Outdoor Lighting Lamps » Garden Lighting

Yard Lighting: Illuminate your Pathway and Driveway

Rachel — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:00:47 +0000

Yard lighting can be defined as a free standing light source designed to provide light in the vicinity of a path, driveway, or any other dark area around your property. They are usually fueled by electricity, either by mains power or solar generated, and sometimes, in the case of more old fashioned designs, by gas.

Yard lights often have a light switch located inside the building and are switched on as and when they are needed. They can also be controlled with a photoelectric sensor that switched on the light when it gets dark. Solar lights usually come on once darkness has fallen and will stay on for as long as enough residual power remains in the battery. Gas lights are designed to be on permanently.

Careful consideration should be given to the size of the outdoor yard lighting. A light that is too big for the area requiring illumination will be overpowering and will probably light parts of your home that do not need lighting. This can be very annoying, especially if your home adjoins another house and your lighting inadvertently casts a bright glow over your neighbors’ bedroom. Light, rather like noise, can sometimes be categorized as a nuisance.

Conversely, a light that is not large enough for the area that needs illumination will leave dark shadows between the transition areas. This might cause problems, especially if you are trying to provide lighting for treacherous pathways or potentially dangerous and difficult terrain.

Lighting for yards does not always need to seen only as a functional light. Many people choose to install lights in their yards that are decorative as well as useful. Gas lighting certainly fulfills these criteria, and for a period home gas lanterns are a very stylish choice.

LED yard lighting is useful for providing a bright and long lasting light. LED bulbs have a very long lifespan and do not need replacing very often. They are ideal if you have a huge property, and therefore a large number of lights. They are also useful if you have a commercial property, for example farms, as yard areas are often substantial and safety at night is an important issue.

Low voltage yard lighting is an inexpensive way of providing lighting around your home and garden. Low voltage lighting provides plenty of illumination and is very easy to install. Low voltage bulbs use very little power and if you have a large number of lights fitted around your home, you will see significant savings on your energy bills by installing low voltage lighting.

For the ultimate savings in lighting, solar yard lights are slightly more expensive to purchase, but once fitted, they cost nothing to run. Solar lights are just as bright as mains operated versions, but are more eco friendly. The integral battery charges up during daylight hours. Once day turns to night, the light will come on and give illumination for as much as eight hours. Solar powered yard lights are ideal for inaccessible areas where there is no access to an electricity supply.

Floating Pool Lights

Rachel — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:52:16 +0000

Floating pool lights are a fantastic way of adding some extra glamor to your pool or water feature at night. You can choose from classic white light, or red, green, amber, and blue. Floating swimming pool lights come in many different styles and designs, from solar powered lights to tiny floating candle lights. They can be used to add some decorative flair to your garden at any time of the year, even Christmas time, although summer parties and barbecues are a great opportunity to test your floating lights out.

If you have gone to the expense of installing a pool in your garden, you may not wish to spend any more money on special pool lighting as in some cases, integral pool lighting can cost a lot of money. Floating lights for the pool are a very simple and cost effective alternative to expensive underwater lighting. Not only can they create a very attractive ambient light effect at night, they are also cheap and easy to use.

Floating lights can also be used to replace existing lights that no longer work. If your pool lighting system has failed for some reason and you do not wish to go to the expense of draining the pool and employing an electrician to reinstall some new lighting, floating lights can make an effective replacement. Not only do they provide beautiful illumination at night, they are also very cheap to purchase.

Floating water lights are also portable, which makes then easy to move around between the various water features in your garden. If you are having a pool party, you can place your floating lights in the pool, but when the pool is not in use, you can move them into the pond or Jacuzzi. You can even take them on holiday if you wish and place them around the tent at night—they do not need to be placed in water to work!

A floating pool light can work from solar power or batteries. Floating solar pool lights charge up their batteries during the day and once dusk falls, they come on automatically with the aid of an environmental light sensor. The light itself is self contained within a waterproof case and will happily float on the surface of your pool or water feature. In the winter time, when your pool is covered up for protection, you can still use your solar lights to add some ambiance to the garden. They will make an attractive addition to the patio area, or you can group them together to provide some focused illumination in particular areas of your garden.

If you are looking for some extra lighting for a pool party or summer barbecue, there are many types of floating pool lights specifically designed for parties and outdoor entertainment. Flashing disco light displays are a fun way to turn your pool into the hottest party venue for miles around. Make sure you light the barbecue and crack open a few crates of beer—your guests will probably not be leaving any time soon!

Torch Lights: Add some Stunning Illumination

Rachel — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:48:22 +0000

Torch lights are a great way to add some stunning illumination to your garden at night. During the summer, the garden is always the place to be. When the nights are warm and the fragrant scent of lavender and honeysuckle is drifting across the patio as you relax in your chair, there is no better way of providing some atmosphere, as well as repelling nasty biting insects, than by lighting a few garden torches.

Garden torch lights are giant aromatic candles that can be firmly set into the ground at suitable intervals around the garden. Infused with pure essential oils, long burning garden torch candles provide the perfect accompaniment to a garden party or barbecue. If you want to enjoy an insect free evening in the garden, aromatic garden torched infused with pungent citronella oil are the best way to achieve this.

Candle torch lights can be bought in a variety of different scents. Any strong smelling herb or essential oil is perfect for fragrant candle torches and if you want to disguise the scent of the nearby pig farm, it would probably be wise to invest in a stack of scented candle torches for use in the garden during the summer months.

Tiki torch lights are a longer lasting style of garden torch. They come in several different styles, but the most common variety is constructed from a length of bamboo or cane with a woven holder on top. The holder houses a plastic bottle that is designed to be filled with Tiki fuel. A thick wick is threaded through a metal cover that covers the top of the fuel bottle. The wick dips into the fuel and when it is lit, the exposed portion will burn for hours.

Tiki torches look very striking when burning at night, but the fuel bottle can make them rather top heavy and susceptible to strong winds, therefore they should be well secured to prevent accidents. As such, it is well worth having a fire extinguisher handy if you decide to light a Tiki torch in your garden. However, despite the safety issues inherent with such a design of torch, they can look pretty spectacular in a garden and are definitely worth trying if you want to create a night to remember.

LED torch lights are a safe way to provide some torch lighting in the garden. Unlike naked flame lighting, there is no danger of setting anything (or anyone) on fire with an LED torch. LED bulbs operate at very low voltages and are always cool to the touch. This makes them a safe alternative for homes with younger children or accident prone pets.

If you want maintenance-free torch lighting in your garden, solar torch lights are the best type of torch lighting you can buy. Once installed, solar lights will charge up during the day and shine brightly at night. Rechargeable torch lights are the ultimate in environmentally friendly garden lighting. They cost nothing to operate, but they look great and will provide a lifetime of attractive garden lighting.

LED Pool Lights Make a Striking Impact on your Pool

Rachel — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:44:49 +0000

LED pool lights can have a striking impact on a swimming pool, as without lighting, your pool will become a giant black hole full of water at night. For most people, installing a pool is a big expense, but unless you pay attention to the extra details necessary for a 24/7 use of your pool, it will have been a waste of money.

Pool lighting is essential for swimming pools. During the day, the pool is often a focal point of the garden when the weather is hot and the kids are not at school. You family will doubtless spend many happy hours splashing, swimming, and simply relaxing in the water while the sun burns down. Once daylight disappears and the sun sets over the horizon, without lighting you will have to abandon the water and retire indoors.

However, if you choose to install some LED swimming pool lights, your family can carry on using the pool for many more happy hours. Of course there are other types of pool lighting that you might wish to consider, but for most people LED lighting is far and away the most popular because of its many benefits.

The great advantage of LED pool lighting is that it is extremely economical to run. LED bulbs operate on very low voltages and usually last for years—which makes them ideal for pools. If lights are only used for short periods per day, it is not unusual for LED bulbs to last indefinitely, so that last thing you have to worry about is a blown bulb in your pool!

LED lighting can be powered through an electrical outlet, which is how most pre installed LED lights in pools work, or by battery. Battery powered LED lights are ideal for adding at a later date, or if the existing lighting system has ceased to work. Battery powered LED floating pool lights are a fun way to decorate the pool at night and they can look surprisingly effective when left bobbing around in the water.

An LED pool light can be installed anywhere in the pool area. You might wish to fit them along the sides of the pool, or perhaps across the bottom. If you have special decorative features built into your pool, for example waterfalls and fountains, you can also install an LED swimming pool here, too.

As well as traditional white bulbs, LED bulbs for pools come in a range of different colours and with decorative lighting schemes you can transform your pool with some fantastic lighting displays. Many LED light kits feature special effects and mood lighting, which is ideal for pool based parties during the summer months. Imagine how funky your pool would be with some flashing disco lights beneath the water!

Whether you choose to install LED lighting in your pool at the point of construction, or you decide to add some LED lights at a later date, this type of lighting will bring a whole new level of enjoyment to your pool during the summer—and even the winter if you are feeling brave!

Great Garden Lights Make a Difference!

Rachel — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:29:03 +0000

Great garden lighting can make the difference between a boring outdoor space, and an amazing one. Without lighting, once the sun drops below the horizon, your garden will be plunged into darkness and all of your expensive shrubs and garden features will be lost in shadow, which is not ideal when you have probably spent a fortune on them!

Thankfully, there are loads of different types of garden lights that you can utilize to make the most of your outdoor space. Most home depot stores sell a huge variety of outdoor lights and if you are uncertain about which ones are suitable for your requirements, ask a member of staff for assistance.

Outdoor garden lights can be used to highlight particular features worthy of special interest at night. This might include a water feature, or maybe an attractive line of trees. Some people also choose to highlight architectural features and attractive shrubs. Low voltage spot lights are ideal for this purpose. They come in many different designs, ranging from wall and tree mounted spot lights, to small light poles that can be angled to point in a specific direction.

Step lights are a very clever garden light fixture that not only looks pretty when fitted along pathways, it also offers safety at night by lighting the way across your garden. Recessed lighting is ideal for the edge of the patio or decking and can even be installed across the middle if appropriate.

Underwater lighting is very popular for garden water features as lighting is perfect way to highlight water at night. You can choose from halogen and LED lighting as well as a number of different mounting designs. Some lights are disguised as rocks and pebbles. During the day, the light blends in to the surroundings, but at night it comes alive with soft light. As well as looking very pretty in ponds and water features, rock lights can be used to great effect in rockeries and ornamental flower beds.

A solar garden light is useful when there is no electricity supply. Solar lighting is cheap and effective and therefore a great choice for any modern garden. Solar lights come in many different designs and are very simple to install. You simply place them in the required location and leave them to charge up using the natural daylight. Once night falls, the light comes on and you can enjoy the ambient lighting provided.

Garden lighting can also provide valuable security at night. If you have expensive garden furniture or decorative ornaments, lighting your garden effectively is a great deterrent against opportunistic thieves. Most thieves are unlikely to target a garden if it is lit up brighter than a football stadium—it would be too risky for them. Security lighting is also effective when fitted around outbuildings.

Garden lighting can also be used to great effect when installed at the front of your home and decorative lamps are a great way of providing illumination along a driveway or at the gate of your driveway.

Stylish Tiki Torches for your Outdoor

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:24:13 +0000

Tiki torches are a stylish illumination to your outdoor patio or backyard. They are a great option if you want a tropical-theme outdoor entertainment. They can make any party or bonding activity something out of the ordinary. With the right outdoor tiki torches, your living space will convey an exciting exotic ambience and turn an ordinary event into a unique and more enjoyable occasion.

People mostly think that tiki torches are made of plain bamboo poles. Well, bamboo tiki torches may be conventional and work fine in general, but they don’t last long enough and can break easily. Thankfully, we now have contemporary alternatives for tiki torches available. They come in different designs and made from a variety of materials.

Metal tiki torches are becoming popular as they have a modern look and are longer lasting than the traditional bamboo tiki torch. With their shiny finish, metal tiki torches are very attractive and dramatic at night. Some torches are also made of glass, ceramic or porcelain, which tend to be more delicate. But these types of tiki torches are very ideal for the outdoors because they are moisture-resistant. You can put them on your front patio, garden or backyard to present a pretty and dainty theme.

Tiki torches are fueled either by gas, oil or electric. A gas tiki torch may not give a cleaner smoke or a pleasant smell, but they can last longer and can offer you better control over the intensity of the flame. Propane tiki torches are also ideal in windy areas as they don’t turn down easily due to the gas sustenance. They may be costly on purchase but can save you a lot of money in the long run.

The oil usually used for tiki torches is either paraffin or citronella oil. Citronella tiki torches are very useful in insect-infested areas. They don’t only repel mosquitoes, but citronella oil smells good too. Paraffin oil on the other hand produces fewer odors and less smoke. Tiki torches have normally built-in refillable canisters or tanks. It is advised not to mix different types of oil in one tiki torch in order to maximize its use.

There are also solar-powered tiki torches available which is useful around children. They are safer and easy to set up a cozy island-theme party. You can find tiki torches on retail outlets such as Amazon or eBay and other websites online. They can give you great ideas on how to maximize the use of tiki torches.

How to Light up your Garden with a Garden Light

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:22:24 +0000

Trying to perk up your garden a little bit more? Go set up some garden lights and for sure your garden will definitely come to life. Garden lighting devices come in different designs so there’s nothing to worry about having your lights fitting to your garden theme. These lighting devices may be installed using fire or electricity. You can use torches or lamps for an original or natural effect but for safety and prevention reasons, you can always opt to use electricity-based or battery-operated garden lights (LED, neon lights etc.), and other devices such as solar garden light.

So how does garden lighting works? Aside from illuminating your pathways and garden, garden lights can also give out a mood of your choice. Here are also a few of the lighting techniques that you will love and how to do them:

Step Lighting – use it for accenting your garden steps. But the main function of this type of lighting is safety. It helps people see where they are going and prevent them from tripping or falling. You can use vertical posts, or hide them beneath the rails. You can even flush them into your garden steps for safety touch.

Spread lighting – install your garden light fixture on low-lying landscapes to light up flower beds and shrubs. Spike lights in beds help show your trees, shrubs and flowers even in the dark.

Fountain Lighting – if you have a fountain in your garden, you can still bring it to life when evening comes. The most common way is placing lights under the water. You can use colored lights if you want to add more fun and character. A floodlight may also be used to shine on the fountain.

Shadowing – you can use this technique if you want to cast shadows to certain objects like a statue, tree, fountain, and other interesting shapes. If you want large shadows, place your fixture near the object. But if you put it farther, the smaller the shadow that will be cast.

Silhouetting – use this technique to highlight the shape of an object. To create this dramatic effect, you have to place the light behind the object and aim it toward a vertical structure like the walls of your house.

Moon Lighting – this type of lighting has a very romantic effect. You should place the light high above a tree and shine it downwards. It will create the effect like the moon shining down.

Out in the market now are adjustable lights that allow you to be flexible in your outdoor garden lighting and help you from spending too much money! Go ahead, complement your landscape with lights and see how it transforms from an ordinary garden into a relaxing, beautiful, and magical Eden!

3 Types of Outdoor Yard Lighting for your BackYard

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:53:11 +0000

Outdoor yard lights are an important consideration for your living space. Many people ignore the necessity of outdoor lighting. If you are thinking about getting one, then you have made the right choice. Outdoor lighting is essential in making your home presentable and a beautiful place to live in. Furthermore, it will also provide you and your family a sense of safety and security.

We all know that back yards are a very useful place. You can relax in it after a long hard day at work or chill out with your family. You can also hold large gatherings in it, special events any party you want to host. But those occasions will never be complete without outdoor lighting. Outdoor yard lights will give the perfect ambiance on any events on your back yard until the wee hours of the night. You can choose from a wide variety of designs and styles. However, here are three basic types of outdoor lighting for your backyard.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) Lighting – This type of outdoor yard light is considered one of the safest lighting system as they are cooler to touch and do not break easily. It can accentuate any part of your back yard. LED lights come in different voltages and in all sorts of styles and designs that will surely meet your standards. You can use it to illuminate your back yard patio, garden or deck and provide the mood you want. They can be initially expensive though.
Low Voltage Lighting – If your goal is to save energy but yet enjoy your backyard at night, then low voltage lights can be ideal for you. They can be very economical and practical for your family. This type of outdoor light has many uses depending on design. You can use low voltage post cap lights for pathway lighting or low voltage mood lights that can cast a soft, warm glow suitable for romantic dinners. There are also low voltage accent lighting to draw attention to whatever special and unique object you want to give emphasis on your backyard.
Solar-Powered Lighting – Solar lights are similar to low voltage lights because of their energy-saving feature. It makes use of the sun during the day to charge the built-in batteries so it can operate at night. They do not need electricity or wiring, which means you can put it anywhere you want on your backyard. They are also very kind to the environment as they don’t produce any harmful emissions. Solar lights are expensive upon purchase but it can save you a lot of money when it comes to long-term running costs.

Getting an outdoor yard light is one of the wisest decisions you can make as you will realize later on that the possibilities are actually endless. Just plan carefully and determine your preferences and you’ll be on your way to a safe and beautiful backyard.

An Enchanting Moment with Pond Lights

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:40:06 +0000

For most people who loves nature, the most fascinating of all outdoor lights, is pond lighting. Expert indoor/ outdoor designers never forget to include this exciting kind of lamps in their creation. Old and young- alike, professional and ordinary people and everyone from all walks of life would not miss to appreciate whenever they see a beautifully lit outdoor light complementing the surrounding area in the evenings.

Pond lights have become a famous choice around the globe to add a grandeur effect at night on a landscaped garden with water and nature blending together. Pond lights are widely used to magnify the scenery of the underwater life of the different colored fishes and plants. The lights add more life to a peaceful night while entertaining guests or just being alone in the garden simply watching the exciting movements in the pond. It helps set the mood from romantic to merry or even a touch of magical moment since the pond lights enhance the exotic color blending and bring out the naturalness of the surrounding.

Before purchasing a set of pond lights, one must first decide on the motif. There is a wide variety of types and designs one can choose from the catalogs of outdoor lightings, on electrical and light stores or on online websites. Here are the following types of pond lights one can match suitably with the decorative pattern of the outdoor garden.

1.) Floating pond lights – These are the ideal surface lights to decorate the pond. Ideally, they are the solar pond light. This is an energy saver and also a worry-free light because it gets the energy supply from the sun. It also switches on automatically when darkness comes giving instant illumination to the whole area.

2.) Water lily pond lights – These are also floating lights but the lamps are shaped like water lily. One can instantly adore the loveliness of the flower even at night since the live ones actually blooms only during day time.

3.) Underwater pond lights - To emphasize the exciting colors of the fishes and plants, installing submersible pond floor lights are ideal. It can also highlight a fountain or a cascading water to make it appear more natural and appealing.

4.) Crystal stone pond lights – These are ideal to use on paths leading to the pond or to a man-made waterfall or on the sides of the pond as a decorative fixture to improve the feature.

5.) Crystal globe pond lights – These are sphere- shaped glass that are perfect to leave floating on the water surface to accentuate the pond. It provides light to the pond as well as the entire area.

LED pond lights are effective in creating an extraordinary awesome glow in the outdoor garden. The silhouettes and reflections formed give an illusion of an enchanting moment in a real world.

Underwater Light: A New Dimension in Design

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 04:29:52 +0000

Modernization brings drastic changes in all aspects in our homes, gardens, parks, hotels and other dwelling places where people would want to see beautiful pieces of art with a touch of nature. One would want to see an unending sight of astonishing sceneries day- in and day- out.

This is where the awesome underwater light comes in. Years of studies perfected the use of this kind of lighting with excellence in safety and durability. This is absolutely one hundred percent water resistant and is capable of being submerged under water for a long period of time without posing any danger. The naturalness and simplicity of the area are emphasized clearly with this underwater lighting. More and more interior/exterior designers and even ordinary enthusiasts of nature’s art use this to enhance the beauty of their designs.

The underwater light creates a magical effect on ponds where one can enjoy the relaxing view of the underwater life of fish and plants that abound below. It magnifies the different colors of these water-dwelling animals and makes one appreciate them more.

This Light Emitting Diode, commonly known as LED, is more compact and shock resistant than incandescent, even in frequent cycles of on/off, slow and fast flashes. It remarkably uses less energy but provides more light.

When installing, there is no need to get a professional because this can be done by anybody. The lamps can be attached to a base where it is then positioned strategically below to create a dramatic effect of the underwater view.

It is also a perfect set-up for fountains or moving waters because it gives the beholder the illusion of a fantastic effect on the different colors and makes it appear simply truer.

For those people who want to have a cool ambiance inside their bath or shower rooms, this is the perfect light to install because a good hot bath plus the calming effect of the light lessens the tension after a hard day’s work.

It is equally great to use on outdoor Jacuzzis and on swimming pools. It is designed to give off a more inviting mood on the water and the silhouettes formed are just amazing to look at, and making a night dip in the Jacuzzi or pool more enjoyable and fun just like daytime swimming. With a life span of 30,000 hours per bulb, it is very practical to use this one.

Another kind, which is the submersible trailer light, is usually used for trailers of RUV’s. It is helpful and safe especially on rainy days and flooded areas as it emits not only high intensity light but also withstands tough shocks and vibrations and repels ultra-violet rays. Moreover, it ensures safety to the motorists especially for night travelers.

Finally, these dimension in lighting systems are unfolded. There is a wide array of choices to make for an elegant home, garden, pond or whatever that fancies your imagination. Try and be stunned by this underwater light.