The Excessive Outdoor Feature That's Not Worth The Investment

A great way to spruce up your home's exterior and increase its value and visual appeal is by investing in outdoor features. Among the most popular ways homeowners choose to do this is by installing exterior lights for practical and aesthetic reasons. Aside from boosting safety and creating ambiance in your garden, outdoor lighting can also increase your home's value. One downside to installing outdoor lights however is the cost, which ranges between $1,000 to more than $10,000 in some cases. And while the right amount of light fixtures can highlight your property's best features and elevate the look of its exterior, excessive outdoor lighting might not be worth the investment. 

Although you sometimes need increased or more frequent illumination — such as when you're decorating for the holidays or it starts getting dark early, shining too many lights year-round is unnecessary. Too much light can negatively impact the look of your landscaping instead of elevating its nighttime appearance, making this the lighting mistake that's ruining your garden. Excessive outdoor lighting all the time also contributes to light pollution, which disrupts the nocturnal wildlife around your property. It might also make you an enemy in your neighbors' eyes, as they'd likely be affected by bright light from your property disturbing their peace. 

To avoid this outdoor lighting mistake and make sure you don't go overboard with your garden lights, put lights only where illumination is necessary or logical. For instance, if your garden boasts a particularly beautiful plant or tree, shine a spotlight on it. Similarly, if your deck or house walls feature interesting architectural details, highlight them with thoughtful accent lights. To keep things practical, incorporate some outdoor walkway lighting to illuminate a pathway and make it easy to navigate in the dark. Not every corner of your garden warrants the same attention, so a well-thought-out outdoor lighting scheme may call for fewer but key lights.

Your lighting's tone and brightness level play a major role in whether your lights are excessive. Depending on what feature you want to illuminate, most outdoor lights should range between 50 and 300 lumens. Anything above that might have a blinding effect. As for the color, opt for warmer tones, as they produce less glare and still keep things visible.

Finally, you can incorporate temporary lighting like string lights or lanterns according to your needs. These solutions will add a festive touch to your special occasions, and you can just take them down as soon as you're done. This way, you'll still have a well-lit outdoor area when you're gathering with friends on your patio or hosting a garden party without polluting the neighborhood with unnecessary lighting year-round.