Outdoor landscape lighting can add dramatic flair to almost any home, and with a little bit of planning, you can have the perfect lighting system installed in a matter of days. Landscape lights come in a variety of different sizes, styles, colors and more, so planning out a system ahead of time is a crucial step in finding the system that works to accent your home and property. If you’re considering installing landscape lighting, here are some of the most effective planning tips:

1.) Make a Budget

Before you purchase any equipment or dig any holes around your property, it’s important to consider your budget first. When planning out a landscape lighting system, you’ll need to think about how many lighting components will be needed to create the effect you want, and also how advanced the system will be. Some landscape lighting systems consist of a few lights in a yard, while others are made up of many different lights, control modules and more. By determining how much you are able to spend ahead of time, you’ll cut down on the chances of ending up with a half-finished project later.

2.) Look at Completed Projects

When planning out your own landscape lighting, it pays to look around for other ideas. To do this, you may want to take a drive through some nearby neighborhoods at night to see how others have utilized landscape lighting at their own homes. You can also go online and search for images of landscape lighting, as this can help you to decide what would look good when installed on your property. When looking at examples of landscape lighting, it’s important to remember that you should find homes that are similar to your own to have a better idea of what your final product will look like. You can also carry around a notepad and take down notes about specific features you liked, such as flower bed lighting.

3.) Draw a Diagram

Once you’ve made a budget and gotten some ideas regarding your own design, you can then draw a diagram of your home and lawn to get a better idea of how your lighting will work. You don’t have to be an artist to do this; a simple drawing will suffice. To make things easier, you can take a picture of your home and then transpose it onto graph paper. Once your diagram is completed, use a pencil to draw in where you would like your lights to go. Remember to try different ideas and always consider the fact that different types of lighting offer different amounts of light. Consider the spread and angle of each light and how each will benefit your home.

If you’re finding yourself stuck in the planning process, you may want to consider hiring an electrician or a landscape professional for assistance. These professionals will have the experience needed to properly plan out the perfect system for your home, and they’ll also know what pitfalls to avoid. Many electricians and landscaping professionals will also be able to assist you in the installation process, and this can be beneficial in that electrical lighting installation can be complicated and even dangerous.

Southern Home Services handles home improvement projects like electrical wiring, plumbing, and air conditioning throughout Birmingham and surrounding areas.