Path lighting combines aesthetics with functionality. The right choice of lighting can transform the appearance of your yard in the evening. It also improves outdoor safety by making it easier to navigate after the sun has set.
We compiled this short guide on the best path-lighting ideas to inspire you. If you want to illuminate the hard work you’ve put into landscaping, here are some path-lighting tips to consider.
1. Use Your Turf
One trend in pathway lighting is the use of classic wall lights. Often, these are inserted into hardscape areas. However, you can place them along the edge of your pathway too. Simply dig into the turf alongside your path and insert the wall lights.
With more people opting for a minimalist front yard, subtle outdoor well lights are ideal. The lighting effect can be transformational. In the image below, you can see how well lights are interspersed with CAST Classic Small Mushroom Area path lights in this striking outdoor lighting plan.
CAST exterior well lights are extremely durable, which is handy as you don't want to change light bulbs constantly.
2. Consider Balance
When selecting path light fixtures, consider how you balance the light sources. If your pathway adjoins a wall or other architectural features, you have many options. Utilize a mixture of uplighting and downlighting in your lighting plan. This is a great way to highlight the best aesthetic features of your home and yard.
Several SOURCE mini flood wash lights evenly spaced can be quick and easy to install and a great way to illuminate and highlight the unique elements of your front or back yard. Think about how to complement the existing features of your outdoor space and find the path lights to match.
3. Provide Soft Lighting
Brighter is often considered better in outdoor landscape lighting. That’s simply not always the case.
When relaxing in your yard, the last thing you need is outdoor lights that create a harsh glare. This guide to outdoor lighting levels provides insights on how to find the right balance for your home.
A soft glow is more calming and creates a relaxing ambiance. Effective soft lighting is just as effective for safety too. Outdoor string lights will also work well here.
Consider outdoor lighting ideas that offer soft illumination. The classic New Orleans path light is ideal for pathway lighting because it offers a much softer light effect. And it does so without compromising on visibility and safety. The New Orleans canopy-mount area light mount area lights can easily be installed onto posts or elevated surfaces as well.
That means the beams of light will spread further, highlighting more of your yard or outdoor living space.
4. 360-Degree Lighting
Taller path lights can be visually stunning when installed in the right places. If you have shrubbery placed along your pathway, taller lights like the classic large mushroom light can be placed within it easily.
Taller lights or post lights have a large coverage area, so it’s ideal for those looking for maximum illumination while still not wanting overly harsh glare. Ideally, your path lights should be placed six to eight feet apart. The optimal distance depends on the impact you want to generate.
These types of light fixtures offer ambient lighting that you and your guests will simply love, with a practicality that is hard to miss. It’s perfect for outdoor dining.
5. Directional Options
Our yards change with the seasons, and the path lights that you install in the winter may not be as impactful during the summer.
You need to adjust your lights to account for how your plants grow in the spring and summer months and die back in the fall and winter. That’s why having more control over your exterior lighting is an option worth considering.
With lighting that you can move easily, you can choose where to light up as the weather changes. Multi-directional lighting with easily movable knuckles can be a great way to change your yard lighting without spending more money on new light options.
The made in the USA Classic MR-16 Bullet Light, which is extremely durable, also can be used with a range of optional colored lenses. That means you have the ultimate control over where your lighting is going and what it looks like.
6. Use Your Walls
People often think about lights embedded into the ground parallel to the path when it comes to path lighting. However, many paths run alongside walls or finish at outdoor seating areas. That’s where wall lighting can be used.
The right wall lights in the right place can be transformational. You can use them for highlighting the architectural features of your home, elements of your yard, and your pathways.
There are lots of options to consider as well. Our bronze classic engineered wall light is one of the most popular lights available for path lighting. Even one can perfectly finish off the effect of any additional lights you have.
If your path has steps and a wall, then wall lights installed close to the ground won’t just add a touch of class. They’re great for safety, too.
7. Use Your Greenery
If your pathway has trees running alongside it, then adding a tree light has never been easier. These natural downlights can help create a moonlighting effect, which is both aesthetically-pleasing and mentally calming.
To create a moonlight effect you should mount the lighting fixture at least 25 feet high within the canopy of a tree. The shadows the leaves and branches generate will create a dappled moonlight effect on the ground.
Whatever the time of year, you can enjoy the effect of moonlighting on your path. Moonlighting is a great way to help get rid of any dark spots on your pathway. You can adjust the effect with accent lighting too. So you can change the effect depending on your mood.
Path lighting combines beauty and practicality. It’s the perfect blend of form and function. Whatever effect you want to convey, the right lighting can help you achieve it.
Don’t forget to consider the types of lamps that you use as much as the light itself. These can have a dramatic effect on the appearance of your yard. Look through our range of lamps and get ready to upgrade the appearance of your pathway.
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