Many homeowners are focusing on renovating and updating their outdoor living areas and landscaping. Since 69% choose to use these spaces for relaxing, this is not surprising. When outdoor living spaces are inviting and comfortable, they can also be an excellent place to entertain family and friends.
The 2017 U.S. Houzz Landscaping Trends Study found that when upgrading their outdoor spaces, lighting was at the top of the list for a large percentage of the respondents. Furthermore, 73% of the survey participants stated that they chose LED lighting rather than other available lighting sources. One of the reasons for this is that LEDs are more energy efficient and will outlast other types of lights. When compared to standard halogen bulbs, for instance, LED lights only use 15% of the energy. Furthermore, they also provide as much as 85% more illumination than their halogen counterparts.
When it comes to enhancing a home’s curb appeal, the study found that 16% of the homeowners believed outdoor lighting was the most important feature. In addition to enhancing their home’s curb appeal with outdoor lighting, the 2017 U.S. Houzz Landscaping Trends Study participants stated that they upgraded or added these types of lighting fixtures and features:
- Path, post, or bollard lights: 58%
- Deck, step, or rail lights: 41%
When home buyers are looking for just the right house, they tend to have more than a few items on their “muse-have” list. The National Association of Home Builders’s annual survey, “What Home Buyers Really Want,” discovered that 41% of their respondents listed exterior lighting as an “essential” or “must-have” feature. If you’re planning to put your house on the market, it would be a good idea to update your landscaping and include exterior lighting as well
If you’re wondering where to place exterior lighting, it can be used in in your front, back, and side yards to provide landscape path lighting. In addition to illuminating a walkway, landscape path lighting can also provide a focal point for specific garden areas. When you have a pond, for example, landscape lighting can create an inviting space for you to enjoy gazing at the water. It’s also important to consider the fact that pond lighting provides an important safety feature. Outdoor patio lighting is also a nice idea when you want to entertain family and friends during the evening hours.
To learn more about where landscape path lighting can be used to its best advantage, contact an outdoor lighting service. These professional can update your existing lighting as well as recommend where to install new lighting features. Since LED lighting is more energy-efficient, remember to choose an outdoor lighting service that carries a wide variety of these fixtures. Once your outdoor lighting project is complete, you will be able to enjoy relaxing and entertaining in your outdoor living areas more often.