Hello! I would like some input on my current plan please. Note: We have a really powerful street LED lamp right above us so everything is pretty well-lit as is. Front: orange spotlights - 15 deg., 3W; Yellow spotlights: 38 degr., 3W (or 60 degrees?) Back: leaning towards a spotlight on each fence panel, behind the trees, 15deg, 3W. Thinking it may be an overkill and do every other panel instead. This is really only for ambient purposes. Also what fixtures would work best here? Thanks!
Off to a great start, Mx2797. I have only a few suggestions for modifications to your plan. First, while I think 3W is a good choice for you in terms of brightness, I would consider keeping your beam spreads fairly narrow (not more than 25 degrees or so) for the yard and house. My main concern for you would be light trespass, with the number of fixtures you are proposing for your facade and foundation plantings. I've taken out the light you have between the two windows on the left side of your house and I've added a pair of well lights at the base of the steps. I'd illuminate one of those three shrubs on the left and let the reflected light from that shrub and the lights you have on the house do the job of simply highlighting the other shrubs. I'm of the same mindset about the right side. Illuminate those two wall sections indicated and perhaps one of the small shrubs. I've flanked that conifer with a couple of well lights 2W well lights. In your back yard, I like the idea of lighting your trees rather than your fence. You could use 38 degree well lights here. The illuminated foliage above the fence will look stunning to passersby and with that beam spread, some of the light will highlight the fence anyway. If you want to illuminate part of the fence, I would highlight one or two panels where there aren't any trees. Hope this helps to get your creative juices going.
Wow! Thank you so much!! Is there a reason in preferring well lights to spotlights in our case? I don't see the difference except for the appearance of the fixture itself. Would you use 2W or 3W in the backyard for the trees?
Glad to help. Had I zoomed in and noticed that you actually have mulched beds in your front yard that should provide something of a buffer zone for staked lights, I wouldn't have necessarily suggested well lights for the front yard. For my clients with modestly sized yards who are worried about visual clutter, I'll sometimes recommend well lights and other low profile solutions. Discreet stake mounted fixtures would work just fine there. For your back yard, you'll want to think about how you plan to entertain in the space. If you're new to lighting, I'd advise you to experiment with one of each wattage to get a sense of what the overall effect will be once your lighting plan is completed. And speaking of experimenting, VOLT offers an MR16 bulb (the one you'll most likely encounter with your spotlights or well lights) with a 20/40/60 beam spread option.
