The way a home looks and feels partially has to do with the interior décor – and the other part with the exterior. Thus it’s equally important to take the outdoor décor seriously which is sadly something not everyone manages to pull off.

Don’t fret if you don’t have a considerable budget, to begin with, you can start small when deciding to add much-needed changes. Regardless of whether or not you’ve already taken some steps to enhance the home’s curb appeal, outdoor lighting is one of the most affordable and easy strategies you can incorporate to elevate both the functionality and beauty of the space.
Since there are various types of garden lights available at the stores, you’re not alone in thinking this kind of shopping to be a tricky task. That’s why we’ve come up with the steps you can take to make the experience hassle-free. To be able to create a beautifully illuminated area, you’d need to:
1. Know What the Purpose of Lighting Is
This would help you understand why this type of lighting matters so much for the home, and further, it would ease off the planning and purchasing process with the ideal lights for you, your preferences, and your requirements.
Safety and Security
The person who enjoys organizing get-togethers at the outdoor retreat would find proper garden lighting to be a crucial element for increased safety and security. Adding ample light to some of the most important home features, such as the walkways, parking, patios, stairs, and doorways is of utmost importance. Not only would it be of help in preventing accidents, it’s also a great investment for deterring potential thieves from breaking in.
Curb Appeal

Yes, once again we come to the curb appeal. In addition to other essential aspects, like the letterbox, material, and color of the doors, windows, and roof, as well as greenery, lights are features that are most useful for increasing the home’s charm. As a result, you can be certain its value would increase too which is a handy benefit even if you don’t plan on moving homes and selling the property in the future!
2. Know the Different Types of Lighting

Considering there’s such an extensive range of garden lights, it’s only logical to simplify the planning and shopping process by knowing the types beforehand. For the sake of clarifying the distinctions, you can look into the different choices based on two categories.
Location
Depending on where you intend to install the lights, you can choose from the following types:
Wall
As one of the most common options of outdoor lighting, it’s become multi-use because it’s easy to mount on practically any vertical surface where there’s wall and wiring. Whether you require it as a front entry choice, installed right above the door, or want to use it to illuminate the porch, patio, or the garage, rest assured there’s the ideal design of wall light for you.
Ceiling

If you’re looking for something extra to add as a complement to the wall lights, there’s always assistance from the ceiling counterparts. Pendants are a great example that works great in areas where there’s not enough room to fit a wall light too.
Post
These are a type of garden lights that can be installed on top of posts, hence the name. Since they’re meant to be exposed to the weather elements, they’re created to be durable so you won’t have to worry about damages from moisture. If instead, you prefer lights you can install on columns, fences, and walls, then you might consider acquiring the alternative known as pier mount.
Landscape

For anyone who wants to add texture and drama to the area, that’s what highlighting is for. There’s a vast array of options when it comes to highlighting, from using stylish recessed, deck, and step lights, to getting a layered outcome with spot, path, and floodlights. Besides illuminating your beautiful outdoor space, they can be the trick to showcasing ornamental trees, bushes, as well as sculptures.
Security
The garden lights used as highlights can serve their safety purpose too, especially when installed by walkways and garages. However, wanting to increase the security urges for the use of brighter options, which calls for the job of bright floodlights. Motion sensor alternatives are another solution that happens to be energy-efficient – perfect for high traffic areas where you want to cut down the costs and lower the carbon footprint of the household.
Style

Much like when choosing interior lighting based on the style, it’s necessary to have the outdoor lights’ style in mind. This would ensure getting a seamless and harmonious outcome.
- Traditional – Homes with vintage appeal, as in the case with Colonial, require the use of lighting that’s also got the same aesthetic. Traditional lights are all those that are elegantly ornamented, with eye-catching details in the example of curves.
- Modern – Homes that are instead on the modern side require modern features. Minimalist lights, typical for their clean lines, are the desired choice.
- In-Between – Now, there’s the third example that’s eclectic, a mix of both the old and new. In this case, it’s best to look for lighting fixtures that offer the best of both worlds and are neither too simple nor too detailed.