Outdoor Lighting for Security, Safety, and Drama

August 1996

Outdoor lighting can provide valuable protection for the homeowner against break-ins and can increase safety, while accenting the landscape. Lights eliminate dark spots and shadows around the home, reducing hiding places for intruders.

Infrared motion detectors (IMDs) turn on lights when any motion is detected in the monitoring area. They are programmed to react to the body heat of humans and, therefore, will not be triggered by animals passing in the night. IMDs sense motion up to 70 feet away. They should be installed above the ground in a tree or near the roof to cover a broader area.

Automatic timers and remote controls make the outdoor lighting system very convenient for the homeowner. Timers automatically turn on outdoor lighting at a given time, and remote controls allow the homeowner to turn lights on from inside or outside the home. Remote controls run on batteries and use FM frequencies.

Floodlights provide the greatest amount of light and are most effective in large areas, such as on exterior walls or to light up a lawn area. Mini-spot lights may be used in doorways or entry ways to light up keyholes, house numbers, or dark spots. Also, use for corners of the house and back-door entrances.

Stair and railing lights can be placed under stair steps or on deck railings to help prevent falls. Path lights placed along sidewalks and driveways create a bright path that will be uninviting to intruders and will accent adjacent plants.

Several lighting techniques can be utilized to achieve special effects in the landscape at night:

• Downlighting is oriented from above to imitate the natural light created by the sun or moon. It may be used as safety lighting for pathways, driveways, and stairs. Downlighting also is effective to light decks and to accent plant material.

• Uplighting adds depth to trees, landscapes, and home features by lighting from below, creating a rather dramatic effect. By placing lights at an angle, the textures of fences or walls can be accented. Avoid placing lights where they would glare in someone's face.

• Backlighting silhouettes an object of interest, such as a tree or shrub, against a lit surface. This indirect lighting effect is achieved by angling the light against a wall or fence behind the object.

• Be aware that interruption of the dark period during the night may delay dormancy in some plant species, causing possible damage to the plant during the winter.

(Originally published as "Outdoor Lighting for Security, Safety, and Drama," by Ellen S. Bennett, Horticulture Extension Technician, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech, in The Virginia Gardener Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 1.)

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