Domus Tips #1: How To Make Your House Shine!

How much attention have you given to your home’s exterior lighting design? If you’re currently in a home build or renovation, or about to start, you need to take time out right now to give your exterior lighting some serious thought.

Here’s our simple tips to exterior lighting design to make your home shine!

Have an exterior lighting plan: Whether you’re installing your exterior lights yourself (12v only!) or your electrician is doing the work for you don’t pick up a single thing without first making a clear lighting plan. Your lighting plan needs to cover everything from location, light type, power source, interaction with other lights, security and functionality. Ensure you know how to install lighting and if you need guidance seek a professional’s assistance. Remember… it’s much cheaper and easier to change the plan!

A well-lit front entrance enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall lights on each side of the door will give your home a warm, welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who enter. Under a verandah or other overhang, you can use recessed, chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixtures. A separate rear or side entrance can be lighted with a single wall light installed on the keyhole side of the door.

Outside the garage, mount a light on each side or install a single fixture above to provide lighting for safety and security.  Consider installing a motion sensor on these fixtures or a photocell that turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn to save energy. For added security, illuminate any side of the house that would otherwise be in shadow. Spotlights installed on your eaves will accomplish this, or, for a more dramatic look, consider ground lights pointed up to graze your walls.

To conserve energy, install a sensor that will switch on the light only at night or upon motion. If using up-lighting, aim the fixtures so that the light is captured by your eaves to lessen light pollution.

Low-level path lights, which spread circular patterns of light, will brighten your walkway while highlighting nearby flower beds, shrubs and ground cover. Low-level path lights can also be used to define the boundaries of long driveways.

Bollards, which stand off the ground, also work well. Use shielded fixtures to avoid glare.

Decks and patios can be converted into romantic evening retreats by concealing low-voltage mini-lights under steps, railing or benches. Another idea is to install a spotlight in the branches of a nearby tree.

BBQ and alfresco dining areas