Hello! I'm looking for lighting advice for my front and backyard. I'd like to be able to add on as we install more shrubs and plants in the future. I don't have any ideas beyond lighting the structures (house and retaining wall). We're also in a warm climate that rarely gets snow, if that has any bearing. My current thinking is: Front: 3 Top Dog Scotty Spotlights for the columns, 1 each pointing up from the ground, but I'm not sure about the beam angle Maybe 2 more spotlights on either side of the left window, but I'm not sure about which model and beam angle Note: We recently replaced the plantings in the picture with evergreen shrubs that will grow to 3-4' tall and wide over the next 2 years (mostly in the same positions). Back: Either the 6" or 3" Original Volt Brass Rotatable/Pivoting LED Hardscape lights in alternating sections (e.g. sections between the posts) of the retaining wall. These would be pointing down from a horizontal wood wall cap (2x10") that will go in at the same time. Maybe 2 more of these on the stair walls Note: The Muhly grass behind the retaining wall will eventually grow to 3-4 ft wide and tall, and the shrubs by the back will also eventually grow to 12-15 ft tall. Thank you in advance for any and all advice!
Hi there. I diagrammed your photos to show you some possible options for lighting both your front and back yards. Because I don't know all of the fixture types and lighting approaches you're open to, I strongly encourage you to also check out some of the projects in VOLT's photo gallery as well as how-to videos and articles. I also recommend checking out the web and some of the dozens of prior posts here that include lighting plans and tips. For your facade, I think you're absolutely on the right track wrt your fixture choices. The Scottys are a good choice but well lights would work there as well. For those columns, you'll want a fairly narrow beam spread (probably in the 15° to 25° range. I also suggest lighting the upper level areas indicated (the Top Dog would work there as well) and probably with a +/- 40° beam spread. I'm a bit stymied by the area above your first level gable because I'm not sure where you would mount fixtures in a way that would match the effect or output of the fixtures in the other two locations up there. If you've read any of my previous posts, you might remember that I routinely remind people that there are many ways to create a coherent lighting plans and that is the beauty of DIY. For instance, if you opted to leave omit fixtures from that section above the gables, you might instead create symmetry by illuminating that tree in your front yard (which I think you should consider doing regardless). IMO, sometimes less is more and with a light colored house, it can be easy to unintentionally go overboard with lights. The orange graphics indicate optional locations for fixtures. For instance, you might decide that illuminate the aforementioned tree provides the perfect amount of lighting for that side of your house. Alternatively, you might decide that you want that front left side illuminated in addition to illuminating the tree. Similarly, not the right side of your house, you might be perfectly happy lighting just the columns. OTOH, you might decide to introduce more light by illuminating the shrubbery or the wall areas immediately behind the shrubbery. In your back yard, you have a huge blank slate in your long expansive fence. You could really get creative in both the lower patio area and the perimeter fence. For instance, you could play around with beam spreads. You could illuminate the fence panels by uplighting them with identical beam spreads, you could alternate between smaller beam spread spot lights and larger beam spreads. You could install some flood lights that would illuminate even larger fence sections. You could even alternate between fixture brightness levels. You could use deck lights or hardscape lights to down light sections of your fence. You could either front light those shrubs in the back or your could silohuette them by illuminating fence panels behind them. When I'm helping people create a lighting plan, I often find it helpful to first find out what fixture types and approaches people want to rule out. Some people don't want fixtures that might be easily damaged by lawn care equipment. It's situations like that where I might steer them towards well lights or lights that are up off the ground in trees or on a fence. Consider the mood you want to create and let that be your guide as you continue to zero in on your final plan. HTH.
