Thursday, 22 May 2014

Use Outdoor Lighting To Extend Your Home Barbecues

By Marci Glover


During the daylight hours, we all feel far more secure because we can easily see what is going on outside. However, as the light starts to fade, we can become uncertain of our surroundings, and also who is approaching. Places that we are familiar with, such as our garden or local streets, become strangely unfamiliar.

Even if you open your front door to somebody after dark, there is a good chance that you cannot see who they are, because there is nothing to illuminate their face. This is why it is a good idea to install some outside lighting. Outdoor lighting, as well as being practical, can also enhance the look of your home and garden.

There are many different styles of lamps that can used outdoors. It is not necessary to limit yourself to floodlights that dazzle any visitors. More discrete forms of lighting can be used outside, such as lamp poles along a footpath. It is also possible to get lamps that work using motion detectors, so that they are only on as your visitor passes by.

There are also different ways of powering these lamps, depending on the area they are going to be used in. Security lamps used on business premises are usually powered by underground cabling, as these are usually on for long periods of time. However, if you are wanting to illuminate be outdoor spaces of your home, solar powered lighting is becoming very popular.

If you do not illuminate your outdoor spaces of your home, you will have to plan parties and barbecues so that they finish when the sun goes down. By installing subtle lights your parties could carry on well past sunset. Your guests would still be able to see each other, and the surrounding areas would be highlighted by well-positioned table and wall lamps.

Well-positioned garden lamps could also double as security lamps. A lot depends on your needs, and the lamps that you buy, as you can get some that work on motion sensors, or timers. If you plan to install some outside lighting at the same time as having your garden landscaped, cabling could be laid, and lamp positioning be determined, at that point. However, if you already have a beautiful garden, solar powered lamps will probably be the best solution as they can be repositioned easily.

It is important to consider the light given out by your lamps if they are near public areas. Make sure that the lamps are positioned so that they do not dazzle people passing by, whether they are walking or driving. This could be very dangerous, especially if the lamp is operated by a motion sensor and flashes on into a driver's eyes.

There are a lot of specialists who design outdoor areas who can help you in your choice and positioning of lamps, but this could be outside of your budget. An alternative method is to make use of the free standing solar powered lamps available, though these will initially be expensive, but will have minimal running costs. Lighting your outdoor areas can add both beauty and security, and also allow you to spend more time relaxing in your garden.




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