Log Home Exterior Lighting

  Photo by Mark Sorenson. See more of this home here.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” An exterior lighting design not only enhances the look of your home and your property, it prevents accidents and deters intruders.

• A well-lit front entry supplies a warm, friendly greeting for guests and helps you identify visitors more clearly. Recessed lights, semi-flush mounted fixtures or pendants suspended from the ceiling combined with lanterns beside the door give you the most complete view.

• Sconces at the garage add security and lead the way for cars. For additional security, consider motion sensors on these lights, as well as motion-sensitive flood lights on areas of your house where a more elaborate lighting scheme doesn’t make sense.

• Line a path or walkway with low-level task lights. Though they are not very bright, solar lights will do the trick here, since they are more for guidance than intense illumination. Plus they don’t require additional wiring — a cost savings. Use uplights as accents along your flowerbeds, shrubs and trees to add drama to your landscape.

• Accent lighting on a deck or patio will increase the usability of these areas deep into the evening hours. Again, dramatic uplighting in vegetation will add to the dreamy atmosphere of the space and encourage use.

• If you are lucky enough to have a water feature, like a pool, fountain, koi pond, etc., adding a little ambient lighting can enhance the beauty and your enjoyment of these unique features even more.

Night swimming anyone?