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I recently attended a design conference put on by one of the manufactures that we use frequently, Sterling Lighting. This was one of the questions brought to us by a world renowned, award winning lighting designer, Eleftheria Deko. Many in the room thought otherwise, however, I don’t think we came up with a definite answer to this question. It’s very much opinion and perception based. What we did come up with is that “Nature is the best light.” If we take that phrase and use that in every outdoor lighting design that we do from here on out, we will create the best designs possible. Use nature as our guide and let the souls of the architecture and the landscape speak to us and tell us what it needs. If we listen, that alone will guide us on the right path. It’s just like life. Listening is the hardest part.
(Left to Right; Randy Reid, Eleftheria Deko, Domingo Gonzalez, Janet Moyer, Patrick Harders)
There is no reason you shouldn’t consider utilizing the existing lighting on the building. Fixtures we want to avoid using are security flood lighting, sconces that the lamp/bulb is completely exposed, and any other fixture that exudes a large amount of light and can not be adjusted by swapping out the lamp. More often than not, a replacement of a lamp with a reduced light output is all you need to make it match or complement any architectural lighting you are getting installed. Consult a professional lighting designer for advice on overall layout of your lighting project.
Many landscape companies or other home service companies that “offer” architectural and landscape lighting use universal products. They go to their local landscape supply company, purchase a case of uplight fixtures, some 5W lamps, a transformer, some wire and they can offer lighting design and installation. While this will in fact give you a lighting system, it will be poorly designed, the outcome will be lackluster, and they will overcharge you for their “professional” installation. Using properly adjusted fixtures with different lumen outputs, color temperatures and varied optic degree angles will put the correct amount of illumination on the desired object. This will result in textured lighting features that are not “blown out” and give a very warm and inviting atmosphere. The difference can easily be seen.
There are four types of light pollution and they need to be considered when doing an outdoor lighting design.
Improper wire layouts can result in low voltage distribution which can cause premature failure, flickering of lights and even potentially a fire. It is very important to use proper wire gauges for the length and load per branch circuit to ensure desired voltage across all fixtures and luminaires. Voltage drop can be calculated using many different online calculators, however, using the expertise of a professional will give you the best results.
Why? Why are you putting light on said object or area? Do you know? This is important as this will dictate the approach you are wanting to take. Is is safety? Security? Aesthetics? Curb Appeal? Ambience? There is no wrong answer to this but this will dictate what tools are to be used, the budget that will be needed, how we are going to mitigate light pollution and how we can compliment any existing lighting. This really is the most important question before we continue on with anything else related to this project. Why?
Just because you have a small budget doesn’t mean you can’t get incredible results. Don’t settle for cheap products just to get more lighting for your money. In fact, that will probably go against the result you are hoping to achieve. Using high quality products with a high CRI will give you the best results. Be realistic with your budget and talk to a professional to see what hurdles may interfere with your overall project costs. What you will find out is that the actual product (luminaires/fixtures) for the project will be your smallest line item on your estimate. The design, layout and installation labor will be your largest expense and if you decide to go cheap on this, you will get cheap results and end up having more problems in the future.
Outdoor lighting design by Light TN emphasizes creating functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable lighting solutions. The practice involves carefully analyzing the site’s natural and built environments to enhance visibility, safety, and ambiance while minimizing light pollution and energy consumption. Designers consider factors such as the type and placement of fixtures, color temperature, light intensity, and control systems to create a balanced and dynamic lighting plan. Additionally, Light TN prioritizes the use of energy-efficient technologies and sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact and operational costs, ensuring the designs are both practical and environmentally responsible. To get your custom lighting design from Light TN, give us a call today 615-808-8882 or email us at in**@li*****.com . We look forward to serving you.
