A well-designed landscape lighting display normally consists of three layers of light: ambient, task, and accent. Each layer adds a new dimension to your design, enhancing the texture, depth, and drama of your property.

About Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is the first layer of light to consider when designing a Burlington landscape lighting layout. This is because ambient light is what provides the overall lighting look for your property. This is accomplished by strategically lighting small areas with subtle washes.

The trick with ambient lighting is to ensure that it’s bright enough to allow people to interact and socialize without being too harsh. The right amount of ambient lighting sets the overall mood with dim levels designed to compliment additional layers of light.

When working with ambient light, our Burlington landscape lighting experts recommend using a soft glow of light in areas that are close to your home. This type of lighting also works in sitting areas, while crisper hues should be used to wash over pathways in order to ensure safety.

Getting Down to Work with Task Lighting
Before our lighting experts can properly plan task lighting, they’ll need to first get a better understanding of how you plan to use your yard when it’s illuminated. Will you be hosting a lot of backyard BBQs? Or maybe you plan to spend your evenings relaxing in your hot tub. List all of your requirements out in point form to discuss with our Burlington landscape lighting experts. From there our team will go about adding a layer of task lighting to your system layout.

Typically brighter than ambient lighting, task lighting is intended to help visitors safely navigate steps and walkways, as well as provide sufficient lighting in high use areas, such as an outdoor kitchen. This layer is also an instrumental part of a property’s security lighting. Used to mark the edge of patios and decks, or changes in elevation, this layer should be used to clearly delineate potentially dangerous areas. As such, task lighting should be used to illuminate path entranceways, curves, and uneven pavement. Additional lighting can then be added to ensure an acceptable level of illumination.

The Pièce De Résistance: Accent Lighting
Accent lighting, which is used to highlight special objects and architectural features, is typically the most intense layer of lighting. As such, accent lighting is normally three times the general illumination level of your ambient lighting layer.

Our Burlington landscape lighting experts commonly use accent and spotlighting techniques to add drama to a client’s property. This is achieved by bringing attention to focal points: trees, columns, fountains, etc. This helps to create shadows and depth, two important aspects of any landscape design.

Accent lighting can also help define your yard by darkening the areas beyond your property line. Not only does this ensure that your property “pops” but it also helps to reduce the amount of light pollution that spills over into your neighbour’s yard.

The right lighting layers will not only improve the look of your property, but will also ensure a safe and functional space for you and your family to enjoy. For more information on Nite Time Décor’s use of lighting layers please feel free to contact our office toll free at 1-800-952-3006. You can also schedule a free consultation with one of our Burlington landscape lighting designer using our nifty online quote request form.