Landscaping for Curb Appeal: Essential #3 Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is often over-looked, yet it remains one of the top most wanted outdoor features to potential home buyers. So as an "essential", why do so many owners treat lighting as a last resort when re-working their yards? It is often regarded as an afterthought because most people perceive the landscape as an amenity to be enjoyed only during daytime hours … Boy are they wrong!
Gordon hits the nail on the head in her Houselogic article:

• “Tasteful lighting paints your home at night, highlighting your other great landscaping choices and directing guests to your home’s focal point – the front door.”
• “It protects against slips and falls.”
• “It makes a property a more difficult target for intruders. That added security can reduce burglaries, and therefore claims. Some insurance companies give 5% to 15% discounts to homeowners with reduced or zero claims.”
• “It makes your home feel homier. Soft lighting on a wrap-around porch or just a front stoop feels warm and inviting”.

Unlike many northern regions with snow-covered winters and high winds, here in Arizona we have the perfect climate for evening al-fresco dining and entertainment almost year-round. What’s more, we’re blessed with an amazing assortment of plant and material choices just “itching” to be show off at night. With an abundance of sculptural accents and an array of unique paving options, who wouldn’t want to flaunt their Sonoran yard at night?

F/X Luminaire and Focus Industries are the two leading manufacturers for outdoor / landscape lighting products. These are the only two manufacturers whose products we endorse. Though many of the "big box" retail stores, such as Lowes and The Home Depot do sell landscape lighting and do-it-yourself kits to home owners, the quality and durability of the brands sold in these types of stores are often minimal. If you are looking to dramatize your landscape a bit in the near future, we HIGHLY recommend having a certified lighting contractor do the work. Ask to see their certification or credentials for installing your brand of choice.

​For more information on the outdoor lighting product manufacturers that we recommend, check out our Landscape & Architectural Lighting resource page.