Tips for Lighting Rural Properties
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, country life also comes with its unique challenges. For example, you have to be much more self-reliant when it comes to your Oakville 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 professional landscape lighting system.
Go For a Natural Look
When you’re installing low voltage or LED 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 Oakville landscape lighting experts:
Light From Above
Lighting an image from above imitates nature. Think of how the moon shines through the trees on an especially clear night – this is the look our Oakville landscape lighting experts are trying to mimic when they install downlighting fixtures.
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.
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.
Bring light to your rural property while respecting your neighbours and reducing light pollution. Contact one of our Oakville landscape lighting experts today to learn more about rural lighting ideas or to book your free outdoor lighting consultation.