Landscape lighting doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to focus on the singular aspects of lighting, but the beauty of it comes from the amalgamation of the end result. It’s not just the wattage, just the aesthetic, or just one thing. It’s everything.
1. What’s landscape lighting?
To put it simply, it’s outdoor lighting that interacts with man-made and natural elements. Landscape lighting is outdoor lighting that illuminates, enhances, or highlights the landscape – anything from gardens, to pathways, to walls, to patios. Good lighting, or good landscape lighting, can make or break one’s experience outside a hotel, restaurant, bar, or even office building. It seems odd to leave a dimly lit mall parking lot and head towards a super bright bar. That’s because landscape lighting is at the intersection between utility and ambience.
2. What should I look for in landscape lighting?
You should look for the big three: IP rating, certifications, and project size & type.
IP rating:
IP ratings are a 2-digit rating system meant to classify how protected a lighting fixture is. The first digit is rated from 1-6, 1 being the least protected against solids, such as hands, debris, dust, etc. The second digit is rated between 1-8, 1 being the least protected against water and moisture. Ideally, for outdoor applications, the IP rating should be between 66-68, depending on where the fixture will be installed.
Certifications:
Certifications to look for include RoHS compliance, CSA approved, UL approved, and CE compliance if based in Europe. Certifications are an official channel to ensure that the fixtures you’re looking at are high quality and perform within national (or international) safety standards. Other requirements can include specific beam angles, an RGBA LED source, or even a specific height for a bollard. MP Lighting offers highly customizable luminaires because no one wants the perfect fixture to slip through their fingers due to an unmet requirement. Contact the manufacturer if you don’t see your required certification listed.
Project size & type:
Figuring out how big the project is, or how big the area to be illuminated is, affects how to approach the scope. A smaller-sized courtyard may not require powerful up & down wall sconces (like the L720), but it might benefit from compact 2W bollards (like the L920) to provide a well-lit path without overshadowing the landscape. The project type also affects what luminaires are chosen. Public projects and hospitality projects may not seem so different at first, but the lighting goals are vastly different. Public projects need to be long-lasting, with safety in mind, and may require an anti-vandalism feature (like the L340). Hospitality projects are usually showier, depending on the project, of course, but more often than not, the goal is to be attention-grabbing and inviting – think warmer colour temperature for ambiance or decorative wall sconces. Speaking of colour temperatures, the ideal for outside lighting is a warm white (2400K-2700K). It will highlight the landscape without the yellowness of candlelight (1800K) or the blue-ish tones of cool white (3500K-4100K), but it’s still warm enough to showcase the bright greens of foliage.
3. 8 main categories of landscape lighting luminaires to choose from:
In-ground
Underwater
Wall-mount
Linear
Bollard
Downlight
Spotlight
Windowsill
In-ground luminaires or well lights are great for washes of light or as path lights. They are often installed below-ground, so they’re less likely to get tampered with and, depending on the fixture, can even be bolted for extra security. These lights are versatile as they can also be installed on walls and ceilings, and most are customizable to suit your project’s needs.
Underwater luminaires come in a range of submersible applications, from fountains to chlorinated swimming pools, and come in a variety of sizes to optimize the lighting potential in every project.
Wall-mount luminaires include step lights, wall sconces, and path lights that come in an array of sizes and wattages to fit any landscape lighting project. These add illumination to walls and generate a visual guide to create paths, light effects, or to add an extra pop of light on signs and unit numbers.
Linear luminaires are perfect for thin but wide illumination under steps, stair treads, and benches. They can also be used in coves or as accent lighting on walls and ceilings.
Bollard or post luminaires are amazing path lights that can either blend in with the surroundings or stand out. They are used to illuminate the floor so that the light can act as a guide on paths, walkways, courtyards, or even driveways.
Spotlight luminaires work best to highlight architectural or landscape features, such as statues, trees, and entrances. Their flexible mounting means they can be installed in a multitude of ways to achieve the desired look for a project.
Windowsill luminaires were originally designed to highlight windowsills, but their dramatic elliptical beam also works wonderfully under benches. The extremely thin but long light also looks amazing as a light effect, and some fixtures even come with RGB-A or RGB-W LEDs for an extra pop of colour in your project.
At first, landscape lighting may seem like a big task, but with the information needed at hand, a plan can begin to take shape a lot quicker. Making sure that you know what you need and know what the end result should look like are great first steps, but remembering the big 3 – IP rating, certifications, project size & type – will help you create the remainder of the plan and will guide you through the process.
All about landscape lighting: the what’s, why’s, and how’s
Landscape lighting doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to focus on the singular aspects of lighting, but the beauty of it comes from the amalgamation of the end result. It’s not just the wattage, just the aesthetic, or just one thing. It’s everything.
1. What’s landscape lighting?
To put it simply, it’s outdoor lighting that interacts with man-made and natural elements. Landscape lighting is outdoor lighting that illuminates, enhances, or highlights the landscape – anything from gardens, to pathways, to walls, to patios. Good lighting, or good landscape lighting, can make or break one’s experience outside a hotel, restaurant, bar, or even office building. It seems odd to leave a dimly lit mall parking lot and head towards a super bright bar. That’s because landscape lighting is at the intersection between utility and ambience.
2. What should I look for in landscape lighting?
You should look for the big three: IP rating, certifications, and project size & type.
IP ratings are a 2-digit rating system meant to classify how protected a lighting fixture is. The first digit is rated from 1-6, 1 being the least protected against solids, such as hands, debris, dust, etc. The second digit is rated between 1-8, 1 being the least protected against water and moisture. Ideally, for outdoor applications, the IP rating should be between 66-68, depending on where the fixture will be installed.
Certifications to look for include RoHS compliance, CSA approved, UL approved, and CE compliance if based in Europe. Certifications are an official channel to ensure that the fixtures you’re looking at are high quality and perform within national (or international) safety standards. Other requirements can include specific beam angles, an RGBA LED source, or even a specific height for a bollard. MP Lighting offers highly customizable luminaires because no one wants the perfect fixture to slip through their fingers due to an unmet requirement. Contact the manufacturer if you don’t see your required certification listed.
Figuring out how big the project is, or how big the area to be illuminated is, affects how to approach the scope. A smaller-sized courtyard may not require powerful up & down wall sconces (like the L720), but it might benefit from compact 2W bollards (like the L920) to provide a well-lit path without overshadowing the landscape. The project type also affects what luminaires are chosen. Public projects and hospitality projects may not seem so different at first, but the lighting goals are vastly different. Public projects need to be long-lasting, with safety in mind, and may require an anti-vandalism feature (like the L340). Hospitality projects are usually showier, depending on the project, of course, but more often than not, the goal is to be attention-grabbing and inviting – think warmer colour temperature for ambiance or decorative wall sconces. Speaking of colour temperatures, the ideal for outside lighting is a warm white (2400K-2700K). It will highlight the landscape without the yellowness of candlelight (1800K) or the blue-ish tones of cool white (3500K-4100K), but it’s still warm enough to showcase the bright greens of foliage.
3. 8 main categories of landscape lighting luminaires to choose from:
In-ground luminaires or well lights are great for washes of light or as path lights. They are often installed below-ground, so they’re less likely to get tampered with and, depending on the fixture, can even be bolted for extra security. These lights are versatile as they can also be installed on walls and ceilings, and most are customizable to suit your project’s needs.
Underwater luminaires come in a range of submersible applications, from fountains to chlorinated swimming pools, and come in a variety of sizes to optimize the lighting potential in every project.
Wall-mount luminaires include step lights, wall sconces, and path lights that come in an array of sizes and wattages to fit any landscape lighting project. These add illumination to walls and generate a visual guide to create paths, light effects, or to add an extra pop of light on signs and unit numbers.
Linear luminaires are perfect for thin but wide illumination under steps, stair treads, and benches. They can also be used in coves or as accent lighting on walls and ceilings.
Bollard or post luminaires are amazing path lights that can either blend in with the surroundings or stand out. They are used to illuminate the floor so that the light can act as a guide on paths, walkways, courtyards, or even driveways.
Downlight luminaires are a great way to add overhead illumination outdoors. They are great for balconies, terraces, and soffits.
Spotlight luminaires work best to highlight architectural or landscape features, such as statues, trees, and entrances. Their flexible mounting means they can be installed in a multitude of ways to achieve the desired look for a project.
Windowsill luminaires were originally designed to highlight windowsills, but their dramatic elliptical beam also works wonderfully under benches. The extremely thin but long light also looks amazing as a light effect, and some fixtures even come with RGB-A or RGB-W LEDs for an extra pop of colour in your project.
At first, landscape lighting may seem like a big task, but with the information needed at hand, a plan can begin to take shape a lot quicker. Making sure that you know what you need and know what the end result should look like are great first steps, but remembering the big 3 – IP rating, certifications, project size & type – will help you create the remainder of the plan and will guide you through the process.