5 Outdoor Lighting Installation Mistakes to Avoid

Oct 6, 2022 12:05:48 PM

When it comes to something as important as outdoor lighting, you want to make sure that you are getting the full value out of your investment. After all, great outdoor lighting can be the difference between using your outdoor space to its full potential…or actually being frustrated when you’re out there.

Since you want to make sure everything is just right, you’re likely hiring a pro for your outdoor lighting installation. Unfortunately, even some pros make mistakes when installing outdoor lights.

Because we want to help set you up for success, we’re talking about some common outdoor lighting installation mistakes that should be on your radar.

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#1: Using Too Many Lights (or Too Many Lumens)

This is one that we see all the time and you’ve likely heard us talk about it before. A common rookie mistake is to overdo it with lighting. We’ve said it before…with great outdoor lighting, less is more.

This is definitely true in terms of how many fixtures are used...after all, you’re not trying to create an airport runway on your property.

But this point is also true in terms of the brightness of the lights.

You don’t want to overdo the brightness in a way that the lights are overpowering. It often defeats the purpose of adding functionality to your property as too-bright lights can be blinding.

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#2: Underdoing It

As much as we see outdoor lighting being overdone, underdoing it is as much a problem. If you don’t have enough lights it’s not going to achieve your goals.

Again, undergoing it can apply to the number of lights or the brightness. We sometimes see just a single light in a tree…and it’s nowhere near enough! Some trees are going to need three lights and others as many as six to achieve the lighting purpose or effect you’re going for.

Similarly, if the brightness of the lights isn’t right, your outdoor space might not be functioning the way that you desire. There really is both an art and a science to making outdoor lighting decisions.

backyard pool firepit outdoor lighting before

#3: Poor Wiring

Another common outdoor lighting installation mistake is poor wiring. If the wrong voltage is used then the lamp is going to burn out prematurely (usually because it’s too hot or too soft).

Outdoor lighting wiring can be pretty complex which is a key reason why the work should be left to the pros.

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#4: Using the Wrong Lights

We’ve talked in previous articles about how different lights can serve different purposes around your property. It depends upon the area that you’re lighting and what your goals are for that space.

There are many different types of lights, lighting techniques, and light fixtures. But an outdoor lighting installation mistake is to just use a bunch of the same options all around your property. When that happens, you’re really missing out on your property’s full potential.

#5: Failure to Work from an Outdoor Lighting Design

When installing outdoor lighting, it shouldn’t be a matter of guesswork. There should already be a plan in place so that everything comes together exactly as it was meant to. While this might sound obvious, unfortunately, even some pros don’t take the design process seriously.

But if you want to get the best results, there’s no room for error.

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Get the Most Out of Your Investment by Avoiding Outdoor Lighting Errors

At the end of the day, you want to feel that you’ve maximized your investment in outdoor lighting at your Memphis home. The key is to avoid outdoor lighting errors. After all, the last thing that you want is to be unhappy with your end result. At that point, going back and making changes isn’t so easy. You want everything to come together the way you imagined, the first time.

When you work with a landscape lighting professional who works with a lighting design, it makes a difference.

You also want to make sure you are hiring a landscape lighting professional that is keeping up with the latest lighting techniques, products, and technology so that you’re getting what’s best.

If you choose Mid South Night Lights for your outdoor lighting project, we are ready to help you maximize the enjoyment and use of your outdoor areas with a lighting design that is customized for you. It’s also key that lighting is our focus all day, every day. It’s not side work for us. We’re experts in the field, which is why we’re able to avoid outdoor lighting mistakes.

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This is important when it comes to delivering you the best results. With just the right lighting, you’ll be enjoying your property more than ever.

Are you ready to create a secure, functional, and beautiful property at any hour of the day? If so, let’s meet and discuss some bright ideas.

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