Homeowner’s Guide to Outdoor Lighting & Security
You’re in the right place! The light-obsessed experts at TCP understand the huge role quality outdoor home lighting plays in keeping your family and possessions safe. And we understand that choosing the right security lighting systems goes beyond just knowing how to read a light bulb box.
We break down the different types of residential outdoor lighting available, the benefits of exterior security lighting and how the right lighting can make your home’s surveillance system more effective. We also give you some tips for figuring out how to position outdoor lights so they’ll deliver the most peace of mind.
Different Types of Outdoor Lighting
The indoor spaces of your home come to vibrant life with a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting. Likewise, your residential outdoor lighting should include a variety of lighting types. For a good mix of landscape and hardscape lighting, look for these outdoor lighting options:
- Spotlights – A spotlight delivers focused illumination on architectural features, landscaping elements or signage, like your home’s address.
- Floodlights – For a wider beam that literally floods an open area with light, floodlights create excellent visibility in driveways and backyards.
- Step Lights – Level up the safety on exterior stairways with step lighting that includes an overhead light and smaller lamps positioned near risers.
- Pathway Lighting – Lead the way to your front door or through your garden beds with bollard lights or well lights that help prevent falls and reinforce boundaries.
- String Lights – Create a magical atmosphere while shedding light on outdoor entertainment areas with the soft glow of LED string lights.
- Motion Sensors – The best security lighting turns on when motion is detected and turns off to save energy when all is quiet. Our motion sensor lamps work in most existing fixtures, and our PIR integrated sensor brings a variety of functions to many kinds of outdoor fixtures.
The Benefits of Installing Outdoor Lighting
We all want great backyard lighting for brilliant entertaining on the deck or patio. But the benefits of residential outdoor lighting go beyond setting a vibe to:
Amp Up Visibility and Safety
A well-lit home makes for great curb appeal. Thoughtfully positioned outdoor home lighting enhances a house’s aesthetic character by spotlighting architectural features and landscaping details. Good exterior lighting also creates a warm welcome for visitors and ensures they can safely navigate from the street to your door without risk of tripping, slipping or falling. And consider the safety element of a house number that’s highly visible from the road, making it easier for both delivery drivers and first responders to locate your address.
Deter Crime
A well-lit home makes intruders think twice about trespassing. With no dark corners or shadowy places to hide, burglars have a much harder time concealing their malicious intent. And motion sensor security lighting serves multiple purposes: It startles would-be thieves before they can break in, it makes the presence of trespassers obvious to neighbors and police, and it helps you and your family find your way safely inside after dark.
Where to Place Outdoor Lights
For the most effective outdoor light system, it’s important to take a comprehensive approach to your security lighting placement. At the very least, you’ll want to illuminate any dark places that allow someone to get near your home undetected. You can use TCP’s innovative Lighting Layout Tool to design outdoor home lighting that covers all the bases, including:
- Entrance points like doorways and windows. Don’t forget sliding doors, basement entries and second-story windows with roof access.
- Driveways and garage doors, especially around blind curves and carports with multiple entry points.
- Stairways and pathways particularly where there’s a change in elevation on a path. Don’t forget stairs that reach from a deck to a lower yard and storage areas beneath your deck.
- Perimeters and fences where dark, shadowy corners can form. Strategic outdoor lighting around your property’s perimeter and along fencing looks festive while deterring unwanted visitors.
Enhancing Surveillance With Lighting
Lighting and security cameras work in tandem to keep your family safe. Home surveillance systems rely on good outdoor home lighting to capture clear images. That means you need to take special care choosing and placing lights in the areas your outdoor cameras are trained on. Consider using some of the techniques that create the best lighting for patios, like cross-lighting and wall grazing, to achieve clear, even illumination without glare or dark spots.
It’s also a great strategy to combine your outdoor lighting and security cameras into an integrated system with remote control. TCP’s SmartStuff puts a variety of functions at your fingertips with seamless connectivity through your phone or other digital devices. Smart security lighting systems like this help you save money by managing the energy use of your residential outdoor lighting while delivering peace of mind about your property’s safety.
Increase Home Security With TCP Lighting
Let’s shine a light on your home’s security with TCP’s top-quality, energy-efficient outdoor home lighting! We offer a wide range of residential outdoor lighting options – from floodlights and spotlights to color-changing light bulbs that can make lighting your home for the holidays part of your overall safety plan. Contact us today for expert guidance on selecting the perfect security lighting for your property and start resting easier right away!
