Feb 22, 2024 10:46:20 AM
Pathway and driveway lighting serve important purposes on your Memphis property. These types of lighting add functional value by “lighting the way.” But there’s an aesthetic aspect to great driveway and pathway lighting, too. When done well, these lights make your home more welcoming and boost curb appeal. They also increase the safety and security of your home.
Gone are the days when lighting up a driveway meant a basic spotlight in the front yard or lighting up a walkway meant sticking some cheap pathway lights in the ground. There’s so much more to lighting when you make the right selections.
In this article, we’ll dive into everything you ought to know about lighting your driveway and walkways around your home so that you can get maximum value.
Understanding the Basics of Pathway and Driveway Lighting
Designing Your Pathway and Driveway Lighting
Technical Considerations
Security Enhancements Through Landscape Lighting
Outdoor Lighting Costs and Budgeting
Selecting the Right Landscape Lighting Professional for the Job
Walkways and driveways both serve highly functional purposes. They are meant to get people safely on and around your property. For that reason, it’s important that they are properly lit.
But just because these hardscapes serve functional purposes does not mean that aesthetics shouldn’t come into consideration. Often homeowners have beautiful pathways and driveways around their property made from natural stone, pavers, and other materials. Care is given to ensure these additions are beautiful.
Just as much care should be given to the incorporation of pathway and driveway lighting. The way in which your driveway and pathway are lit can make a huge difference in your property’s appearance.
There’s not just one way to light a driveway or pathway. Since your Memphis home is unique, your lighting solution should be, too. There are various lighting techniques that can be used to light your driveway or pathways in an attractive and functional way.
One of the added benefits that comes from driveway lighting and path lighting is that these elements boost the safety and security of your property, too. When the walkways around your property are lit well, it helps reduce the likelihood of trips and falls. Outdoor pathway lighting makes navigating a property at night safer.
The same goes for driveway landscape lighting. When people can see as they pull in and out of your driveway, it reduces the chance of having minor accidents or running into (or over) something.
Plus, having your driveway and pathways well-lit also boosts security. There’s no question that when your property has ample lighting it can help play a role in deterring crime. Trespassers and burglars are less likely to come onto a property that has good lighting.
But these benefits won’t just happen. A thoughtful design is key. We’ll address designing pathway and driveway lighting next.
As we’ve mentioned, there shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to lighting at your Memphis home. Even when working with driveways and walkways, you want to take a customized approach to what lighting is going to work best for these spaces.
Where to position lights around your driveway or walkway will have a lot to do with what technique you’re trying to achieve. It really depends on the type of effect that you want to create as well as the functional purpose of your lighting.
For instance, to light a pathway, you are not just limited to a row of path lights lining the walkway. While this is certainly one way to light a path, it’s not the only option.
Downlighting can be a great technique used to light a pathway. With downlighting, you install the lights from above (often mounted on a tree or structure) and you shine the light downward so that it illuminates the path. This technique is also sometimes called “moonlighting” since it simulates the look of moonlight shining down.
You can also use downlighting to light a driveway. This is one of our favorite ways to illuminate a driveway as it is both subtle and effective.
As you think about where to place pathway and driveway lighting, you’ll also want to consider your style. This is something that we’ve talked about in other articles, as every homeowner (and every Memphis property) is truly unique.
We’ve already mentioned downlighting as one way of lighting up your driveway. But there are other driveway lighting ideas to consider as well.
For instance, you could build lighting into surrounding retaining walls. If you have retaining walls adjacent to your driveway, built-in lights will help ensure that drivers can see the wall nicely and clearly (and avoid brushing against it or parking too close). In addition to serving these important functional purposes, retaining wall lighting also looks great.
Gate lighting can also be part of driveway lighting. If you have a gate at your home’s entrance or perhaps a fence that runs alongside your driveway, these elements can also be used for lighting the driveway. Fence and gate lighting make your property safer and more secure while also making it easier to navigate.
Lighting installed into the actual driveway itself is yet another option. These can be used along the sides of driveways, providing a visual “path” down the driveway. Or, perhaps you want a few lights installed at the front of your driveway, ahead of the garage door entrance. This can serve as a visual and help drivers see exactly where they are.
There are many ways to light a pathway, all of which can help serve a functional purpose while also making your path more attractive.
As we’ve mentioned, lining up a bunch of individual path lights is certainly not the only way to light a pathway. Some people like this look. But often, if not done well, it can look cluttered or overdone.
In fact, more often than not, homeowners (and even some lighting designers) install way too many path lights and create more of an airport runway look than a residential pathway look.
The key with path lights is not to overdo it. You also want to consider installing them in locations where they won’t get kicked or knocked over easily.
Using downlighting is a great way to light a pathway since these lights won’t get knocked over. With the light source mounted above, the walkway is still well-lit but with the light shining down.
We also like using core-drilled marker lights which are installed right into the pathway itself. This won’t illuminate the pathway as much as downlighting but will provide a path that guides you and your guests on where to go next.
Imagine seeing lights built right into your walkway helping to show you where to go with each step. This can sometimes be a subtle and attractive addition that works in conjunction with another type of lighting.
If you have steps as part of your pathways, you’ll also want to make sure that you have good step lighting. It does not take much more than a minor misstep to get injured on outdoor stairs. But when you add good stair lighting, you can increase the safety of your space.
Outdoor steps can be illuminated with downlighting, rail lighting, built-in lights, and more. The key is to make sure that the steps are highly visible.
Getting the most out of driveway and pathway lighting also means making smart choices about these additions. Let’s look at a few technical considerations to keep in mind as you choose pathway and driveway lighting for your home.
The power source of your lights is going to be a key to your success. Battery-powered and solar options simply cannot stand up to a professionally wired landscape lighting installation.
When it comes to brightness, wired lighting is going to be your superior option. Solar lights might sound like a good idea, but they do need constant sun all day long to even absorb enough energy to give you decent light.
Solar and battery-operated lighting also gives you less flexibility and creativity and you certainly aren’t going to get that custom design. After lighting is installed, you also won’t have optimal control over the lighting like you would like wired lighting.
At Mid South Night Lights, we work with LED wired lighting.
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. LED lights are essentially electronic devices that emit light when electricity passes through them. While it’s the best technology out there, plenty of companies have not adopted it.
With wired LED outdoor lighting, you can take total control over your lights with different zones set up. You can even control your lighting from a smart device and have different settings for various purposes.
Of course, the key to getting the most out of your wired lights is having them installed properly, which we’ll discuss next.
Getting the most out of a landscape lighting design really does hinge on good installation work. And when it comes to outdoor light wiring, it’s imperative that you work with a pro.
While people might assume that an outdoor lighting job is simple to complete, there’s typically more know-how with outdoor electrical wiring than people tend to realize. It’s not uncommon for people to realize they’re in over their heads when tackling a DIY outdoor lighting job.
In fact, because exterior wiring is exposed to the elements, there are different challenges to contend with when wiring outside lights. Moisture is the enemy of wiring and you want to make sure that you take precautions. It’s essential that the circuit is completely waterproof so that moisture does not impact your lighting.
There’s also quite a bit of know-how involved with dealing with the transformer. If you don’t know how to handle outdoor electrical wiring, you could overload the transformer.
Even though LED lighting is designed for safety, that does not mean it is 100 percent foolproof. Getting the safest lighting is also a matter of proper installation.
The good news is that when a professional is handling your outdoor electrical wiring, you don’t have to worry. A skilled landscape lighting professional will know how to ensure that your lighting is wired properly and installed properly so that it functions as it was meant to.
Getting the most out of driveway and pathway lighting is also a matter of proper maintenance. All outdoor lighting should be regularly maintained. A bit of proactive maintenance can really go a long way in protecting your investment in your entire system.
Good lighting maintenance should include some of the following goals.
At the end of the day, all of this adds up to long-term performance. With proper and ongoing maintenance, you’ll get the most out of your entire landscape lighting design.
As we’ve mentioned, good driveway and pathway lighting is accompanied by the benefit of enhanced safety and security at your Memphis home. That’s because lights around your driveway and walkways can double as outdoor security lighting when done right. A well-lit home tends to be a safer and more secure home.
Let’s talk about how to ensure that your outdoor lights are providing this important benefit.
Where your lights are installed has a lot to do with how much safety and security they provide.
Driveways and walkways are two key locations that should be well-lit with safety and security in mind. Since the primary goal of walkways is navigation, you want that to be able to be done safely.
With good pathway lights, you can prevent dangerous trips and falls from occurring. That’s because people will be able to see where they’re going and will also see any obstacles in the way, such as something that may have fallen or been left on the path.
As we mentioned previously, having good step lighting is also important on your walkways. Steps tend to be a prime location for falls, particularly when they are not well-lit and people don’t see them coming.
The same is quite true for driveway lighting. You want to be sure that you and your guests can see where they are coming and going as they pull into and out of your driveway.
One placement consideration that is not always considered is the fact that lighting should NOT be shining into the eyes when people are pulling into (and out of) your driveway. When strategic placement is not thoroughly considered, lights can actually be blinding and do more harm than good.
When thinking about outdoor security lighting around your walkways and driveway, motion sensors and timing are another consideration. Having outdoor lights on a timer can really enhance the functionality of your system and ensure you’re maximizing everything it has to offer.
At Mid South Night Lights, we work with astro timers, which are a highly sophisticated option. Once your astro timer is programmed and installed, no further work is required.
That’s because, unlike a digital timer, an astro timer can make adjustments that make it incredibly accurate. For instance, our astro timers know that we are in Western Tennesee and know the timing of sunset to sunrise each day. Unlike photocell timers, astro timers do not need to sense light in order to make adjustments for the location of the sun.
When lights are on a timer, it makes your Memphis property more secure. Your lights are going to come on whether you are home or not. That means your home is going to look well-lit (as though somebody is at home) and make it a less likely target for crime.
Whether you’re just out late or you’re away for an entire vacation, you can gain valuable peace of mind that your home is more secure thanks to lights that are coming on as planned.
When thinking about driveway and pathway lighting, it is also nice to know that when you come home after dark, these areas will already be well-lit (even if nobody was home to turn them on). It is never fun to pull up to a dark house and then have to navigate your way to the door because the lights weren’t turned on.
If you are thinking about professional landscape lighting (that includes driveway and pathway lighting), then you might be wondering how much you can anticipate spending. Outdoor lighting will contribute significant value to your home…but only if you invest in something high-quality that will deliver all the benefits.
If you haven’t had any landscape lighting installation work in 10 or more years, then you might be surprised at today’s costs for lighting. We come across this a lot. But it’s important to keep in mind that today’s lighting has come incredibly far. And with the newer lighting systems, you end up with long-term value.
Back in the day, older, incandescent lighting systems were less expensive to install but needed frequent maintenance (including regularly changing bulbs) and drove electricity bills quite high.
Today’s LED lighting systems are much more energy efficient and can save you money on maintenance and electric bills. They may be a more substantial investment upfront, but the savings on the back end are significant (as compared to an old system).
Homeowners often want to know exactly how much they can plan to spend. But because every project is so unique, it really is difficult to say what you might expect to pay. Every project that we do is customized.
To give you some sense of cost, at Mid South Night Lights, our minimum starting price for a new installation is $2,500. That would be for a small project that takes less than a day.
If you’re talking about a larger project with multiple lights that takes a full day, it could be easily upwards of $5,000. And if you’re talking about a substantial project with different areas of the property lit, that takes two days, it could easily be upwards of $10,000.
We have even done projects that are six figures. It depends on exactly what you’re looking for.
There’s no question that professional lighting can be a big investment. But it is definitely something that you have the option to phase out over time. If you are not prepared to write one big check, perhaps you want to split your project into several phases. This can be done by various zones.
For instance, phase one might be the pathway and driveway lighting and maybe some basic architectural lighting, because you’re mostly focused on functionality and security. Then, phase two might be other landscape lighting details including tree lighting. Phase three might move into the backyard.
Ultimately, a project can be phased in a way that makes sense for you (including from a financial standpoint and a functionality one).
Getting the most out of your lighting boils down to finding the right landscape lighting company in Memphis. While there are plenty of companies offering these services, you don’t want to trust this work to just anyone.
Ideally, you want to look for a company that employs a Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer. This is the highest level certification out there and means that you are getting a true professional.
While this guide was obviously focused on outdoor pathway lighting and driveway lighting, those are two elements of a total outdoor lighting design. You want to make sure that everything comes together as it was meant to. That means working with a skilled designer.
It’s also important to look for companies that are committed to staying on top of “what’s new.” That means the latest lighting techniques, skills, and products. You should be able to get a sense of whether a lighting company is keeping up with what’s new based on the content they put on their website and blog.
In order to find the right professional, we suggest that you take your time and do your research. We would recommend spending time looking through the websites of the companies that you’re considering. Go to the “About Us” page of any company that you’re considering so that you can learn more.
It’s a big decision but when you choose wisely, you’ll gain peace of mind that you’ll be happy with the results.
At Mid South Night Lights, we know that outdoor lighting is more than just something that “looks nice.” While there’s no doubt it will add tremendous aesthetic appeal, it also brings functional value by allowing you to get more use out of your space.
When it comes to lighting up your walkways and driveway, it’s essential that every detail is considered. These are critical areas of your property and the lighting is important.
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. 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.
