{"id":537,"date":"2013-08-13T08:39:30","date_gmt":"2013-08-13T14:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/night-scenes.com\/?p=537"},"modified":"2013-08-13T08:39:30","modified_gmt":"2013-08-13T14:39:30","slug":"how-to-choose-the-right-outdoor-lighting-fixture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/night-scenes.com\/2013\/08\/13\/how-to-choose-the-right-outdoor-lighting-fixture\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Right Outdoor Lighting Fixture"},"content":{"rendered":"
No single fixture on the market today can take on every outdoor lighting task effectively. Using a variety of techniques and intensities will create the inviting and interesting ambience that most homeowners desire in their landscape lighting system. Once the decision has been made to add outdoor lighting to your property, and you have a pretty good idea which areas need landscape lighting, there are four very basic things that should be considered when choosing the fixtures needed to finish the project well:<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Know what\u00a0lighting technique\u00a0that is being used. The lighting technique will help you achieve the result you want. You know that if you are up lighting, you must use a fixture designed specifically for that. If you are down lighting, you MUST use a down lighting fixture which will not allow water to enter the fixture from the back side. Are you grazing a wide wall or highlighting a column? This will determine if you are going to use a bullet type fixture or a wall wash fixture. Incorporating several lighting techniques keeps your outdoor light plan from becoming flat or monotonous.<\/p>\n 2. You need to determine the\u00a0location and placement\u00a0of the fixture. If you are placing the fixture in a turf\/grass area, you MUST either put it in the ground flush, like a well fixture for up lighting a large tree, or use a very sturdy path type fixture that can\u2019t be damaged easily by lawn maintenance equipment (see our blog on this topic<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0If you are placing the fixture in a mulched flower bed, you don\u2019t want to use that same in-grade fixture because it will eventually become covered by mulch, and will then be useless; and if it is a halogen fixture, the heat generated could cause a fire. Is the fixture very close to a sprinkler head? If so, it needs to be sealed, and have the lens cleaned more often. Are the plants around it going to affect the light output by growing over it? If so, maybe the fixture needs to be something that shines from above instead. If the fixture is in or near a water feature, it will have to be completely water tight. Believe it or not, I have actually seen regular bullet type fixtures used to illuminate water features from\u00a0within\u00a0the fountain itself. This is NEVER a good idea. Also when considering location, think about the environment: is the property in a coastal area that will subject fixtures to salty air and sea spray? If so, then the lighting fixture will need to be constructed of heavy brass —– to tolerate these climate conditions.<\/p>\n