The Basics of Landscaping Lighting Design and Options

One thing that Minnesota homeowners can often overlook in the design process of their landscaping plans is the lighting. But this often overlooked piece is crucial to the overall appearance and ambiance of your outdoor living space.

Once you’ve decided on a landscape design, an essential part of its overall functionality and aesthetic will center around the lighting. Many homeowners enjoy using their outdoor living at night, which means you’ll need more than just a porch light to navigate the area safely. Learn about the basics of lighting and landscaping design to get the most out of your  Minnesota backyard living.

Ambient Area Lighting

Front and backyard area lighting is both practical and beautiful when done correctly. Downlighting typically goes around pathways, steps, and flower beds to help your landscape be more accessible at night while also providing a beautiful ambiance that shows off your home. They can be motion sensing as well to act as a safety precaution while keeping energy savings and sustainability at the forefront. Some options include:

Path and Area Lights: Pathway and area lighting typically extend out of the ground and shine down onto a walkway so it’s safe and easy to move around. At the same time, it adds a touch of luxury and ambiance by leading a soft, decorative trail around your home. 

In-Ground Lights: In-ground lights are great for adding light without making a space look too busy. They are usually level with the ground and work well for pool decks. While this is one of the most practical options, it’s perfect for a more understated appearance that focuses on your home’s accents rather than the lights themselves.

Accent Lights: Accent lights are great for putting a spotlight on certain parts of your landscape—structures, trees, columns, and more that you’d like to stand out. These luxury lights offer a decorative option to highlight the most impressive parts of your home.

Mood Lighting for Swimming Pools

Adding lights to the inside of your swimming pool and the pavement around it helps everyone stay safe when swimming at night—plus, it adds a luxurious and mood-based feel to your lighting. Underwater lighting gives you a world of options in terms of colors—you can go with neutral cool or warm colors or opt for a more eye-catching flair with multicolor options. For a more dramatic finish, you can install ones with special features to set the mood.

Cozy Fireplace Lighting

One of the best ways to add lighting with a more natural feel is to use fires and fireplaces. Acting as a social addition and for aesthetics, fireplaces are the perfect place to hang out at night. They provide warmth and a spot to cook campfire food depending on the type of fireplace. While it may not always be plausible to have it on if it’s a hot day, they are great for cooler nights when you want to cozy up in your outdoor living space.

Torches with a Touch of Luxury

This fire feature option offers light and warmth to an outdoor living space without adding too much heat on a hot summer day. They go well with patio designs so those sitting around for a chat can enjoy the ambiance—and they add a practical defense against mosquitos in Minnesota summers. 

Decorative Pergola and Pavilion Lights

An especially popular design in recent years, adding hanging lights to a pergola or pavilion adds light and style. Rustic lightbulbs have become the top choice, and there are countless options on the market made specifically to withstand the elements. There are also a variety of lighting options outside that give a fairy-type ethereal setting to your backyard that will make it hard to ever leave. Regardless of the mood that you want in your yard, pergola and pavilion lights offer numerous options and are a great place to start.

Minnesota Landscaping Design and Lighting Experts

Understanding the basics of Minnesota lighting and landscaping design is essential for getting your dream front and backyard created. If you have certain ambiance goals and new ideas for your space, Outdoor Innovations Landscaping can help. All of this lighting requires careful design as it will need wiring throughout the area, which requires an expert’s hand. Our professional Outdoor Innovations team excels at large-scale projects like pool construction, outdoor kitchens, retaining walls, and paver patios.