1. Yellow lights do not bring out the best attributes of your plants and landscaping; instead, use blue-white bulbs. Keep lighting subtle by camouflaging their location and using low-watt bulbs whenever possible.
2. Position outdoor lighting so you have easy access when it is time to replace bulbs, and use long-life outdoor bulbs to decrease the amount of replacements necessary. Although lining lights along a path may seem sensible and easily accessible, this layout belongs on the airport runway, not in your back or front yard.
3. The National Crime Prevention council suggests illuminating dark spaces on your property to prevent vandalism and break-ins. Effective lighting is welcoming to invited visitors and reduces the chance of injuries due to falls.
4. Motion-detected security lighting is too bright and distracting for outdoor living areas, yet there are times when you are away that you might want automatic lighting in these areas. Make sure your security lighting system has a manual switch that allows you to override the automatic features.
5. Bright lights should not be used in outdoor task lighting; place lights for grilling and other outdoor tasks below eye level, and above the task area. To add drama to your property, accent with uplighting that creates relaxing silhouettes in designated areas of your outdoor living space.
6. Line-powered (hardwired) lights connect to the existing electrical system of homes, and although the most durable, they are the most expensive to operate. Low-voltage lights connect to a home's electrical system using a transformer that reduces current from the normal 120 volts to 12 volts - they are easily installed energy savers, but sometimes lack durability.
7. Indoor fixtures are not intended for outdoor use; use only UL-listed fixtures that have been approved for damp or wet areas and are completely weatherproof. Use of Energy Star outdoor lighting fixtures increases performance, reduces energy costs up to 75 percent, and outlasts ordinary fixtures 10:1.
8. Hanging outdoor lights provide the ideal illumination at doors and windows and accentuate the architectural features of your property. Proper measurements, chain dimensions, cord length, and fixture weight are important to the safety and proper functioning of hanging outdoor lights.
9. Outdoor post lighting is decorative, provides ambience, and complements homes and landscaping, while safeguarding property and preventing accidents. Outdoor post lighting creates the same downlighting and clear illumination as city streetlights, and automatic photocell lighting provides worry-free security.
10. Installing a ceiling fan with a light kit in sunrooms or on porches, covered patios, or outdoor decks circulates air and creates a peaceful environment. Fans and fan light kits that are used in protected outdoor areas should be UL-listed and approved for use in damp locations; fans and light kits used in open out-of-door locations must be UL-approved for use in wet locations.
