Outdoor Lighting Ideas for a Warm & Inviting Glow

Hang around outdoor lighting designers long enough and you’ll hear a lot of talk about “moonlight effect.” That’s a naturalistic look that features light no more intense than that of a full moon, but still strong enough to make beautiful shadows and intense highlights on your home’s exterior.

How Outdoor Lighting Helps Security

Soft, overall landscape lighting eliminates dark areas that might hide an intruder, exposing any movement on your property.

Overly bright lights actually have a negative effect, creating undesirable pockets of deep shadow.

The Best Outdoor Lights Designers Recommend

Once disparaged for their high cost and cold, bluish glow, LEDs are now the light source of choice for lighting designers.

Although LED fixtures remain twice as expensive as incandescents, installation is simpler because they use low-voltage wiring.

The Cost of Outdoor Lighting

Total outdoor lighting costs will vary according to the size of your home and the complexity of your lighting scheme. Expect to pay about $100 to $200 per LED fixture including installation. LEDs also require a transformer; together, they’ll cost $300 to $500 with installation.