Highlighting streets and parks, squares and squares, buildings and garden plots cannot be called a new idea. The tradition of installing decorative lighting has appeared and has taken root in Russia since the beginning of the 18th century. Today, the lack of night light in public gardens can affect facility traffic. But hanging along the paths of your own summer cottage plot of unusual lanterns will help not to stumble in the dark.
Do you need lamps in the garden
Among the main tasks that decorative lighting should perform in the country, the following are called:
- security or technical;
- architectural;
- for decoration.
Lamps of the first type are installed solely for the purpose of functionality. They should provide comfortable movement throughout the territory at dusk and at night. In addition, the included lamps create the effect of the presence of the hosts to deceive attackers and protect the cottages from their penetration.
Buildings illuminated in a special way during the holidays look very colorful . It uses colored flashlights, garlands and LED strips. Architectural elements of buildings are distinguished by installing directional decorative lighting.
Unusual lanterns in the form of opened flowers or interesting figures will help to decorate flower beds in an original way. Established among plants, during the day they add beauty, and at night they carry a functional load and illuminate the garden.
How to revive a night site with simple means
It's nice when you do not have to wander in the dark along the paths of the garden. The porch, wicket and gate, entrance to the internal parking should also be lit for security reasons. Sometimes it’s enough to entwine the branches of several trees with luminous ribbons to achieve the desired effect. Although such decorative lighting in the country is the smallest of the means available now. In the same way, you can mark the boundaries of your property so that they are clearly visible in the dark. The location of small flashlights around the perimeter of the fence gives a person psychological peace. Experts advise to avoid an overabundance of lighting fixtures on the site, as people are more comfortable moving from a dark garden to a well-lit house. It is the main building that is called to be the center of the light extravaganza.
It is recommended to highlight arbors, bushes and some trees with the most striking accents. Decorative garden lighting in flowerbeds and ponds is sufficient to identify with special means. White or colored balls floating among the aquatic plants of the pond look great. Lanterns in the form of small sculptures and flowers, placed among plants and shrubs, complement the overall impression.
Basic, attendant and decorative
Street lighting differs from home lighting in several ways. These include:
- technical indicators of lamps;
- the presence or absence of supports;
- the ability to use in heat and cold;
- maintaining operability in any weather;
- durability.
The most convenient is the use of a combination of standby and main light sources. Decorative streetlights play the role of special, spectacular elements in the overall design of the site. Among them are classic forged lanterns installed along the paths or embedded in the wall of the building. Being part of the overall picture, they not only decorate the territory, but also perform the function of the main overhead light, completely highlighting their site area.
The sources on duty include devices that provide the neighborhood with flood rays. Such a device should be away from home and above all buildings. It is convenient to install emergency lights at the garage, at the entrance to the site, around the perimeter of the territory, at the outbuildings.
Small spotlights, which highlight an interesting element of architecture or a particular plant, should be inconspicuous. The purpose of their use is to emphasize, and not overshadow, some of the details of the landscape, facade. You can mark the borders of a flower bed or pool if you dig a chain of spotlights around the perimeter. This move will not only create a magical environment in the garden, but also make it safe to walk around the site at dusk.
Protection Class and Specifications
Due to operating conditions, decorative street lighting must meet increased requirements. According to the international classification system, two protection classes and several subgroups are distinguished. Flashlights must be protected from water leakage, dust, made of protective heat-resistant and shockproof glass. You should choose specimens in the manufacture of which corrosion-resistant materials were used: stainless steel or aluminum. The best characteristics are models whose bodies are made of natural or plexiglass. A good indicator is the ability of the device to operate in several modes: from bright to muted.
Types of outdoor lights
About the purpose, installation methods and types of fastening of street lighting fixtures "speak" their names:
- wall mounted;
- cantilever;
- floor;
- portable;
- floating;
- floor lamps;
- supporting;
- lampposts.
With a well-organized system, appliances are installed using various lighting poles. Decorative and functional lamps are usually placed on three levels. The upper zone, located above the level of vision, includes the roofs of buildings, high poles and walls. The middle level is small trees and some architectural elements of buildings. The lower zone includes lawns and paths, flower beds and small shrubs, steps, soil and water bodies. To obtain the perfect result, decorative street lighting fixtures are harmoniously located in all three of these areas.
Color zoning
Decorating the territory of your site and knowing some design tricks and techniques, you can independently turn the garden into a kind of magical space for a wonderful holiday. Using decorative lighting over a large area, you can divide it into several zones. The distribution of cold-light lanterns in a small garden can visually push the boundaries.
Use of soft diffused light will help to create an atmosphere of comfort in the patio, gazebos and terraces. Muted electricity in warm tones will be very appropriate here. The festive mood is created by hanging flickering garlands and LED multi-colored ribbons.
To obtain an expressive and harmonious illumination of the site, it is enough to apply lights of several colors. It is important to follow the rules that state:
- the inclusion of dazzling white lights will make the surrounding landscape lifeless;
- Do not use bright yellow and red lamps;
- between devices should not be more than 10 m;
- Above the tracks, it is preferable to install diffused lights.
Standalone or wired: which are better
When planning decorative lighting for a site, one may encounter the fact that it is difficult to conduct electrical wiring in some corners of the garden. In such cases, experts recommend using models that accumulate solar energy throughout the day. They are economical, have a modern design, easy to maintain, completely safe and autonomous. Solar lights automatically turn on at dusk and burn until morning.
In hard-to-reach places, you can also install lamps equipped with touch sensors. Some models are made with fasteners in the form of clothespins. If you hang such "little things" on the trees, you get a very funny design. Such pendant lights are used in gazebos and on the railing, in any place where you can fix the hook.
Installation: what to look for
Forged doors are reinforced with forged sconces with classic glass shades. In addition to decorative, they perform a functional role. Directly in the ground install ground-based models of lights. Sometimes they look like fabulous sculptures, birds or animals.
Connoisseurs consider the lighting system to be successful when most of the light sources are masked among the plants in the beds, in the flower beds, in the crowns of the trees. In open areas, only beautiful models are installed. Since the landscape of the garden is subject to regular natural changes, light accents should sometimes be moved.