Monday, July 15, 2013 - 2:14pm
When deciding to embark on a project of lighting an outdoor space, most tend to think of what it will do to the exterior of a structure or property. One of the amazing aspects that landscape lighting can do for the interior of a home is the extension of living space physically as well as visually.
When light is brought to a dark outside back or front yard, it visually pushes the boundaries of a house. The more elements that are lit push the edges of where a person will tend to gravitate to as well as look when inside a house. Pushing this boundary creates a visually striking look outside of the house, especially when all the lights are turned out inside.
Another practice is boundary lighting. Many people have a fence or shrub line that represents the end of their property line. This section can be illuminated with a small output wall wash fixture. When done properly using photometrics, more than one light can be overlapped to create a continuous wall of light that will subtly show the edges of a yard.
In the process of designing a new lighting plan, remember to include what will happen on the inside of the house especially the main viewing areas of the interior are. If the living or dining room is in the back of the house, shifting the balance of the entire lighting plan to better represent the most trafficked area may be a desire of the homeowner. Opposite to this, if the bedroom is in a particular area that has a lot of windows may require the design to be extra careful not to put too much light into that area.
Discussing with the client the specific needs and desires during the planning phase will give great direction to the specific topic of indoor viewing. Ask about safety, utility and what areas, plants or even stones are the favorite of the client.
