When lighting your exterior try and think logically and start at the entrance. Do you need to indicate to drivers where the entrance is? It can be quite difficult at night time to locate the drive way. You could have two bollards either side or lights on top of a pillar. If you have nice stone pillars, which you would like to high light, you could have lights shining onto the stone. Always be careful not to use any outside lighting that will interfere with road users as this can be dangerous.

Continue then into the garden. Is there an impressive tree you would like to light up? Maybe you have a drive way of yew trees; it is a nice idea to light each one individually. Think of the shape and size of the tree when positioning your light and experiment with different positions before fixing your light permanently. Also consider the type of tree you are lighting when determining the colour of your lamp, a cool colour works best with pine and cedar to show off the natural silver in the wood and leaves.

A warmer colour works better with oak and beech. Most of the lighting in your garden should be near the house to help create outside living areas with maybe one or two other points of focus in the distance. Do you have a water fountain or pond? If you do you can have a light shining onto your feature or from within the water itself. This would be a feature worth lighting and be able to look upon from within the house itself or from an outside seating area. It is a good idea if you have a large garden to be able to operate the lights separately so that you do not have to have them all on at once.

If you have a small garden it is a good idea to be able to move your lights with the changing seasons this is achievable with certain types of outdoor lighting, it is possible to consult a lighting designer who can advise you on this (not all exterior lighting has to be wired by an electrician there are other options giving you more flexibility). Be sure not to direct your lights straight up into the sky as this is a pointless exercise as all you are doing is lighting the skyline. Light needs something to reflect off to be effective.

When lighting your outside seating areas be conscious of not positioning lights so that they cause a glare. Subtle lighting is all that is really needed. You do of course need to light steps, if you have any, which can be difficult. One solution is to set small low glare LED's, into the side wall, if there is one. If this is not possible small exterior spotlights positioned so that the light skims across the top of the step are a good option making sure you use glare guards on each fitting.

Exterior lighting is often over looked but is an essential part of the overall scheme of your house. The amount of value that a well lit garden can add to your home is often immeasurable and not just in monetary terms. You can add so much space to your home with a well thought out and well lit exterior.

Most people think that outdoor lighting should not be given too much attention as after all there is the sun that lights the exterior of the house during the day, the star and the moon to shed light at night. If ever artificial light source will be supplied, it would just be a meager light bulb.

However, the provision of outdoor lighting is just as important as indoor lighting. There are many instances that will prove such importance. Suppose there is only a small light bulb to light your home exterior at night and an elderly grandmother missed a step on the porch stair then tumbled. Of course you would not have grandma stay injured like that without taking her to the hospital for medical treatment. Your negligence in providing sufficient outdoor lighting resulted to unnecessary additional expenses. Outdoor lighting also serves the purpose of providing your house with security against trespassers, with the use of spotlight and motion detectors.

Proper installation of outdoor lighting involves correct grounding and water proofing. Before you start installing your outdoor lights, there are particular codes to be met and complied with as well as permits to be obtained. Lights to be installed along the walkway which require only low voltages are not very complicated but there are certain outdoor lighting which need to be installed by a professional and licensed electrician complete with all necessary documents then inspected once installation is complete. If some electrical codes are not met, you will just put yourself in possible risks and hazards. Further expenses would even be required for renovation if you wish to resell the property.

When planning the exterior lighting, first map out the property whereby showing the home's position, the other infrastructure in the property, your garden, walkway, etc. Next you need to lay out the wiring conduit to connect the lighting fixtures and receptacles to the electricity source. You will also need to consider a fee things when choosing your exterior lighting fixtures such as the activity you and your family will be doing outdoors, voltage specifications, the location of the underground cables, wires and water lines.

In choosing outdoor lighting fixture, there are lighting technologies which do not need lengthy wiring such as solar powered exterior lights. These solar lighting comes in various styles and designs that can be used in different areas of the home exterior such as those installed along walkways and even stairs. During weather and season with ample sunlight these solar powered lights can be used most of the time.

Most places have a standard current with voltage reading of 120. By using a reliable transformer, this voltage may be converted to a safer and more efficient 12 volts current. With such low voltage, installation becomes simpler and safer.

Another purpose served for by outdoor lighting is decorative functions. This aspect of outdoor lighting may be focused on after safety and security lighting are addressed. There are various techniques used to achieve the lighting effect desired. Uplighting may be directed towards a tree which is the focal point of a lawn. Backlighting can be used to define space along shrubs and borders. Downlighting is utilized on stairs and pathways to enhance safety as well as physical appeal.

One of the many interesting things that happens when designers experiment and enjoy their creative forces is that they do begin to work with other materials. And this usually means a much wider variety in styles, colors and shapes. When combining materials a whole new world is opened.

Just think of the following:

Take an outdoor table for example.

• It could be square, rectangle or with a round top.
• It could be waist high or chest high.
• It could be for four, six, eight or even 12 people.
• It could be made from wood, and that also means the series of colors and finishing.
• It could be with a glass top, a wooden top, from metal alloys or a ceramic top

Some of the styles will include Wicker, bistro furniture, styles taken from the classics (Greek and Roman), country style, European, modern, contemporary, etc.

At the forefront of the design trends for outdoor furniture are colors that are either simple or vibrant. The standout and make a statement. It's not just a question of the blending into the outdoor scene but of actually making a statement that adds to the lifestyle.

Another important part of outdoor furniture today is weather resistance. This includes fabrics and materials. A chair deckchair or any seating furniture will have cushioned seats and pillows and these must be able to withstand demands made by the weather- and this means more than just the rain, includes the wind and the sun.