Shine Bright! How to Choose the Best Path Lighting for Your Landscape Project

Shine Bright! How to Choose the Best Path Lighting for Your Landscape Project

You’ve spent months and months searching for your dream home. Once you found it, you probably spent countless hours deciding the perfect way to decorate each room.

By the time that last picture is hung you’re more than ready to just relax and enjoy your new house, but you’re not done just yet. What about landscaping and landscape lighting design at your new San Diego home?

You want your front and backyard landscaping to reflect the beauty of your home. This may include installing a koi pond, shaping your hedges, or building a pathway. Of course, you’ll also need to find the best path lighting.

Not only does this keep you and your guests safe by ensuring you don’t trip on rocks and other obstructions, but it completes the overall look of your yard.

Of course, no two path lights are made the same, and you will want to learn how you can choose the best landscape lighting for your yard.

 

Decide What You Want to Light

Before you get into the nitty-gritty of different types of landscape or path lighting, it’s important to decide what exactly you want to light up.

Are you only lighting a path, or do you want to light a gazebo, bench, or another decorative element that’s at the end of the path? If so, you may want to choose lights that will look great along the path as well as around your back yard.

Think About How Much Light is Needed

Just as no two path lights are the same, no two projects are the same. The thickness of your path may determine what types of lights will be best for you.

If your path is on the thinner side, you probably won’t need to worry about limiting your options. However, wider paths will require stronger or more direct lighting. The last thing you want is to spend money on landscape lights only for them to leave the middle of your pathway dark.

Research Your Options for Landscape Lighting

Now that you’ve decided what you want to light and how much light will be required, it’s time to look at the different options available to you. Generally, there are four different types of path lights.

Traditional Path Lights

These are probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about path lights. They are small and subtle and normally consist of a pole and hat-like top.

Of course, there are more decorative options available. You can find ones with a mushroom or leaf shaped top, or ones with multi-layered tops.

The benefit of traditional path lights are their simplicity and clean lines. They look great in most lawns and have a timeless style.

Contemporary Path Lighting

What do you do when “classic” and “timeless” aren’t really your style? If you have a modern home, traditional path lights won’t fit in very well.

In these cases, contemporary path lights may be the better option. Similar to traditional lights, these are small and subtle. However, as the name suggests, they come in more modern styles to accentuate contemporary homes.

Direct Path Lights

Both traditional and contemporary path lights evenly distribute light around their circumference. However, if you have a wider path, you’ll need something that offers more direct light.

That’s where direct path lights come into play. They are shaped more like spotlights and can provide landscape lighting in whichever direction you need it while still remaining subtle.

Bollard Path Lights

If you’re looking for lights that make a statement, bollard path lights might be for you. Unlike the three listed above, these lights are much larger and can stand several feet tall.

There are tons of designs to choose from, from sleek and modern to elegant and romantic. They offer additional light in certain areas, making them great options if you want extra light around your mailbox or a seating area located at the end of your path.

Consider Your Home’s Exterior Style

The lights you choose do more than just illuminate the area. They also act as a piece of lawn decor. So, you should consider your home’s exterior style before choosing your landscape lighting.

While most homes in the greater San Diego area look good with traditional path lights, modern homes should consider contemporary or direct path lights, while those looking to add a wow factor should look at bollard path lights.

Of course, you can find each type of exterior lighting solution in different colors and in (at least) slightly different shapes. So, be sure you shop around to find the perfect style for your home.

Read Customer Reviews

“Alright, I’ve decided what type of lights I want. I’m done, right?” Well, not quite.

Just like any other product, there are tons of companies that manufacture path lights. Your landscape lights will constantly be exposed to the elements, so you want to find a company that uses high-quality lights.

One of the best ways to decide on a San Diego landscape lighting company is by reading customer reviews. If they get a lot of one and two-star reviews, you may want to keep looking. Ideally, look for a company with four or more stars.

Their products may be a bit pricier, but it’ll be worth it knowing you’ll only have to install them once, and they’ll last for years to come.

Choosing the Best San Diego Landscape Path Lighting

When it comes to landscaping, you can’t forget to include lighting in your plans. It helps you see where you’re going and makes your yard look great at night. Just follow our tips to find the best path lighting to complete your lawn.

Are you looking for one of the top landscape lighting installers in San Diego and the surrounding area? Contact us today for a free consultation. We can help you find the perfect exterior landscape lights for your path, pool, garage door, and more.

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