or night. The unfortunate part of fall? It won’t last that long, and right behind comes winter. Use these perfect fall days to get all the necessary outdoor fall maintenance tasks completed, so your home’s exterior, yard, and outdoor spaces are ready for winter. Then kick back, relax, and enjoy the perfect weather while it lasts. 

Do Proactive Tree Pruning 

If any trees have weak or broken branches, or branches dangling too close to the house, get the pruning done before winter storms roll in. Walk through your yard, taking stock of each tree’s condition. Notice any branches that are getting too close to power lines or light fixtures. Tree trimming is a proactive maintenance task that can save you significantly in hours and dollars. It’s much better to trim those gangly branches before the winter ice does it for you. Be sure to use proper safety gear when trimming, or hire a professional, insured crew to do the work for you. 

Reset the Outdoor Lighting Timer 

If we’ve installed your lighting system, you don’t need to worry about resetting the timer. At Outdoor Lighting Solutions, we use timers with automatic settings, customized for what our customers want. And if there’s a problem with the settings, all you have to do is give us a call. 

If you have a system with a mechanical timer, however, don’t forget to adjust it for Daylight Savings Time and for the shorter daylight hours of winter. Most mechanical timers have a dial with a red pin for “off” hours and a green pin for “on” hours. Update the settings so your lights come on at the correct time for the winter season. 

Get the Gutters Cleaned

It’s not a fun job, but it’s an important task. Make sure debris and leaves are cleared out of gutters. Clean gutters prevent drainage issues and water damage. Rodents and insects are looking for a cozy home and are attracted to a nice, cozy pile of leaves stuffed in a gutter. Best to remove that temptation and keep your gutters free of critters.  

Get the Chimney Cleaned

Lack of proper chimney maintenance can lead to very serious consequences. This is one of those maintenance jobs that does not lend itself to a DIY approach. Call in a professional to check the fireplace and chimney, clean if necessary, seal any hairline cracks, and repair any other issues that might be present. A cozy fire is one of the best parts of winter, so be ready to enjoy it safely.  

Stock Up on Firewood 

Beat the rush for a good winter supply of firewood. You can avoid paying premium prices—or ending up with green wood–by getting your wood supply now. Choose a level area away for stacking wood, and cover it with a tarp to keep wood dry. 

Test and Clean Security Lights

Motion sensors and other security lights are even more important in winter. There’s a lot less daylight to work with; you’ll want adequate light not only for safety when coming and going, but also for enhanced security during dark nights. Inspect light fixtures for any damage. Clean off debris, leaves, and cobwebs and replace bulbs if needed. And if you’re tired of looking at those ugly old floodlights, give us a call for updated, high-quality entryway lighting options. 

Winterize the Lawn 

Doing the right lawn maintenance in the fall will make a big difference in the spring. You can aerate for soil health, which enables a lusher carpet of grass in warm weather. Apply fertilizer, as well; find the right fertilizer for your grass type. Reseed any bare or patchy spots, or overseed the whole lawn. 

Winterize the Garden 

If you still have some cool-weather crops producing, enjoy! For all warm-weather vegetables, it’s time to clean up. Cut back and haul out stems, vines, and dying plants. Remove any weeds and rake the whole garden bed to get rid of debris and roots. Then add a thick layer of organic, nutrient-rich mulch to get your garden soil in perfect condition for next spring’s planting. 

Plant Bulbs and Cold-Tolerant Annuals 

A lot of the fall maintenance tasks are gifts you give to your future self. Spend time digging and planting bulbs now, and you’ll enjoy a great show of flowers in spring. You can also up the visual appeal in your flower beds now with cold-hardy annuals. Pansies and calendula are two easy favorites. 

Insulate Pipes

Unless you’ve installed frost-proof spigots, it’s a good idea to protect all outdoor spigots with faucet insulators. This is a cheap and easy task you can get done in an hour or two. Remove and drain the water hose, and store it in a shed or garage. Then install the insulator over any outdoor spigots to prevent pipes from freezing when the temperatures drop. If you’re still using a hose for late-fall lawn watering, purchase a faucet insulator and put a reminder on your calendar to install it later. 

Close the Pool for the Season 

It’s a sad time when the pool has to shut down for winter. It’s okay to take a moment of silence to deal with your emotions. We get it. Once you’ve composed yourself, put away all those pool floats and toys. The winterization process is a bit different for above-ground pools and in-ground pools. Follow the right procedure for your pool and put on the cover. Don’t worry; it will be waiting for you. 

Set Up the Fire Pit 

In the meantime, there’s a lot to love about cooler weather. Evenings around a fire pit, making s’mores and telling jokes, are high on the list. Find a level area for the fire pit, and set up seating in a circle around it. Make sure you have good lighting so it’s easy to see what you’re doing and find your way from fire pit to house safely. Pathway lights are great for creating a well-lit trail or establishing a perimeter around the seating. You might also install bistro lights on the outskirts for an even more magical feel. 

Let Us Help

Now, while you may not be emotionally or mentally ready for winter, at least your yard and your home’s exterior is all set. Make sure your outdoor lighting is in good shape for the coming months, too–check for any corroding wires or damage from critters, clean and straighten fixtures so your whole outdoor lighting system is in perfect shape and you won’t have to do maintenance or repairs in cold weather. Or–even better–give us a call to set up a maintenance plan for ongoing outdoor light system care at a great price.

When it seems like the world is on fire, sometimes we have to take comfort in what we can control. Is it petty to want your house to be the best-looking one on the block? We don’t think so–we think it’s a way to create a haven of comfort and joy in a world full of unknowns. Let’s talk about how an upgraded outdoor lighting system can help you create a house that looks like the stuff of dreams and is the envy of the neighborhood. 

Show Off Your Home’s Exterior

Let’s start with highlighting all the work you’ve done (or had done) to upgrade and improve your home’s exterior. You care about your house, you take care of it, and you make sure it looks its best. And it does! Everyone can see and appreciate the great taste and proper care that goes into making your house shine… until it gets dark. Then all that can be seen is a big hulking shadow sitting at the end of your driveway. To show off that beautiful exterior after daylight, you need professionally installed home uplighting. 

There’s a trick to great home uplighting. Sure, it’s not rocket science, and you can find plenty of DIY kits and fixtures at the closest big-box hardware store. But most people don’t understand how many light fixtures you need, how much fixture placement matters, and how to place fixtures properly. You almost always need more fixtures than you think you do. Why? Because too few fixtures create dark spots and shadowy areas across the front of your home. Proper home uplighting creates a uniform look, which is visually appealing and makes your home look its absolute best. With our professional landscape light installation, you get high-quality fixtures–nothing cheap that’s going to break in one season–and we make sure each fixture is installed at the proper distance from your house, with just the right angle. 

Amp Up the Curb Appeal

Excellent home uplighting is the first and necessary step in an outdoor lighting system that makes your home the hottest topic at the next HOA meeting. But why stop there? If you’re going to own the block, own it: add drama, interest, and visual appeal with landscape spotlighting and pathway lights. 

When we install landscape spotlighting, we customize it for the best features of your landscape. A well-placed, perfectly aimed spotlight can make the right things stand out: a beautiful, giant old tree, a perfectly planted bed of annuals, custom hardscaping, statues or decorative objects, manicured shrubs, or even architectural features. What is it that gives your yard, garden, and outdoor spaces such great personality and an elegant feel? Spotlights bring those features the attention they deserve from dusk till dawn. 

Pathway lights are another component of visual appeal, from the curb all the way to the door. First, pathway lights give your home’s exterior a finished look. They delineate different walkways and spaces. They also provoke curiosity; where does that line of lights lead? What’s at the end of that gently curving, softly lit pathway disappearing around the side of the house? Second, pathway lights create a sense of welcome for everyone who enters your property. They lead people along the perfect path, ensuring that guests get the best view from the very beginning of their visit. 

Invest in Quality for the Best Look

There are outdoor light fixtures, and then there are high-quality, contractor-grade, extended-warranty outdoor light fixtures. Is there a difference? Yes. Can you see the difference? Also yes. The better the light fixtures, the longer they last, and the more options you have. That means you have more materials, finishes, and styles to choose from, so you can choose the fixtures with the perfect style to complement your home’s architecture and colors. Choose from sleek black, minimal fixtures for a modern style, or classical, solid brass for a more traditional look–or from a wide variety of styles in between. You can also choose fixtures which will adapt as needed to the changing conditions of your yard and outdoor spaces. 

When we install a new outdoor lighting system, we offer a discounted annual maintenance plan to ensure that your entire system keeps looking its best, season after season. High-quality fixtures are going to last longer, look better, and keep your home looking its best, too. 

We’re here to help you achieve your goal with the best lighting systems, highest-quality fixtures and components, customized designs, and on-call maintenance. Get in touch to talk over a customized design for the perfect outdoor lighting system to make your house the show-stopper you know it is.

Fall in St. Louis is magnificent, and reminds us why we all stay here to sweat and suffer through the high humidity and blazing temperatures of summer. Yes, the pools are closing, and summer fun is winding down. But fall brings a new set of rhythms, with days of calm routine, cool evenings, and plenty of reasons to enjoy your outdoor spaces. With premier outdoor lighting installed, your St. Louis fall can be sparkling.

Assess Your Lighting Needs

Take a tour of your yard, entryway, and outdoor spaces one evening after the sun has set. Remember that the days will be growing shorter as we move into fall, and outdoor lighting in the right places will become even more important if you want to enjoy those cool evenings. As you stroll around your home, notice where light is missing. Are pathways obscured by shadow? Is the backdoor poorly lit? Do you have a lovely seating area that disappears when the sun goes down? These are the areas you can fully enjoy all through a St. Louis fall with the right type of outdoor lighting.

Make an Entryway Statement

Your entryway represents your presence and the welcome you extend to family, friends, and neighbors. It’s worth a little more attention than the standard, contractor-installed porch light that’s been up for decades. Upgrading your entryway lights is a simple way to make a statement and enhance your home’s curb appeal. Pick a fixture in keeping with the style of your home to bring a cohesive, upscale, finished look to your home’s exterior.

Light Up the Walkways

Pathway lighting gets more important as the days shorten. Ensure that everyone stays safe and that your home and outdoor spaces are welcoming, from dusk to dawn, with appropriate, streamlined walkway lighting. Path lights are an essential part of premier outdoor lighting for your St. Louis home-like entryway lights, they provide welcome and a sense of safety. They also provide direction, encouraging foot traffic to walk the designated paths.

Light Up Your Seasonal Decor

You may put a lot of effort into the perfect seasonal decorations, and your home looks brilliant during daylight. Don’t overlook the right lighting that will make your decor pop at night. If you’re arranging pumpkins, hanging a fresh wreath, or putting in perfectly blooming mums, make it all pop with a few lights at just the right angle and intensity.

Speaking of seasonal lighting: did you know that we install holiday lights? That’s right! Contact us now to get on our schedule now for the easiest holiday light installation ever.

Upgrade Your Favorite Seating Area

As the weather grows cooler, having premier outdoor lighting in your St. Louis home will help you make the most of it. You can enjoy those outdoor living areas even more, so get them ready and make the most of every magical fall moment. Give the cushions a thorough cleaning. Put in pathway lights to designate the easiest walkway. Install spotlights to create visual interest nearby—why not highlight a beautiful tree, new landscaping, or architectural feature? Finally, consider the lighting you need to create ambiance for a relaxed evening chat. You want to easily see each other’s faces, but avoid a glare. There are plenty of options; the perfect fixture and position will depend on how your seating area is set up.

Make Your Firepit Magical

There’s absolutely nothing better than sitting around a fire on a crisp autumn night. Make your firepit and surrounding area absolutely magical with the right outdoor lights. You can use pathway lights to safely lead from the house to the seating area around the fire; pathway lights also work well to create an outer perimeter, so it feels like a cozy, safe gathering place. Consider bistro lights, which can be mounted from trees or freestanding poles—to provide needed ambient light without detracting from the magical glow of the fire. Add some s’mores and apple cider and you’ve created a perfect St. Louis fall evening.

Plan for Fall Activities

As summer fades, summer activities transition into fall. It may be time to close the pool, but you can still enjoy outdoor fun like corn hole, horseshoes, croquet, volleyball, and more during the fall afternoons and evenings. Think about the best area for this type of play, and install a few well-placed spotlights to provide visibility. Of course, don’t forget a couple of seats for the parents’ perennial favorite: sipping wine and waiting for the kids to wear themselves out for bedtime.

Light Up the Foliage

Fall foliage in St. Louis is magnificent, and premier outdoor lighting can maximize your enjoyment. It’s such a fleeting and dramatic time, so why not make the most of it? Professionally installed spotlights, placed at the right angle and distance, will light up the changing colors in your favorite trees.

Summer barbecues? We love them in St. Louis. But don’t pack up the grilling gear because school’s started. Fall is the ideal time for outdoor dinners and easy-going gatherings. Since the daylight fades sooner, it’s key to have good outdoor lights installed so you can see what you’re cooking and what you’re eating. Pack away the pool gear, set out some potted mums, put up an outdoor chandelier or bistro lights, and get ready for fall-time feasting.

At Outdoor Lighting Solutions, we’re ready to help meet all your premier outdoor lighting needs. St. Louis loves us, and we love St. Louis! Get in touch to get an estimate, and don’t forget to schedule your holiday lighting installation.

Are you thinking about getting a professional outdoor lighting system for your St. Louis home? There’s no better way to enhance your home’s curb appeal and create an upscale, finished look for your house and landscaping. However, you may have questions, especially if outdoor lighting systems are new to you, or if you’ve taken a DIY approach to landscape lighting in the past. Let’s walk through the process and answer a few common questions.

Choosing Your Outdoor Lighting System in St. Louis

The first part of the process is getting in touch with a professional outdoor lighting system service in St. Louis—and that part is easy. You can fill out an online form or give us a call. Of course, we’re not the only outdoor lighting company in St. Louis. You have options. Just be sure that you find a service that specializes in outdoor lighting systems. (Here’s what to look for in professional landscape lighting companies.) Some landscaping companies add on outdoor lighting as an extra service, but don’t specialize in the design and installation of outdoor lighting systems. It makes a big difference. If you want landscape lighting that truly enhances your home and outdoor living spaces, that creates the upscale look you want, that is high-quality and guaranteed, choose a company that specializes in outdoor lighting.

Designing an Outdoor Lighting System for Your St. Louis Home

Once you get in touch, we will schedule a time to come to your house and talk about what you want from an outdoor lighting system. Everyone has different priorities, and that’s just fine. Our goal is to make sure that each of our customers gets the look they want, which is why we customize all the lighting systems we install. You may find that some companies have pre-designed outdoor lighting systems, and don’t provide many options beyond those. That can work, in some cases, but often there are unique challenges or preferences. We prefer to talk with our customers, find out what they want, and then work with them to design an outdoor lighting system that is perfect for their home, yard, and outdoor space.

After the initial consultation, we will put together a clear estimate of the outdoor lighting system design that we believe will be best for your home. Then we will schedule a time to do a demo, in the evening, so you can actually see what the outdoor lighting system will look like before it’s installed. That’s the time when we can make adjustments, tweak settings, and talk about the best ways to achieve the look you want.

Installing an Outdoor Lighting System in St. Louis

Once you’ve approved the estimate, we schedule a time for installation. It probably won’t take as long as you think. Most of our systems require a half-day to one full day for complete installation. If we run into any unexpected challenges that might delay installation, we communicate with you so you always know what to expect. However, the truth is that with over 10 years of experience in outdoor lighting systems, we know how to deliver on time and on budget. There really isn’t much that surprises us anymore, so we are able to create accurate quotes and stay on schedule with installation.

Options for an Outdoor Lighting System in St. Louis

One question that comes up often is the budget for an outdoor lighting system. Of course, everyone is working with a different budget. And each customer has different priorities. The great news is that we can design your outdoor lighting system in a way that allows you to easily expand in the future. We do that by ensuring that your transformer is powerful enough to handle additional load in the future. That way, if you want to add some bistro lights to the patio, or pathway lights down to the firepit, it’s easy to do so. We come out, add any needed support structures, and run the wire to connect the new light fixtures into your current outdoor lighting system.

Think of your outdoor lighting system as a series of projects:

• New entryway lights for your porch and patio
• Home uplighting
• Landscape lighting throughout the front yard and garden
• Motion-sensor spotlights for enhanced security
• Pathway lights around your garden and pool
• Lights on the deck stairs and railing
• Bistro lights over your outdoor dining area
• Color-changing lights in a water feature

You decide which projects have the highest priority, and set a budget. You might want to start with home uplighting and pathway lights. No problem. We’ll design the outdoor lighting system that includes those. When you’re ready to add the next project, just give us a call and we’ll repeat the process: estimate, design, demo, and installation.

Maintaining an Outdoor Lighting System in St. Louis

Maintenance for landscape lighting and other parts of an outdoor lighting system is important. Like anything that lives outdoors, lighting fixtures may be dirtied, damaged, or displaced by inclement weather. If you want to handle the maintenance yourself, we can give you some pointers on what to do. We also recently added a “Lighting Protection Plan” for our customers, an easy and affordable way to maintain new and existing lighting systems. We do an annual check on your lighting fixtures, adjust their position, clean the glass lenses and optics, take care of any exposed wire, and more. We also use contractor-grade lighting fixtures in our outdoor lighting systems, so our customers have the best quality and excellent warranties on their lights.

When you’re ready to install an outdoor lighting system in your St. Louis home, we hope you’ll give us a call at 314-332-2030. We love sharing great ideas and working with our customers to design the perfect lighting system. Get in touch to get the process started.

The right landscape lighting can transform your outdoor space into a relaxed and serene atmosphere. When night sets in, without properly placed outdoor lighting, your well-planned backyard and outdoor areas fade into the darkness. Soft radiant lighting on pathways or a warmly lit deck will offer a feeling of home, safety, and welcome, and give you a chance to show off all your hard work. Here are some of our favorite ways to bring creative nightscapes to your home with great outdoor lighting.

1. Pathlights

 Not only will pathway lights boost nighttime ambiance in your property, they will also enhance security and safety when walking. Pathlights help you and your guests avoid tripping on rough surfaces or on stairs. You can also use pathway lights to create perimeters and define different areas.

2. Outdoor Lanterns

You would be surprised at the magic created by a single magnificent lantern. Place it against a wall or over the corner of a deck or patio. Or hang it from the patio or gazebo ceiling. You can also work with smaller, disposable paper lanterns for temporary lighting: hang from low tree branches, along fencing, or under the eaves. 

3. Spotlights 

Certain parts of your garden and yard have features that deserve more focus: statues, plants, trees, beautiful landscaping, or plants at the height of their season. A well-placed spotlight shows off these features and creates visual interest for nighttime entertaining. 

4. Bistro Lights

Bistro lights create a party atmosphere no matter where you put them. With adjustable settings, you can tune the mood up for a light-hearted gathering or key things down for an intimate evening. Add bistro lights to a corner of your deck, string along the patio, or set them up around the pool. 

5. Floodlights 

Casting a flood of light over a large area is the right move for certain activities: illuminate your entire yard for an evening game of volleyball, croquet, or tag. Or light up the driveway for after-hours basketball. Floodlights set on motion sensors can enhance your home’s security, and are perfect for after-party cleanup when visibility is key. 

6. Wall Wash Lights 

Wall wash lights cast a horizontal bar of light with consistent brightness. These types of lights are ideal for installing along landscape walls and other hardscaping for a highlight without overpowering brightness. They work well for perimeter walls around a pool, adding security and visibility while keeping a relaxed mood.

7. Well Lights 

Well lights are set flush with the ground, and the light is projected upwards. This is a creative way of providing uplighting while keeping the light fixture as unnoticeable as possible. They work at the edge of plantings when you want to keep the focus on the foliage. 

8. Deck & Patio Lighting

Holding garden parties on the patio during the warm season shouldn’t be limited by nightfall. In fact, it’s when the sun goes down that outdoor entertaining becomes even better. With quality deck and patio lights, you can continue hanging out on the patio till the wee hours of the night. What lights do you need? It depends on the size and structure of your outdoor space, and the type of ambiance you want to create. Consider lights along the deck railing and on stairs, bistro lights to define eating and lounging areas, and spotlights for the grilling station or bar cart. 

9. Accent Lights 

Sometimes you need ambient lights, and other times you need accent lights. Accent lights creatively highlight an area or an object and are brighter than ambient lights. You can use accent lights to draw attention to furnishings, artworks, special architecture, and plants, by converting them into focal points. 

10. String Lights 

String lights are extremely versatile; they work far beyond holiday decorating and can be hung almost anywhere. While they are not weatherproof and will not withstand strong winds, they work well for temporary lighting. Wind them around deck rails and tree trunks, and use them as boundaries to direct the flow of a party or define different spaces. You can also use string lights to create a whimsical ambiance when strung around and between low-lying plants.

11. Moon Lighting

Moonlighting your outdoor space involves installing soft lights very high in trees or rooftops to mimic the gentle silvery glow of the moon at night. While this technique takes more effort and creativity, the result is worth it. 

12. Outdoor Kitchen Lighting 

If you have an outdoor cooking area, you don’t have to cook in the dark. Get creative with lighting around your grill or oven and set the mood for dining. For a covered patio, install an outdoor fixture with a fan to create a breeze. Perfectly placed spotlights, with the right angle and intensity, will light up the cooking area without blinding you or your guests.  

13. Canopy Lights

A canopy, awning, or umbrellas in your garden can become dramatic statements with the right lighting. String lights, bistro lights, and lamps can work to bring interest and visibility. Wind and loop string lights under an umbrella or awning for soft lighting. Paper lanterns or clip-on lamps can be attached beneath an awning, or at the edges, for a creative nightscape.

14. Pool House Lighting

Create a perfect backdrop to your swimming pool with creative lighting. First, install a fixture by the pool house door. Riser lights on the outside can delineate steps leading to the pool deck. Sconce lights inside the pool house, along the walls, provide subtle lighting. Pathway lights along the edge of the pool house and walkways give safety and ease for moving around. 

15. Illuminated Water Features

Your water features do not have to go unrecognized at night. Landscape lighting for water features has gotten more advanced and a lot more fun, with colors and settings you can control from an app on your smartphone. At night, water features will look magical, and add a perfect backdrop for evening events.

16. Home Uplighting

Illuminate your home strategically for both beauty and safety. Home uplighting is the top way to enhance your home with outdoor lighting. It adds to the feeling of safety and welcome from the first moment, and enhances security by keeping the entire front of your home lit. It’s important to install the uplights correctly so you achieve a uniform look and do not shine light inside of your home. 

There is so much room for creativity when it comes to creative nightscapes with outdoor lighting. If you get overwhelmed, contact us to help you through it. We will come to your home, walk you through the best recommendations, and help you find the best way to create the feeling you want to have. 

Nature is in a state of becoming; seasons change, trees grow, plants bloom and die back. Over time, the changes in your yard, garden, and house necessitate adaptable lighting fixtures. Changing landscape forms need lighting that can change and adjust with them. 

For example, an uplight for a young sapling will not be adequate for a fully mature tree. Take a  look at some changing landscape forms and features, and how to handle and adapt outdoor lighting to keep meeting the challenge. 

Landscape Forms: Lighting Challenges and Solutions

When landscape forms and features change, several lighting factors need to be evaluated:

Light Intensity: You may need to adjust the light intensity to provide adequate lighting for larger trees. You can do so by using a bulb with a higher output or replacing the entire lighting fixture. 

Light Angle and Position: The position of the fixture may need to change as a tree grows. Certainly, you’ll need to adjust the angle to ensure that the beam of light reaches the top of the tree. Some outdoor lighting fixtures include adjustable shields which can be changed to accommodate growing trees, providing a wider spread and higher intensity as needed. 

Color Temperature: The color temperature of your bulbs may be perfect for summer greens, but create a washed-out look with fall color. Consider this an optional way to improve lighting for the best visual appeal for changing leaves. 

Here are several ways to anticipate and prepare for how your landscape form lighting may need to adjust over time: 

Use a Tree Junction Mount

For mounting accent lights, get a tree mount junction box that has stand-off screws to give the tree room to grow. The junction box provides a mounting location for accent lights, with connections and wire nuts going inside the box. 

Run the cable up the non-visible or less visible side of a tree trunk, and fasten it with cable clamps. Ensure that the wire can still move along with the tree, and leave some extra length of wire at the base to allow for the growth of the tree.

Use the Right Light for the Right Plants 

Each type of light has its purpose. It wouldn’t be wise to use well lights in a flower bed of crawling plants as the plant would grow right over the good lights and block it. Flower beds need landscape lights that can rise above the greenery despite growth and clustering. 

Only Install Lights on Mature Trees

Younger or fragile trees may break when lights are being installed, or may not support the weight of the lights. The growth of younger trees could be warped by a tree installation. For supporting bistro lights or spotlights, install poles instead of attaching lights to young, immature trees. 

Install Correctly to Avoid Damage

While you might have the best intentions for your yard by installing lights on your trees, it can be a zero-sum game if you do it the wrong way and your trees get diseases. Use lights meant for outdoor usage, as the wrong types of lights could cause burns and damages to your trees. Consider the type of wiring and connectors, as well as how to attach these elements to a tree, to avoid damaging the tree, preventing growth, or creating a weak area that may be susceptible to disease.  

Use Correct Wiring and Screws: Adjustable stainless steel screws are the best choice for mounting a lighting fixture to a tree. Be sure to use adequate wiring: it should be a thick gauge, one that will not corrode or break with normal, seasonal wear-and-tear from outdoor use. Be sure to provide extra cable length for use as the tree grows. 

Consider the Size and Shape: As plants grow, they might take shape that hinders that penetration of light from below. In this case, there needs to be a greater distance from the fixtures to the trunk, with wider optics so the light can cover the entire tree. When the branching of a plant starts at the base of the trunk, the lighting fixture needs a spread that provides equal intensity across the whole base of the tree. 

Get the Measurements Right: It’s an easy mistake to not add enough lighting fixtures for landscape forms and features. Using enough fixtures will allow you to keep a uniform look, even as plants change and grow. Measure mature trees and compare with the spread of each fixture you plan to install. You can also get good estimates of how much the tree is going to grow over the next few years, if it is not yet fully mature. Then you can decide how to space out your lights.

Other Changing Landscape Forms and Lighting Needs

Seasonal Plantings: Seasonal plantings will flourish, then fade. You can use adjustable spotlights or uplights for grasses and perennial plants; these can be adapted according to the seasons, or as the plants grow in height. 

Seasonal Decorations: Holiday décor and lighting can add curb appeal and community spirit to your home. Consider spotlights to highlight seasonal decorations, string lights to highlight trim and trees, and additional pathway lights for holiday gatherings. 

Water Features: In winter, swimming pools and other water features may be covered or turned off. Smaller water features without movement may freeze in St. Louis winters, which could destroy your lights. Winterize your pool lights by removing fixtures at risk of freezing and ensuring that cables are buried below the freezing line.  

There are many changes in landscape forms such as trees, plantings, and seasonal decor; installing the right type of landscape lighting can help you handle these changes with minimum fuss. If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with us at Outdoor Lighting Solutions. We will be delighted to help. 

Outdoor lighting systems can get expensive, but with smart decisions, you can enjoy professional-grade landscape lighting systems and get the best value. Here are money-saving tips and insights from the professionals at Outdoor Lighting Systems in St. Louis.

Choose Smart DIY Options

One of the most important things to remember about landscape lighting systems is that quality matters. If you buy cheap lighting systems that use flimsy materials and are not well-made, they will fall apart within a few months. You might save money on the initial purchase, but your savings disappear when you have to repair or replace the system every time the wind blows a little more than usual.

The components of in-the-box landscape lighting systems (versus contractor-grade lighting fixtures) are almost always cheaper, from the wiring to the connectors to the fixtures themselves. While the systems may work fine at first, the cheaper materials are less durable and will corrode and wear faster. Fixtures get dented, connectors quit working, and wires break more easily, which means more maintenance work and repair costs for you.

Be Savvy with Solar

Be aware of solar lighting systems, in particular. They may seem like a good investment: after all, you’ll be saving money on energy costs. However, that’s usually not what happens. There are a few problems with DIY solar lighting kits. Most solar lights aren’t powerful enough to provide the light you need, explains Daniel Frost, co-owner of Outdoor Lighting Solutions. You end up buying more lights to make up for it, or your landscape lighting system doesn’t look good. Second, the batteries in most solar lighting systems are not meant for long-term use. “If you take apart the solar kits, most of the time you’ll find a cheap, AA rechargeable battery,” says Frost. “It’s not a high-quality rechargeable battery, and it usually works for about a year before it quits holding a charge.” Ultimately, you have to replace the fixtures, the batteries, or the whole system before you even get close to breaking even on what you save in utility costs.

When using simple, DIY solar lights remember that they have a lifespan of about a year and won’t put off a bright light. Don’t expect more from them. They can still be part of your landscape lighting system—perhaps as a placeholder for better fixtures, to play around with lighting design, to add extra lights for a party, or to use seasonally.

Upgrade for Energy Savings

For long-term energy savings, Frost says, the best move is upgrading old landscape lighting fixtures from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs. “There are two kinds of LED bulbs: the drop-in type, and the integrated type,” says Frost. “If you have fixtures that use incandescent bulbs, you can replace them with the drop-in type of LED bulbs. They use 80% less energy consumption and provide more light output.”

LED bulbs have also come a long way in color temperature; you no longer have to accept a bright, harsh, blue-toned light if you get LEDs in your landscape lighting systems. You can choose from cooler and warmer light temperatures, and get the tone and intensity you want for your outdoor lights.

Beware the Underpowered Transformer

One of the most important considerations when installing a landscape lighting system is the transformer. It’s also usually the single most expensive component, and people are tempted to get the cheapest option. That’s a mistake, says Frost. “People think about buying a transformer for the lights they have at the moment—the smallest, cheapest option,” he says. “But when they want to add more lights to their system, the transformer can’t handle the additional load.” If your transformer is underpowered for the load you put on it, you can burn it up and have to replace the whole thing. Or, if you want to add more lights, you may have to purchase an entire additional transformer.

Make Plans to Expand

Instead, consider that your landscape lighting system is a series of projects, and you can complete one project at a time. Purchase a transformer that is powerful enough to handle the load when all the projects are completed. You’ll have a heftier cost upfront, but you won’t risk burning up the transformer or having to add a second one. And, as you complete more areas of your landscape lighting system, the cost will be less: you will have to purchase only the needed fixtures and wiring, and the transformer you already have will handle the load.

If you’re not sure what kind of fixtures are best, or what size transformer you need, the team at Outdoor Lighting Systems is happy to walk you through the options. Get in touch and they’ll come out to your home, provide a free estimate, and even do a full demo of the landscape lighting system you want.

Months of quarantining taught us the importance of the spaces we inhabit: if we’re stuck at home, then home needs to be functional, comfortable, and enjoyable. But a home environment includes more than the interior of your house: the yard, garage, patio or deck, pool, garden, and other outdoor spaces are yours to live in, as well. When the weather’s nice, spending time in your outdoor “rooms” is a great way to expand your options without having to leave your own space. This summer, why not invest some attention into creating outdoor rooms that are as functional, comfortable, and enjoyable as the rest of your home?

Three Keys to a Great Outdoor Room

Well, we just said it, but we’ll say it again: function, comfort, and enjoyment are essential to creating an outdoor room you want to spend time in. To create a great outdoor living area, think through these questions:

• What’s the primary function of this outdoor space? Is it to relax? Entertain? Work? Spend time with family? Play? Exercise? Of course you can use an outdoor room for more than one function, but defining the primary use will help you to set it up in a way that makes it fun and easy to use.
• What is needed to make this space comfortable? You may need screens to keep insects down, fans to create a breeze, or outdoor lights to provide visibility and ambiance. Consider the furnishings as well: if it’s a space for entertaining, outdoor dining, or work and study, you want to include a table and chairs. If it’s a lounging and relaxing space, consider a swing, outdoor couch, or rocking chairs instead.
• What will make this space more enjoyable? This is where you think beyond the basics needed for functionality and the essential comforts, and have a little fun. What about outdoor Bluetooth speakers? Colorful bistro lights you can program with an app on your phone? Planters with seasonal flowers in bloom?

Define the Space

To set up an outdoor room, start with the boundaries. You may already have boundaries in place; a specific surface—such as a patio or deck—provides the edges and clearly defines the space. You can also define one part of a larger space for a particular use; for example, designate one corner of the decking around the pool as the outdoor dining area. How would you define the boundaries of this dining area, separating it from the lounging areas? Here are some ways to define the edges of an outdoor room:

• Create a wall with a row of planters filled with seasonal flowers. For a more structural feel, use square-shaped planters that are taller and narrow (as opposed to more traditional circular planters).
• Hang bistro lights above the area to light and define the “zone” and create a sense of being inside a room.
• Put down an outdoor rug.
• Lay outdoor tiles or flat stones around the edge.
• Use pathway lights to create a perimeter that’s visible at night.

Furnish for Use and Comfort

Choose furnishings based on functionality and comfort. If you want to grill, entertain, and dine outdoors, you need more than a few chairs. Consider a small table or shelf by the grill to hold seasonings, serving trays, and grill utensils. A rolling cart could bring supplies from the kitchen or serve as a temporary outdoor bar. Adequate lighting around the table is essential so everyone can see their food. And a fan to create a breeze keeps everyone cool and comfortable while discouraging insects from attacking the food.

Being outside means dealing with a lot more variables, from temperature to noise. As you furnish the space, consider the time of day and the surroundings. A seating area for after-dinner drinks may be a great spot to enjoy morning coffee if you add a canopy or umbrella to provide shade. A lounging area may be perfect for afternoon sunbathing with the addition of privacy screening. With a little more planning, the outdoor rooms you create can be functional and comfortable for many uses and any time of day.

Stock Up on Supplies

Don’t forget about the smaller things that make an outdoor room more enjoyable and convenient. You may want to include a weatherproof storage container to keep outdoor games, sunscreen, and insect spray on hand. We’re all more likely to use things that are convenient. It’s much easier to enjoy s’mores around the fire pit when there’s dry, split wood stacked nearby and a waterproof container with kindling and a long lighter. Enjoying what we have is often just about making it easy to use what we have. Consider the small things, from sidewalk chalk and bubbles on the patio to a well-lit path leading through the garden, and see what happens.

At Outdoor Lighting Solutions, we can help bring light to the outdoor rooms for the right ambiance at the right time. Get in touch for a free estimate.

Spotlights are how it all started: back in the days before there were so many options for backyard lighting solutions, some inventive soul put a tractor headlight in a can to create a rudimentary spotlight. Outdoor lighting has come a long way since then, and there are different types of lights for different uses. Here’s an overview of the types of lights you might need for the best backyard lighting solutions.

Uplights

Uplights are a type of spotlight, pointed—you guessed it—up. These are the type of lights used to do home uplighting: a great way to highlight the front of your house, creating a beautiful, polished look and increasing curb appeal. Uplight fixtures come in a variety of shapes, designs, and finishes to coordinate with the look and feel of your home. And uplights are also helpful as backyard lighting solutions:

• To show off beautiful trees in your backyard.
• To highlight landscape features.
• To create visual interest near a pool or outdoor living area.
• To create uniform light across the back of your home.

Pathway Lights

Pathway lights are exactly what you think they are: small lights installed alongside a sidewalk, path, or other walkways. Use them along any path in the backyard: from backdoor to pool, from deck to fire pit. You can also use pathway lights to section off an area for a specific use: for example, pathway lights can mark the corners of your outdoor dining area. Use pathway lights to lead the way to different features in your backyard: a porch swing, water feature, trampoline, or fire pit. Pathway lights are also excellent for pool lighting at night. Their low profile keeps them from being harsh. Install path lights around the edges of your pool decking or patio so it’s easy to see and move around safely, but you don’t have a bright glare in your face for that evening swim.

Bistro Lights

Bistro lights are one of the hottest trends in backyard light solutions, and for good reason. They create a great ambiance for dining and entertaining. And newer bistro lights have improved technology with options that make them even more fun, allowing you to dim and brighten them, program different settings, and do it all easily from an app on your phone. Brighten things up for a boisterous family dinner with the kids running around. Lower the brightness for a small dinner with friends or a late-night glass of wine under the stars.

Deck and Wall Lights

If you want to spend your summer grilling and relaxing on the deck, look into the options for deck lighting that will make it safe and comfortable. Lights installed on the deck stairs, paired with bistro lights hung over the outdoor dining set, make your evenings outside feel like a fun café.

For hardscaping, wall lights create visual interest without creating a glare. Wall fixtures are wider so that they give off a softer, more dispersed spread of light across the surface. They create a finished look, add visual interest, and allow you to enjoy beautiful landscaping into the evening.

Flood Lights

Flood lights are very bright lights, meant to aid in home security and provide clear visibility at night. To enhance your home security, use flood lights on a motion sensor, installed at corners and over entryways. To make end-of-night clean-up easier, install flood lights near the backyard places you enjoy most. When it’s time to put things away, flip on the flood light so you can easily see what you’re doing.

Patio and Porch Lights

High-quality porch fixtures will update the look of your home. If you’re still depending on that sad porch light that’s been there since the remodel in 1997, it’s time to upgrade. And don’t confuse a good porch fixture with flood lights. You don’t want to be blasted with a high beam of light in the face when you’re walking in your own back door. Porch lights provide a welcoming glow at just the right amount of brightness; they’re often mounted on the wall beside the door, but can also be installed in the ceiling. If you have a covered patio, ceiling fixtures with a fan are a must for summertime. Outdoor light fixtures are meant to withstand the weather and seasonal changes.

Whatever you want to do in your backyard, there are lighting solutions that will make it even better. We love helping our customers find just the right fixture for the look they want, and designing systems that create a backyard space they’ll love. Get in touch to talk about the best backyard lighting solutions for your home.