When was the last time you saw a night sky full of stars in the city? It’s probably been a while. Stars in the city sky are a rare appearance, and it’s all because of light pollution. Light pollution is a term that’s frequently thrown around, but what does it actually mean? Did you know that your landscape lighting can contribute to pollution?
Nite Time Décor loves everything to do with lighting. That’s why we want to see nature’s lanterns when we look up from our gently illuminated backyards. We’re sure you do too.
At our Oakville residential lighting service, we feel that there is a delicate balance when it comes to getting the right amount of outdoor light. You need to see what you’re doing. But wouldn’t it also be nice to see rest of your yard? Or the stars? If you use your residential landscape lighting in strategic ways, it’s possible to achieve the right amount of light, as opposed to creating unnecessary light pollution.
If you’re ready to take steps towards preventing and decreasing light pollution, read on for tips about how you can adjust your landscape lighting services to accomplish just that.
What is light pollution?
Light Pollution in the Greater Toronto Area
Light pollution is excess lighting in the sky or poor use of artificial outdoor light. It’s what makes stars so difficult to see in the city, and brightens the night sky to be lighter than the natural indigo, to be almost purplish at times.
Light pollution sounds harmless, but in fact it has a several negative side effects for human health. These include hypertension, anxiety, increased headaches, deteriorating or weakened vision, disruption of sleep and, in recent research, a possibility of increasing the chances of cancer development.
In addition, artificial lights disrupts the natural patterns of wildlife.
According to International Dark Sky Association, “Every year millions of birds die colliding with needlessly illuminated buildings and towers. Migratory birds depend on cues from properly timed seasonal schedules.”
Artificial lights can cause birds to migrate too early or too late and miss ideal climate conditions for nesting, foraging and other behaviors.
Luminous pollution has three components:
Light trespass: This is when light is cast where it doesn’t belong or where it isn’t wanted or needed.
Glare: This is when light is too bright. It can be annoying for some people, hazardous in certain cases, and can inhibit some people’s ability to see properly.
Sky glow: This happens when light is projected into the night sky, either directly or by reflection. This can obscure your view of the stars.
Lighting of any kind is expensive enough to run. You don’t want to waste any of your residential landscape lighting by having it shine in unintended areas. By being precise with your lighting, you will not be paying for waste and your landscape lighting will be more visually appealing.
Here are tips to prevent outdoor lighting pollution:
Trim Down your landscape lighting
Sometimes, less really is more. Too many homeowners over illuminate with landscape lighting. Not only does this contribute to pollution, but it can look aesthetically unappealing as well.
Nite Time Décor Oakville recommends that you go for a minimalist look in your landscape lighting. This is a more chic style, and also saves you money and resources. Further, you’ll drastically reduce the amount of light pollution in your neighbourhood by going a little softer on the landscape lighting.
Subtle, softer low voltage lighting is another way to trim down the pollution from your outdoor lighting. These soft glows offer a more subdued, welcoming effect, rather than a bright, prison yard appearance.
Use Dimmer Switches Indoors
Ever thought your lamps were too bright? Wish you could have mood lighting to create a more comfortable, warm feeling in your home? Dimmer switches can accomplish this for you, while also reducing the light pollution surrounding your house.
Turn Off Unnecessary Lights
Down Lights helps prevent light pollution.
If you’re not in a room, why keep it lit up? The same goes for your yard. When you’re not using your lawn, you should keep only those lights on which are necessary for safety and security.
All of your Nite Time Décor Oakville landscape lighting services used for aesthetics can get switched off as soon as the neighbours begin going to bed. In the case of your backyard, your aesthetic lights or those brightening gathering areas don’t need to go on at all when you’re not using the yard.
Flipping off unnecessary lights both inside and outside the house will save you money, resources, and will prevent light pollution in your neighbourhood.
Getting in the routine of shutting off what you don’t need is an all around benefit for your home.
Down Lights Contain Beams
Down lighting is often recommended when using landscape lighting to light up cottages, but the technique works beautifully in the city as well. Down lighting offers a more direct, controlled beam of your outdoor lighting. Rather than shining up into the sky, down lighting centers on a single fixed focus.
We Can Help!
Nite Time Décor is committed to responsible lighting that isn’t wasteful. We can make recommendations or adjust your current Nite Time Decor landscape lighting so you know you are doing your part.
If you would you like to gently illuminate your home and backyard without causing pollution, contact us today to receive a complimentary quote on a new beautiful and professionally installed Nite Time Décor landscape lighting. We serve homeowners throughout Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Halton and the Hamilton region.
Too often security lighting comes in the form of floodlights. Regardless of how effective they are for lighting up a space – and even then, are they? – these ugly monstrosities of outdoor lighting create an eyesore on your lovely home. Say no to the floodlight with modern security landscape lighting Oakville! Not only are floodlights on the corner of homes highly flawed in their execution, but they can also create dark areas that are perfect for unwanted intruders.
So how else can you protect your home? Read on to find out about the flaws in floodlights and the modern solutions from Nite Time Décor Oakville landscape lighting services.
Problem #1: Unsightly aesthetic
Let’s uncover the most evident downside to floodlights before we go any further. Floodlights, if posted on poles around your home, may provide ample lighting. Yet, there’s also something about floodlights on posts that make them appear straight from a prison yard.
To solve this problem, most homeowners put floodlights on the corners of their homes instead. As you’ll see, this causes its own set of problems with outdoor lighting. And to top it all off, these types of lights don’t look anymore attractive or welcoming to guests on the corners of your home as they do on posts around the yard.
Problem #2: The light that cried wolf
Floodlights are hooked up to sensors that flip on when an intruder passes by. The problem is that most of the time your floodlight can’t tell the difference between a cat and a burglar. If the sensor has been adjusted to precise perfection, then you may get an effective sensor that only lights up for burglars. Otherwise, your neighbours and you will be so used to seeing the light flip on that you may not make a move when it actually matters.
Problem #3: Short life span
Floodlights, in comparison to almost every other landscape lighting fixture, have short lifespans. Usually these types of lights are on a photocell, which burns out easily, particularly if it’s flipping on regularly.
Problem #4: Dark spaces
When floodlights are on the side of buildings, they tend to light up huge areas of space while leaving many other areas in the dark. If you do happen to have Nite Time Décor Oakville landscape lighting services in other areas, the floodlights will ruin the aesthetic.
If you don’t have other outdoor lighting, then these floodlights are making perfect entry points for burglars and other trespassers with the dark, forgotten gaps.
Solutions: Nite Time Décor landscape lighting services
Nite Time Décor offers outdoor lighting that will provide both an appealing aesthetic, and safety and security to your home. Our lifetime maintenance guarantee offers excellence and security.
Though this article is on commercial security lighting, it will provide some useful information about how to light up your yard with landscape lighting without sacrificing either security or beauty.
The thing to remember is to cover up dark patches along walls, fences, trees, and pathways. Once you do that, you’ll just need to add in some design tips from one of the pros to gain highly functional, gorgeous Nite Time Décor landscape lighting services.
There’s something to be said for living in the country. The peaceful serenity, the quiet calm, wide-open spaces – you simply can’t find these qualities in the city. That being said, cottage and country life also comes with its unique challenges. For example, you have to be much more self-reliant when it comes to your landscape lighting. You won’t find streetlights or business lights on rural roads; when it comes to evening ambiance, you’re going to have to create your own with a well designed and installed landscape lighting system.
Benefits of Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting is an excellent tool to accent and enhance certain features of your rural property and exterior home décor. Whether you want to light up your front yard or back deck for safety, social occasions, deter thieves by illuminating the house, or draw attention to the beautiful foliage around your home, an outdoor lighting service can work with you to create the mood you’re looking for.
Go For a Natural Look
When you’re installing low voltage or LED outdoor lighting around your rural property the last thing you want is for it to look unnatural. Avoid harsh glare and odd reflections by following these tips from our landscape lighting experts:
Light From Above
Soft outdoor lighting from above imitates nature. Think of how the moon shines through the trees on an especially clear night – this is the look our Nite Time Decor Oakville landscape lighting experts are trying to mimic when they install downlighting fixtures.
Moon lighting, as the name implies, mimics the light of the moon. It creates a soft, ethereal moonlight effect that shines down on your landscape. In addition to the light, its other effect is to create a natural shadow, similar to the moon. Romantic and whimsical, moonlighting is a great way to set the mood on a rural property.
Stick to a Low Wattage Bulb
Not only will this help you keep your lighting natural looking, it will also keep your utility bills low, which is always a nice bonus. Using low wattage bulbs will help you avoid harsh over-lighting, leaving your lawn bathed in a subtle glow.
Look for LEDs
When it comes to low wattage lighting, LEDs are a great option. Not only are they extremely efficient (LEDs have an energy efficiency rating between 80%-90%), they provide light designers with a high level of control over light disbursement. Other benefits include LED light are environmentally friendly, cost effective, durable, and don’t attract bugs! To learn more about the great benefits of LED lights, read this article, “Top 13 Benefits Of LED Outdoor Lighting.”
Types of Lighting to Consider Around Your Rural Property
When it comes to lighting your rural property you’ll want to make sure of a few important factors. First, you don’t want to use too much light as that could result in light trespass and unnecessary light pollution. Second, you need to ensure that enough light is used to ensure the safety and security of your property.
To do this, we suggestion incorporating the following lighting ideas and fixtures into your Oakville landscape lighting design:
Driveway Lights
Illuminate your long, winding country lane with strategically placed driveway lights in order to increase the safety and aesthetic appeal of your property. Post lanterns, bollards, and entry piers can add a nice touch of class to your slice of country life.
Motion Sensors
These lighting fixtures can be especially useful around outbuildings, like storage sheds and barns. Our Oakville landscape lighting experts also recommend positioning motion-activated lights so that they shine down on any parking areas on your property. This will help provide any visitors with an increased sense of safety when entering or exiting their vehicles.
Tree Highlights
If you live in the country, chances are your yard features more than a few gorgeous old trees. Shine a light on their beauty once the sun goes down with strategically placed downlights or spotlights. Try and pick a nice mix of trees – ones that have dense foliage and other that have a lighter canopy. This will enable you to use a number of different lighting techniques, creating a truly unique and mesmerizing final design.
Contact Nite Time Decor Today!
Bring light to your rural property while respecting your rural surroundings and reducing light pollution. Contact one of our Nite Time Decor Oakville landscape lighting experts today to learn more about rural lighting ideas or to book your free outdoor lighting consultation and light demo. We also serve homes and businesses in Mississauga, Burlington, Halton and the Hamilton regions.
Commercial landscape lighting can bring curb appeal and safety to your business. There are numerous benefits to having exterior lighting. Unfortunately, this type of landscape often presents a number of problems when it comes to illuminating it properly.
How often do you use your commercial property at night? Whether you operate a golf course, trendy nightclub or manage a high-profile office building, effective nighttime lighting is essential for providing a safe and welcoming place of work. Not only does this attention to exterior lighting help to accentuate your building’s entrance and architectural detail, but it also improves safety by illuminating walkways, parking lots, and hazardous obstructions.
Buildings and facilities with high quality exterior lighting systems are safer for foot customers, passing motorists, and staff members alike. With that being said, designing and maintaining good exterior lighting for retail properties, storage areas, parking lots and other commercial areas isn’t always easy.
Good Exterior Lighting vs. Bad Exterior Lighting
Believe it or not, most commercial outdoor lighting installations provided more bad lighting than good. Bad lighting can be defined as any kind of light that is counterproductive, reduces safety and security, or results in higher-than-normal operating costs. This occurs when a commercial lighting system is poorly designed, misapplied, defective, or features poorly aimed fixtures. The result is hard shadows, strong glares, wasted light, and unnecessary light pollution.
How to Spot Bad Exterior Lighting
Bad exterior lighting is relatively easy to locate. Simply look for misplaced light or glare. This is known as “obtrusive light” and is recognized as any kind of unwanted light, specifically urban sky glow or light trespass (any lighting that crosses a property line). Both of these forms of light pollution are commonly caused by glare.
Glare and Your Commercial Lighting System
If your commercial lighting system is guilty of glare, it could be due to a lack of light. While many people believe glare is caused by an overabundance of illumination, the opposite is actually more accurate: glare is caused by inefficient and ineffective lighting.
In order to minimize glare on our commercial lighting projects, the experts here at Nite Time Décor pay close attention when selecting the appropriate fixtures and luminaire optics. The correct placement is also key, as is the use of protective light shields. Wall-mounted lights are a great option for lighting narrow passageways, such as alleys or compact parking areas between buildings. Wall-mounted lights can also be used to light building entrances and walkways, depending on the design of your building. Ground-mounted flood lights can also do the trick, provided they’re positioned properly so as not to distract pedestrians and motorists.
Little White Lights
The trend in commercial exterior lighting is leaning heavily towards white light, especially fixtures that feature a good colour rendering index. In fact, the use of yellow or orange low-pressure lights has been steadily declining for years. This is because long-life, white lights offer building owners an option that reduces maintenance and labour costs, as well as improves the overall lighting of their property. The use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) is also steadily rising, as more and more building owners commit to a greener, more cost-effective lighting option.
Costly Bills
One of the major problems that many business owners have with professional designed and installed commercial landscape lighting is the cost. Lighting up a business for safety and security can be a costly undertaking; however, what would you rather be spending your money on: landscape lighting or a costly slip and fall lawsuit? Proper lighting will help protect you from these types of unfortunate accidents, saving your money in the long run.
Save Energy with Timers & Motion Sensors
Finally, timers are a key piece to any commercial exterior lighting system. These nifty tools help improve energy efficiency and cut operating costs. Motion sensing security lighting is also a smart investment, as it provides a protective glow of light only when necessary.
Shine a Light on Curb Appeal
While it may feel like an unnecessary expense, creating beautiful commercial landscape lighting with gorgeous fixtures can actually bring you more money. This is a way to market your business by attracting in the eyes of your customers. When they see how well you take care of your business, patrons are more likely to investigate your services. Remember that first impressions make a huge impact on new clientele.
Focus your efforts on accent lighting and highlighting the areas of your property that are particularly appealing.
Let Us Be Your Guide
Improvement in commercial lighting equipment are happening all the time. Trust Nite Time Décor to provide you with the most modern and efficient lighting fixtures on the market. Contact our exterior lighting experts today to book an onsite consultation and light demo at your place of business. We design and install professional outdoor lighting in Mississauga, Burlington, Oakville, Halton and in the Hamilton region.
Have you ever noticed how a few strategically placed lamps can change the entire ambiance of a room? Well, the same can be said for your front porch! Whether your home boasts a beautiful wrap-around deck or a small front stoop, there are plenty of things that you can do to improve the overall look and feel of your front entry. Entryway lighting is crucial for setting the mood and inviting in your guests, so don’t hold back. Make the most of your front entrance lighting with a professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting system from Nite Time Décor.
The Romance of Porch Lights
What does a well-lit porch mean to you? For years, leaving the porch light on was a symbol telling neighbours that you were home and ready to socialize. It was a welcoming beacon in the middle of a dark night. A warm embrace after a long day of work. When the light was left on, it meant that someone cared enough to turn it on; someone was waiting.
Now, thanks to custom designed outdoor lighting systems, you can recreate this same feeling with unique lighting effects and romantic walkway lighting without having to flick a switch!
How to Perfectly Light Your Front Entrance
Your front door and porch lighting is important for three reasons:
It makes an impression.
Whether it’s through down lights or spotlighting, the proper lighting techniques can change the entire look and feel of your property. Whether you’re hoping to create a grandiose look or execute a contemporary feel, our technicians can suggest the right lighting fixtures and techniques to play up your home’s unique features.
It improves safety.
The right lighting is key to reducing trip hazards around your front door. Combine them with path lighting to create a whimsical path towards your home.
It extends the living area outside by illuminating windows.
Homes that lack porch lighting are often cast in deep, dark shadows, especially around windows. Remove “black holes” from the front of your property with professionally placed landscape lighting.
Size Matters
In our experience most homeowners tend to choose entry lighting fixtures that are too small for their porch or entryway. This is especially the case with homes that have large front doors and tall porch ceilings.
When it comes to wall-mounted lights, our Nite Time Decor outdoor lighting experts recommend fixtures that are anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 the height of the door. Alternatively, you can opt for spotlights and up-lighting fixtures to case a warm glow on the door.
The Dos and Don’t of Porch Lighting
When it comes to perfecting your porch lighting, it pays to take your time and really assess your design needs. What’s more, you’ll want to use the lights properly once they’re installed. As such, it’s important that you…
Don’t leave the lights on all night. This will waste power, causes light pollution and could potentially anger your neighbours. Instead, request that our Nite Time Decor landscape lighting experts install a timer on your lighting system. This will ensure that your porch light turns on and off on a set schedule.
Don’t just turn the light on when you’re alone or feel vulnerable. Doing so could put you in danger. Instead, do turn set your front entrance lights to come on automatically.
Don’t leave the light on 24-hours a day when you’re away on vacation. Make sure that it’s set to turn on with your outdoor lighting system.
Do realize that indoor lights can help enhance the look and safety of your porch as well.
Things to Consider When Planning New Porch Lighting
Safety First
When choosing your outdoor lighting design, there are a few qualities you’ll want to consider. Of course, safety is a major concern. Lighting up your front entrance takes nighttime risks away, but there are certain areas in particular that will be easy and efficient to illuminate. These include:
1.Stairways
2.Doorways
3.Edges
4.Railings
By adding a bit of soft lighting to these features, you’re able to alert visitors to areas that may have otherwise caused injuries or accidents. What’s more, our warranty ensures that your Nite Time Decor outdoor lighting design will always be in proper operating condition, creating a safe and beautiful yard and entrance for many years to come.
Avoid the Glare
It’s also a good idea to consider softening your outdoor lighting, in order to reduce unwanted glare or a sickly colouring. Conventional exterior lights often glare down from the ceiling of a porch or off the walls of a house. Not only is this blinding, but it detracts from the safety that a lighting system is intended to add.
With new lighting technology you can create a more comfortable atmosphere. You’ll find that modern outdoor lighting designs include multiple fixtures at a low voltage. This creates an atmosphere that’s both aesthetically pleasing and safe.
Variety is Key
When you conceptualize your outdoor lighting design, you’ll want to look at a variety of fixtures to increase the form and function of your door and porch area.
Here are some ideas for lighting up your porch in a way that suits your personal style, without neglecting function. If you’re in need of some examples, our gallery features a number of great examples.
Accenting: These fixtures provide downcast lighting from walls, posts, or railings. Nite Time Décor’s downlight is great for accenting, and provides a soft, overhead lighting to accent walls or stairs.
Post Lighting: These fixtures are positioned at the top of posts or railways to illuminate a large space. Our area light is great for walkways and large decks and porches that require additional light from above. Don’t be fooled by the aesthetics of the lamp – functionality isn’t neglected for aesthetics, and it beautifully lights up any area in which you want to avoid accidents and injuries.
Recessed Lights: These lights are not only great for illuminating your space, but also for space saving. These are installed right into your deck floor or lawn to light from the bottom up. Recessed light fixtures have many uses: around stairs and decks to avoid tripping, around ponds to stop someone from falling in, or around gardens to prevent trampling by a wandering visitor.
If you’re looking to achieve this effect, you may be interested in our in ground well lights. If you don’t want in ground lights, but like the idea of lighting from the bottom up, you may wish to try a spotlight, or above ground well light.
Contact Nite Time Decor
Dress up the front entrance of your home with beautiful custom designed and installed lighting from Nite Time Décor. Contact our outdoor lighting designers today for a free consultation.
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know these fuzzy creatures are as much a part of your family as your own flesh and blood. Adorable and fun to cuddle, cats and dogs make for great companions in almost any home. However, let them out into your yard to play and that relationship can quickly sour. As a loving owner, you want to make sure that your pet is healthy and happy. As a homeowner, you want to keep your home, yard and landscape lighting system in tip-top shape.
The key to keeping everyone happy? Compromise. Your yard can look great and provide a safe space for your pet to play – both during the day and at night.
Here are some ideas to help you pet-proof your property from our Burlington landscape lighting company.
Idea #1: Pets Will Be Pets
Your pet spends just as much (if not more!) time in your yard as you. As such, shouldn’t you make an effort to ensure the space is suited to their needs too? Whether it’s including a grassy area for afternoon naps, or a flood light for late night bathroom breaks, accommodating your pets’ needs with these pet friendly ideas, will go a long way to improving the harmony in your home, and the overall beauty of your yard. Of course, animals are going to have some annoying habits – digging and chewing are two of the most frustrating – but even these issues can be managed with a little planning and perseverance.
For diggers, consider creating an area in your yard designated for this activity – preferably away from any buried landscape lighting wires. Encourage your pet to bury bones and other toys here in order to salvage the rest of your lawn.
If your old landscape lighting system has exposed electrical wires, do yourself and your pet a favour and contact our maintenance department at Nite Time decor landscape lighting specialists today. When installed properly, your landscape lighting systems should be pet proofed and be of no concern to your pet. However, regular maintenance is required to ensure that all components are properly protected and/or buried.
Idea #2: Take Preventative Measures
Protect your home and landscape lighting system from the potential of pet damage by instituting some simple preventative measures. For instance, if digging is definitely an issue with your pet, consider placing decorative rocks or paving stones around garden areas or landscape lighting fixtures. Raised areas, such as flower beds, are also a great option as the differing elevations makes them difficult for digging.
Idea #3: Keep Safety in Mind
Keep your pets’ health and safety in mind when selecting your landscaping vegetation and outdoor lighting materials. It’s worth noting that cats are more likely to nuzzle and chew on plants; if you have a few feline friends at your house, consider pruning and cutting down on the amount of ground cover vegetation that’s growing around your landscape lighting fixtures. Instead, plant a pet friendly garden of catnip, cat thyme, mint, or valerian somewhere safely away from your system.
At Nite Time Décor, we’re careful to avoid the use of sharp metal edging in order to protect sensitive paws. We also take special precautions to ensure that all of the electrical wiring and mechanical components of your system are safely out of reach of your pet.
Contact Nite Time Decor Today!
Pets are curious creatures by nature. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment is available to explore. Improve the look of your property will at the same time keeping your pet out of harms way with professional pet friendly landscaping and lighting services from Nite Time Décor. Call 1-800-952-3006 for more information or book a free onsite consultation using our online quoting system.
You’ve worked hard to create an attractive an inviting oasis in your yard and with a little lighting you can show it off and enjoy it even after the sun goes down. If you want lighting but are concerned about the costs and energy consumption, why not try LED outdoor lighting? Versatile LED lighting can accentuate the beauty of your yard and create an inviting yet secure atmosphere after dark in an energy efficient way.
Outdoor lighting done right creates the right atmosphere to enjoy summer evenings outdoors, improves the aesthetics and curb appeal of your home and enhances the security of your home.
According to recent research and developments in the field of landscape lighting, LED technology is by far the most efficient, economical, and affordable option for your next outdoor lighting upgrade. The equivalent of digital light, LED technology certainly has its advantages – both for users and the planet as a whole.
What is LED Lighting?
Light-emitting diode technology, or LED, has been available for quite some time. In fact, most people are now familiar with its use in computer monitors and flat-screen televisions. Today, LED bulbs are the most popular energy efficient lighting available on the market for both indoor and outdoor uses for many reasons.
Top 13 Benefits of LED Outdoor Lighting
Light up your life with LED technology. The following are just 13 of the top reasons why LED technology is changing the outdoor landscape lighting for the better.
Save Money
Light-emitting diode lights use less energy, involve less waste, and therefore save you more money in the long run.
You may be thinking, “But LED outdoor lighting is so expensive!” And it’s true – the initial cost of installing LED landscape lighting can cost more. But look at the long-term savings. When you crunch the numbers (and, trust us, we have!), over time you save more money with an LED system than a traditional setup – a lot more. Our calculations have told us that for one year of LED outdoor lighting you will save almost $70 compared to conventional lighting, and almost $40 compared to halogen lamps.
LED lights also last longer, meaning that the purchasing costs occur less frequently than with conventional lighting. Throw Nite Time Décor’s lifetime maintenance into the mix, and you’ll enjoy a worry- and hassle-free LED outdoor lighting system for many years to come.
LED Lights have a Long Life
LED Lights offer an incredibly long lifespan. This is by far the biggest advantage to LED lighting technology. If you live on a large property that requires a significant landscape lighting, LED lights will save you money. LED lights and diodes have an operational life of roughly 100,000 hours. That’s roughly 11 years of continuous use, and 22 years at 50% operation! This results in fewer maintenance and repair calls for burnt out bulbs. Imagine only having to change your bulbs once every decade!
LED Lighting are Energy Efficient
LEDs are easily the most efficient way to illuminate the night, thanks to an estimated energy efficiency rating of 80%-90%. This means that less than 20% of the energy is lost; compare this to traditional incandescent lightbulbs, which operate at the opposite efficiency (20% with an 80% rate of energy loss), and it’s easy to see why our Burlington landscape lighting experts recommend this durable lighting option.
LED Lights are 100% Recyclable
There’s a reason that LED lights are considered to be the most environmental choice. Not only do they allow you to expend less energy, but they are also made without the use of toxic chemicals. Fluorescent light bulbs contain materials like mercury, which is well known for its dangerous side effects. LED lights are free of toxic chemicals and are thus better for the environment. They are also 100% recyclable and will help you to reduce your carbon footprint.
Outfitting your home with LED landscape lighting allows you to decrease your carbon footprint, eliminate costly bulb purchases and changes, and reduce your lighting bill.
LED Lights have Less Waste
And don’t forget about that extended lifespan. Just one LED bulb in your landscape lighting system can save the material and production of 25 incandescent bulbs. And this will create less waste over the lifetime of your outdoor lighting system.
LEDs are Strong and Sturdy
LED lightbulbs are manufactured to withstand some of the roughest and toughest conditions imaginable. The fact that they do not contain filaments, are resistant to shock, vibrations and external impacts makes them a great choice for landscape lighting installations.
LED Lights Insect Control
LED amber lights don’t attract insects like regular incandescent lights do. With LEDs you can enjoy your outdoor space without being eaten by bugs.
Zero Emissions
LED lights give off very little heat. In fact, they produce zero UV emissions. This enables them to stay cool and efficient, unlike those old conventional lights. This reduces the amount of wear on your landscape lighting fixtures over time.
Flexible Design Options
LEDs are extremely flexible lighting tools and can be designed in a way that creates a warm and inviting ambiance.
LEDs are available in a wide array of colours and fixture styles. Your space can be customized to meet your exact needs. By varying fixtures and colours you can create a space that is functional, beautiful and energy efficient.
Since they don’t emit a lot of heat, they can easily be grouped together to create efficient illumination.
Outdoor landscaping LEDs can also be dimmed, creating a controlled lighting display such as whimsical lighting for parties, or dim mood lighting for small, cozy nights on the patio.
See the beautiful design options for yourself, check out our gallery to see some of the most stunning outdoor landscaping lighting designs we’ve created over the years.
Weather and Temperature Resistant
Since LEDs are highly durable, they’re ideal for operation under cold and low outdoor temperatures. As such, there’s no need to worry when it starts to snow here in Ontario. Your LED lighting system will continue to shine on, even when the barometer begins to plummet.
Control Over Light Distribution
LED bulbs are designed to focus their light. This means that fixtures can be directed to a specific location without the aid of external reflectors. This results in clear, direct light application.
Immediate Illumination
LED lights brighten up instantaneously. Simply flip the switch and your landscape lighting design will light up the night.
Low-Voltage Power
LED landscape lighting systems don’t require an awful lot of power to function properly and that’s another great way to save on your energy bills!
In Summary
LED lights are easily the most energy efficient and cleanest form of eco-friendly illumination.
Outfitting your home with LED landscape lighting allows you to decrease your carbon footprint, eliminate costly bulb purchases and changes, and reduce your lighting bill. Furthermore, LED lights are designed to operate at their best in both extreme heat and extreme cold, making them perfectly suited to Ontario’s extreme climate. You won’t be left in the dark regardless of the season
Put the power of LEDs to work for you. Contact one of our Burlington landscape lighting experts today to learn more about our powerful LED landscape lighting designs.
We proudly serve residential and commercial properties in Ancaster, Dundas, Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and the Halton and Hamilton Regions.
Ah, nothing says summer like kicking back and relaxing on a waterfront deck or patio. If you’re one of the lucky folks who owns waterfront property in the Burlington, Oakville, and Hamilton area, chances are good that you’re the envy of all your friends. And for good reason. The sound of the surf, the warm, moist breeze, the sand between your toes… there’s nothing quite like sitting next to the water.
Even though they live in paradise, waterfront property owners are forced to deal with their own unique mix of landscaping upgrades and maintenance projects. This includes the installation of outdoor lighting systems. While moonlit water is often lighting enough for your waterfront home, many people opt for outdoor lighting in order to enhance the aesthetics and safety of their waterfront property. If properly done, this addition can enhance the value of your home, transforming a beautiful property into something truly breathtaking.
Consider Your Lighting Options
There are many unique challenges involved in designing a waterfront outdoor lighting system. First off, you want to make sure you select the right materials for your design. Remember, exposure to moist air can take its toll on your fixtures. When selecting the various lighting components for your system, be sure to consult with one of our lighting experts in order to ensure that the fixtures you select are durable and water resistance. Our technicians recommend avoiding brass and copper fixtures; bronze lighting fixtures are far more resistant to storm and wind damage. What’s more, they have an understated appeal that will compliment your waterfront landscape nicely.
The wiring and transformers used to connect your light fixtures will also require special consideration. Your electrical components will need to be protected from the moisture-rich air. Our lighting designers will take this into consideration when pulling the components together for your Burlington outdoor lighting design.
Setting the Mood: Design Ideas
Once you’ve tackled technical considerations, it’s time to consider the mood that you want to portray.
Professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting illuminates beauty that already exists on your waterfront property. Obviously, the most beautiful element of your property is the water itself. In most cases, this is naturally lit by the moon and stars. As such, it’s our outdoor lighting designers job to build off of this ambiance when lighting the rest of your property. In most cases, this will call for subdued lighting with a natural, moonlit feel.
The following are a few design tricks from the Nite Time Décor design book:
Direct Landscape Lighting Towards the Water
The best way to highlight your waterfront property is to let your lighting allow for a subtle view of the water. Position your outdoor lighting fixtures on landscape elements that guide your eye towards the water. If you have pathways or walkways, try lining these areas with smaller fixtures for safe evening strolls.
Light Up Trees, Passageways, Decks and Patios
Mimic moonlight by placing fixtures in the canopy of trees; position the light to provide safe passage and usability on decks and patios.
Even out the glow by spacing your outdoor lighting fixtures evenly throughout your property. This will provide balance to your property.
Enhancing the night-time experience of a waterfront landscape can only be achieved with intelligent, low voltage lighting. A subtle glow and strategically placed fixtures will help accentuate the inherent beauty of your property in just the right way.
Contact Nite Time Decor
For more waterfront lighting tips and tricks, contact the Nite Time Decor outdoor lighting experts today. We’d be happy to send one of our talented design reps to your property for a complimentary site assessment and lighting demo. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout Hamilton, Halton, Mississauga, Burlington and Oakville.
5 Great Reason’s You’ll Love Working with Nite Time Decor
You’ve done your research and you’ve reviewed your options. After weeks of contemplation, you’ve decided that outdoor lighting is definitely something you want to add to your home or business. Now all you have to do is select an outdoor lighting company to handle the design and installation.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!
At Nite Time Décor, we don’t just install exceptional outdoor lighting systems, we use our artistic talents to illuminate the night and enhance the appearance and value of your home. Whether you’re lighting a walkway, pool, patio, or garden, our outdoor lighting company has the skill and experience needed to execute a breathtaking and budget-savvy design.
Outdoor lighting is truly an art form, and it’s one that we’ve spent years mastering. Still need some convincing?
Here are five reasons why you’ll love working with our outdoor lighting company:
5. We’re Experienced
When it comes to designing and installing outdoor lighting systems, we know our stuff. Our team is comprised of knowledgeable, experienced landscape lighting technicians. We know all the ins and outs when it comes to wiring and electrical connections, plus we know how to position our fixtures to achieve the maximum impact. Any landscape company can put a spotlight under a tree in order to provide “lighting services”, but that’s not the business that our outdoor lighting company is in. Our landscape lighting designers are driven to illuminate your property in a way that’s both functional and fantastic.
4. We Offer Exceptional Customer Service
No job is ever complete at Nite Time Décor thanks to our outstanding customer service and maintenance department. From follow-up visits to year-round maintenance, our team of technicians are there when you need them. Not every outdoor lighting company offers ongoing maintenance; here at Nite Time Décor, we promise to not only service our own installations, but to also provide you with expert advice and assistance concerning our competitors’ systems too.
3. Professional Fixtures and Proven Warranties
Nite Time Décor’s line of outdoor lighting fixtures are top-of-the-line. Designed to complement a wide variety of styles and tastes, our durable fixtures provide a flawless finish to any lighting project. We also stand behind our products and installation, offering all of our clients warranty coverage on most of the components utilized by our Nite Time Decor outdoor lighting company.
2. We Have An Eye for Design
It might sound cheesy, but it’s true – our lighting experts are artists in disguise! Each member of our outdoor lighting team has an intuitive knack for lighting design, providing our customers with a seemingly endless array of lighting designs.
1. We Genuinely Care About What We Do
No ifs, ands, or buts about it. We want your outdoor lighting system to look fantastic. With that, we want to make sure that the lighting contributes to the safety and security of your property without polluting your neighbours yard. It’s this attention to detail that ultimately helps set our outdoor lighting company after from all the rest. Transform your home into a masterpiece of light, architecture, landscape and love. Book a complimentary consultation with Nite Time Décor today and let us show you the light!
With our long winter nights, outdoor lighting in Oakville and Burlington is as practical as it is pretty. However, some North American scientists have raised concerns that artificial night lighting can have a negative impact on trees. Here is what you should know about outdoor lighting and how you can maintain healthy trees while maximizing safety and highlighting your property’s attractive features.
Know your facts
Trees need light to survive. The type of light (the wavelength or colour), the brightness, and the duration (how many hours) of light over the course of a day all affect tree growth. Certain trees rely on the amount of light in a day to know when to grow, flower, seed, or go dormant. Fewer hours of daylight in the fall signal trees to drop their leaves and stop growing.
If some trees are brightly lit at night with certain colours of light, there is a possibility that they may miss the cues that winter is approaching. They may fail to drop all their leaves in time, and risk damage from heavy snowfalls. Or they may not go fully dormant in time for winter and risk damage from cold. While the risk of tree damage is low, there are still many things you can do to optimize the health of more sensitive trees.
Know your trees
Outdoor lighting does not bother most tree varieties. Most conifers, such as spruce or pine trees, for example, are not affected by night lighting. Some deciduous trees—particularly flowering trees—may be more susceptible to certain types of night lighting. Since young trees grow faster, their growth cycle may be more affected by night lighting.
Nite Time Decor outdoor lighting experts can help you identify which trees are more sensitive to outdoor lighting and can design the appropriate lighting plans for your home.
Choose appropriate light fixtures
If you have a spectacular tree or trees that you want to have lit at night, fear not! There are many lighting options that won’t damage even the most sensitive trees. Some LED technology, for example, does not emit light in the red or infrared spectrum, which are the wavelengths of light that can impact tree dormancy and flowering.
Low, diffuse lighting can also be appropriate if you want to highlight outdoor landscape features. Down lights can be positioned to highlight plantings at the base of trees, which will avoid shining light on most of the tree leaves.
Consider timers and zones
Professional outdoor lighting takes into account both esthetics and safety. If you are lighting trees for esthetics, consider creating lighting zones and having the tree lighting shut off at a set time each day. You can keep other lighting zones—such as walkways and doorways—continuously lit for safety and security. This not only saves electricity, but also minimizes any effect outdoor lighting may have on surrounding trees.
Create a dynamic lighting design
Designing for beauty, safety, security, and tree heath is a complex business. Why not let the experts in outdoor lighting help you create or update a lighting design that meets all your needs? For more information on how a Nite Time Decor landscape lighting expert can help you create a striking display for your home, contact us today or request a complimentary quote.
Have you ever noticed how a few strategically placed lamps can change the entire ambiance of a room? Well, the same can be said for your front porch! Whether your home boasts a beautiful wrap-around deck or a small front stoop, there are plenty of things that you can do to improve the overall look and feel of your front entry. Entryway lighting is crucial for setting the mood and inviting in your guests, so don’t hold back. Make the most of your front entrance lighting with a professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting system from Nite Time Décor.
