Most people that have a garden will agree that it is one of the most stunning places they can visit. Whether you have a large or small garden, you will definitely want to ensure that it is well-lit, so that you and your guests can have a relaxing time inside. While plenty of sunlight is of course wonderful, you might also want to have some soft lighting for nighttime enjoyment. When designing your garden's lighting scheme, you will want to consider how many hours each day you will be using it, so that you can determine how bright you should make the lights. Furthermore, if there are specific plant species that you want to see grow, then you might also decide to go with certain types of bulbs that are only suitable for certain plants. With these tips in mind, you will be able to design a garden that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Go For Both As mentioned, gardens come in all shapes and sizes, so you will want to ensure that you incorporate both functionality and visual appeal into your design. For instance, you could use motion-activated sprinklers to water your garden, and to give you added flexibility, you could use dimmer switches to adjust the brightness of the lighting as needed. Alternatively, if you want to use ambient lighting to illuminate your garden during the day, then you might want to consider getting some solar-powered lanterns or track lighting, so that they do not require any additional electrical outlets. Motion Sensing To make sure that your sprinklers do not water anything but your garden, you will need to incorporate motion sensing into your design. This can be done in a number of ways, such as by using infrared sensors, which are completely undetectable by the human eye. Alternatively, you could use sound sensors, which are more commonly found in security systems. A good rule of thumb regarding garden lighting design is to think about what each device is capable of, and work your way backwards from there. Consider The Space To ensure that your garden space is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, you will need to take into consideration how much room you have for each device. For instance, you might want to limit the number of lanterns you have, because if there are too many, then you will lose some of the ambiance that a sunset brings. Light Intensity Another important factor to consider when designing your outdoor lighting scheme is the intensity of the light. As mentioned above, you will probably want to limit the number of solar-powered lanterns that you have, due to space constraints. When deciding how bright you should make the lights, you will want to consider how much illumination each device provides, as well as the effect that the illumination has on the area around it. Some plants do not do well when exposed to intense light, so you might want to limit the amount of sunlight that enters your space. If possible, you might also want to use reflectors and/or shades to bounce the light back into the garden, so that it does not become glaringly bright. Plant Selection You will also want to consider which types of plants you want to see thrive inside your garden. While it is wonderful to have a garden that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, if you have not planted a single seed yet, then you have not truly started a garden. To make sure that the plants you do select can withstand the climate that you live in, as well as the conditions of your garden, you will need to do some research into their capacity to grow in your area. You can also consult with local horticulturalists that specialize in recommending plants for specific regions. Lighting Level Depending on the time of day that you use your garden, you will probably want to adjust the brightness of the lighting. During the day, you will want to increase the intensity of the light, so that it does not become too dazzling. However, as the sun sets, you will probably want to decrease the brightness of the light, so that it does not over-illuminate the space. With these tips in mind, you will be able to design a garden that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
garden lighting design
