Outdoor lighting
Outdoor Landscape Lighting to Improve Property Functionality
Layout, fixture, control, and maintenance considerations for practical outdoor and landscape lighting.
Originally published Guide updated
This updated guide retains the topic and publication record of a prior SoCal article; the guidance has been rewritten for the new site.
Design around a purpose
Path visibility, address identification, outdoor entertaining, and landscape accents call for different fixture locations and aiming. Establishing priorities first helps avoid a scattered collection of lights.
Plan the system, not only the fixtures
Transformer capacity, cable routes, voltage conditions, controls, plant growth, and future expansion affect how the system is laid out. Equipment should also be suitable for its location and exposure.
Review it after dark
Final aiming is best judged under nighttime conditions, when glare and dark gaps are visible. Periodic cleaning, pruning, adjustment, and repair help the layout continue serving its intended purpose.