Outdoor & Landscape Lighting
Enhance your property's beauty and security with professionally installed landscape lighting that transforms your outdoor space.
Why Landscape Lighting Matters
Outdoor lighting does more than make your yard look good at night. It increases safety by illuminating walkways, steps, and potential hazards. Proper lighting deters intruders by eliminating dark hiding spots around your home. It also extends your usable outdoor space into the evening hours, letting you enjoy your patio, deck, or garden long after sunset. Strategic lighting adds dramatic visual appeal to your Portsmouth landscaping by highlighting trees, architectural features, and focal points.
Well-designed landscape lighting increases your property value and curb appeal. Homes with professional lighting systems stand out in the neighborhood and make strong first impressions. Buyers notice and appreciate the added security and aesthetic value. Lighting also showcases the investment you've made in your landscape design, making expensive hardscaping and plantings visible after dark.
Modern LED landscape lighting is energy-efficient and long-lasting. You get beautiful results without worrying about high electric bills or frequent bulb replacements. Most LED fixtures last 20 years or more with minimal maintenance. We design systems that balance functionality with aesthetics, creating lighting plans that serve multiple purposes while staying within your budget. Whether you want subtle accent lighting or full property illumination, we create custom solutions that fit your needs.
Types of Landscape Lighting We Install
Different lighting techniques create different effects. We combine multiple types of fixtures to achieve the look and functionality you want. Each technique serves a specific purpose and works together to create a cohesive lighting design. Here are the most popular options we install.
Popular Lighting Techniques
- Path lights guide foot traffic along walkways, driveways, and garden paths
- Uplighting highlights trees, architectural features, and tall plants from below
- Downlighting creates moonlight effects and illuminates seating areas from above
- Spotlights draw attention to focal points like statues, water features, or specimen plants
- Well lights sit flush with the ground to uplight walls, trees, or building facades
- Deck and step lights improve safety on stairs and elevated surfaces
- String and bistro lights add festive ambiance to patios and entertainment areas
We use low-voltage LED systems for most installations. These operate at 12 volts instead of standard 120-volt household current, making them safer and more energy-efficient. Installation is cleaner because we don't need to run heavy electrical lines throughout your yard. Low-voltage systems also give us more flexibility in fixture placement and make future additions or changes easier.
Smart lighting controls let you program on and off times, adjust brightness, and even change colors from your phone. Timers and photocells automate your system so lights turn on at dusk and off at dawn without manual intervention. We can integrate lighting with other landscape features like irrigation systems for centralized outdoor control.
Our Lighting Design and Installation Process
Good landscape lighting starts with a solid design plan. We don't just scatter fixtures randomly around your yard. We evaluate your property's features, your goals, and how you use your outdoor space. Then we create a lighting layout that balances beauty, safety, and energy efficiency. Our design process ensures you get results that exceed expectations without overspending on unnecessary fixtures.
During the site visit, we identify key features to highlight and areas that need safety lighting. We consider sight lines from inside your home and from the street to create appealing views from multiple angles. We also plan wire runs and transformer placement to keep the installation clean and minimize visible equipment. You'll see a detailed plan showing fixture locations, types, and estimated costs before we start work.
Professional Installation That Lasts
Installation involves burying low-voltage cable, mounting fixtures, and connecting everything to a transformer that steps down household power to 12 volts. We bury wires deep enough to protect them from lawn equipment and weather. All connections are waterproofed to prevent corrosion and short circuits. We aim fixtures carefully to avoid glare and light trespass into neighbors' properties or your windows.
After installation, we test the entire system and make final adjustments to beam angles and brightness levels. We show you how to operate any timers or smart controls and provide maintenance tips to keep your system running smoothly. Most lighting systems require minimal upkeep beyond occasional bulb replacement and cleaning. If you're planning other improvements like paver patios or outdoor living spaces, we coordinate lighting installation to complement your overall design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to illuminate your landscape and enhance your home's beauty? Contact us today for a free lighting consultation.