A Basic Guide for Charlotte Outdoor Lighting

For as long as outdoor lighting has been in existence, homeowners have been exploring the different lighting options for their homes. Different effects, shapes and styles have come and gone, but designers still implement the same basic principals to evoke the highly desirable, "Ahhhh" factor.

These design elements are used to create attention and to transform a dull exterior into an eye-popping masterpiece. In addition to this, they also add security and safety while enhancing the usability of your home. There is no wonder why Charlotte outdoor lighting projects are more popular than ever. 

"Outdoor lighting techniques have really grown over the last decade," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "New technology and techniques have really enabled homeowners to do magical things with their exteriors. When outdoor lighting is applied correctly, it can have a more positive impact than any other home improvement project."

Principals of Charlotte Outdoor Lighting

When designing an outdoor lighting system, keep in mind the following key principals of outdoor lighting: 

• Depth - Refers to how far the viewer's gaze travels as they observe a home. By using depth properly and strategically, our expert designers are able to control the viewer's gaze and primary focus. 

• Perspective - Think of your outdoor space as a three-dimensional canvas for light. You can create visual interest from different viewpoints and angles around your home's landscape and exterior. 

• Focal Points - During the observation experience, focal points are grab the viewers attention. They are used to guide the viewer through the landscape, step by step. 

• Direction and Quality - Use outdoor lights to "paint" the landscape surrounding your home with various lighting intensities, directions and accents. Our designers use this to reach moods, great visual impact and to highlight your home and landscape's natural beauty. 

At Irrigation and Lighting Specialist, we've developed our own signature system of applying these design principals. We take a different approach by not only focusing on how you can use the space outside your home, but what kind of lighting delivers the absolute best accents to the landscape and beauty of your home. 

For a limited time, customers can take advantage of our early-season pricing for all Charlotte outdoor lighting projects. 

To learn more about our outdoor lighting serviced or to schedule a free consultation, please call John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 877-443-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you get the most out of your home's exterior environment. 

Charlotte Outdoor Lighting Terminology

Charlotte outdoor lighting installations are popular projects during this time of year. Many people are trying to find new ways to add flair, flavor and function to the exteriors of their houses before the cold winter moves in. As with any project, research can come in handy.

"There are so many options to consider for Charlotte outdoor lighting installations," said John Minor, owner of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "It can be really helpful to look through magazines, websites and books to gather ideas and become inspired. It can open up a lot of possibilities and boost your creativity."

For research resources, be sure to check out our previous blog posts. They are loaded with information and tips!

Frequently Used Words in Charlotte Outdoor Lighting

As you are researching outdoor lighting installations, you may come across words and phrases that are confusing. As with any profession, outdoor lighting has its own lingo, and knowing that lingo can help you have a greater understanding of your next project.

Below are a few word definitions that are commonly used in outdoor lighting.

Adaptation - The process in which your eyes adjust to a change in light level. There is light adaptation and dark adaptation. Light adaptation is where your eyes adjust to brighter a scene and dark adaptation is where your eyes adjust to a darker scene. We reduce extreme adaptation so your outdoor lighting is more inviting and natural.

Diffused Light - Light that scatters in many directions and produces beams with soft edges. This effect can be accomplished by using techniques like frosted lenses or shading. We use diffused light to create exotic looks that highlight certain areas of your lawn.

Light Pollution - Excessive or obtrusive light that intrudes into unintended areas, like the inside of your home. This is a common problem with poorly installed and designed outdoor lighting schemes. To eliminate light pollution, we carefully design our lighting systems and use different effects and techniques to either reduce the amount of light or redirect it.

Luminance - The amount of light that is reflective off of different surfaces. For example, light is more reflective off of a white wall than it is a brick wall. We always consider luminance because it effects lighting patterns and could create unpleasant glares.

Visual Path - The path that your vision takes as it glances from one place to another. Visual paths often start and end at focal points. We use visual paths to create a natural transition throughout your exterior and to naturally highlight your landscape's beauty.

"It can be easy to get confused with some of the terminology that is used when researching outdoor lighting,"said Minor. "That's why we take the time to explain all the details to our customers in a way that is easy to understand. We want to make the installation process easy, while giving them plenty of options. The end result is an outdoor lighting design that is exactly what our customers envisioned."

To learn more about Charlotte outdoor lighting, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. We look forward to helping you obtain the outdoor lighting design of your dreams!

The Right Outdoor Lighting Perspectives for You

Flowers are blooming, temperatures are beautiful and summer is right around the corner  - it's that time of the year again! As the summer months move forward and the chilly weather moves out, the local hardware stores start getting crowded with customers gathering supplies for their last minute-sping projects.

In addition to building a new deck, planting a garden or adding color to an exterior wall, installing outdoor lighting has become a popular addition to the honey-do list.

There is more to installing outdoor lighting than just mounting a few lights over your garage or deck. It may be a good idea to consider having your lights installed by the professionals at Irrigation & Lighting Specialist before biting off more than you can chew. We can give you the right outdoor lighting perspectives you'll need to add a tasteful flare to the exterior of your house.

"I have seen it several times before, a homeowner tries to install outdoor lighting as a do-it-yourself project and they end up doing more harm than good," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "Installing outdoor lighting is like an art form. A lot has to go into it and doing it the right way is harder than one may think."

Unique Outdoor Lighting Methods

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist has lighting designers that concentrate on creating subtle overtures and nuances for your outdoor space. This approach ensures that outdoor lighting will increase your home's curb appeal, security and beauty instead of turning it into the Las Vegas Strip.

Proper outdoor lighting can add hours to your party or family fun, but a common mistake homeowners make is over-lighting. A little can go a long way when it is installed properly.

Too much light can create unwanted light pollution that can create glares, waste energy, wash out the view from the sky or shine into indoor rooms. We use the following outdoor lighting perspectives to prevent this happening to your home:

• Careful light positioning to predict where the majority of the light will shine. 
• Shielded bulbs that have reflectors to direct the light where you want it. 
• LED lighting to reduce harsh lighting and reduce the amount of energy your lights use. 
• Controlled lighting using timers, dimmers or motion sensors can control when and how your light is used depending on your needs. 

"Having a professional company install your outdoor lighting really makes a difference," says Minor. "We love taking our customers' outdoor spaces to new, beautiful levels. Avoid the crowded hardware stores, sit back and leave outdoor lighting to the professionals." 

To learn more about our outdoor lighting perspectives, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to creating a welcoming atmosphere you and your family can enjoy for years to come!