Tag Archives: outdoor lighting

5 Winter Wonderland Ideas for Outdoor Lighting

We love these winter outdoor lighting creations from My Home Ideas!

Torches and candles aren't just for indoor use. See how they add an elegant glow to this entryway?

This charming arched tunnel of lights is a festive way to welcome holiday guests.

Enjoy your deck or patio by draping a net of lights across your outdoor table. So easy!

Nothing says winter like trees and other greenery wrapped with holiday lights!

 

Create this DIY look by punching holes in the snow, then inserting votive lights or candles.

How are you lighting up your outdoors this winter?

Keep Summer Alive with Outdoor Lighting

Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean you have to shut down your outdoor living. Lighting is the key to extending the summer and keeping the party going throughout the cool fall season.

This lower level spa, bar and sitting nook is a perfect example of how lighting can set the mood outside.

This is exactly why landscape lighting is the key to adding value at home. In the past, outdoor lighting was seen merely as a safety feature. It helped (and still does help) to ward off intruders and avoid trips and falls. Now, in addition to safety, it’s all about creating a certain ambiance and atmosphere.

But adding a meaningful landscape lighting scheme to your home’s exterior takes a lot more than buying a lighting kit and sticking fixtures into the dirt that surrounds your home. Outdoor lighting should be an investment that takes careful planning. Some lighting effects can be added to trees, shrubs, gardens, fountains and pathways. There is also the option of layered lighting.

From outdoor chandeliers to wall sconces, there are many looks that can be created. Just like with interior design, exterior design needs a theme. Traditional, country, Tuscan and modern are all very possible styles to consider with outdoor lighting.

If your outdoor space in Kansas needs to be brightened up for fall, Outdoor Environments can help. Call us at 913-897-2706. We serve areas in and around Kansas City and Overland Park.

Set the Mood with Outdoor Lighting

It’s no secret that outdoor living spaces are more commonly thought of as outdoor living rooms. They are designed and laid out much like the rooms inside the home. So it isn’t surprising that lighting plays a role. After all, a room isn’t complete without the right light, right?

With consumers looking for more ways to incorporate green and eco-friendly features, outdoor lighting provides sensible ways to do just that. LED lighting uses about 75 percent less energy than halogen bulbs while solar lighting uses no electricity whatsoever.

LED and solar lights can be used strategically to show off the design and architectural elements that truly make an outdoor space unique. Lights can border walkway paths, driveways, gardens and flower beds.

The trick, though, is to not overdo it. No one wants their outdoor space lit up like a football field. A dim glow is all that’s needed – much like the natural and unobtrusive natural light provided by the moon.

To find out how Outdoor Environments can incorporate the right lighting for your outdoor space, call us at 913-897-2706 today!

Information from The Globe and Mail

Exterior space designed by Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Lighting for Decks

It’s still National Deck Safety Month!  And it’s a popular time of year for decks. Since home improvements seem to peak during the spring, it’s important to note that deck construction and upgrades are the third most popular home remodeling project behind kitchen and bath remodels. And what are consumer looking for in upgraded decks this year? They want more deck add-ons, particularly outdoor lighting.

Consumers are interested in adding value. They don’t necessarily have to have the best or biggest deck on the block. They want features that will enhance their outdoor living experience while adding beauty and safety. That’s why outdoor lighting is such a hot commodity.

The types of lighting that consumers can choose from include:

  • Tiny, recessed LEDs for deck edges
  • LED strips for running underneath deck railing
  • Light with remote controlled dimming
  • Energy-efficient lighting that incorporates some or all of the above

All of these lighting options help to create a safer outdoor living environment if you plan to use your deck after the sun goes down. If your deck is in need of remodeling and outdoor lighting, call Outdoor Environments in Overland Park/Kansas City at 913-897-2706.

Information from KPVI

Image from Houzz

More Ideas to Beautify Your Backyard

Hopefully you read our post from earlier this week about the features you should be thinking about adding to your backyard this spring. Just in case you needed some more inspiration, we’ve rounded up five more ideas to take your outdoor living space from drab to fab!

Outdoor flooring is one of the best ways to add value to your home. Even with a deck or patio already installed, accenting it with concrete pavers, a brick walkway or other hardscapes products adds a nice touch to any backyard.

What backyard is complete without a grilling area? It may be a bit nippy outdoors, but a grill, open faced brick oven and a wet bar are all great ways to enhance outdoor entertaining once the weather warms up.

The right lighting can make or break your home’s outdoor living area. Be creative with walkway lighting, candles or customized landscape lanterns.

Finally, there are many ways to accessorize once you added all the right outdoor living elements and features. Have you thought about statues or sculptures? What about picket fencing or a booming sound system?

For assistance getting your outdoor living area up to par for spring, call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today!

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Environments

Safety Tips from Outdoor Environments this Holiday Season

Courtesy of Outdoor Christmas Lights.

Tis the season to hang holiday lights and decorate your outdoors with Christmas lawn decorations, but before you do so, please inspect each set for any damages. Christmas lights definitely add holiday cheer to any home, but there are some safety concerns you should consider before you install the lights. Check out a few of our safety tips below so that you can have a safe and happy holiday.

1.       Avoid hanging or placing holiday lights near any sources of heat.

2.       Secure lights to avoid wind damage.

3.       Avoid puncturing the insulation of the holiday lights with staples or nails.

4.       Avoid placing holiday light bulbs on any electrical wires.

5.       Make sure you unplug the holiday lights when you leave your home or retire for the night.

6.       Keep your holiday lights away from small children to avoid burns or strangulation.

7.       Avoid closing doors or windows on the holiday lights or extension cords.

8.       Keep paper and cloth away from the light bulbs.

9.       Make sure you replace any burned out lights to avoid overheating the bulbs.

10.   Avoid overloading your extension cords and use no more than three standard-size sets per cord.

When hanging lights outdoors please be aware that you need to use only outdoor Christmas lights and plug all outdoor electrical decorations into a ground-fault circuit interrupter. If your lights burn a fuse than make sure you reduce the amount of wattage that is flowing through it.

Tips on Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting can turn your backyard into a beautiful moon lit night every night.   Below are some useful tips from Ligthing.com to help you recreate the romantic glow of a perfect evening.

Down Lighting: Place spotlights high up in trees, positioned out of sight. These fixtures shine down to illuminate interesting tree details while lighting the area closely surrounding the tree.

Shadow Lighting: Lights are placed to cast shadows produced from trees, sculpture or other landscape details. These shadows are reminiscent of the contrasting light play the full moon creates.

Up Lighting: Placing lights at the base of structures or trees provides dramatic illumination that captures attention.

Mood Lighting: Working with a mix of lighting intensities, you can set the mood and sculpt your surroundings with light. Layers of soft-washed light, blended with stark shadows and bright spots, captivate the eye.

Moon Lighting: Hide flood lights high up in trees to wash larger areas with light, replicating the shine of the full moon. Angle lights from a series of locations to achieve the best effect.