Now that you've used the knowledge in North Shore Curb Appeal After Dark - Outdoor Lighting: Part 1 and turned down the wattage and updated those lanterns, it's time to focus on yard lighting. This will bring the whole project together and really turn up that North Shore curb appeal to one of envy.
Don't Turn your Walkway into a Runway
Many homeowner's first venture into outdoor lighting begins with those low lights along the front walkway. One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is to turn their walkway into a landing strip. Instead, think simpler. Seek lights that look more like mushrooms or overturned soup ladles; they give off less light making them more attractive. Start by putting them only on one side and space them irregularly instead of in a straight line every 6 to 8 feet apart.
Mix it Up
The next step is to get some light in your yard. Don't simply just stick one in front of each tree; it will make the yard look flat. Instead, try placing them behind or on the side of trees and shrubs which will create shadowing and silhouetting effects giving the property dimension.
Use the same style of lights throughout the yard that are adjustable to serve as a downlight, accent light or wall wash. Incandescent lights have an amber cast at night making plants look sickly. If you use incandescent lights on the lawn of your North Shore home, just add a "daylight blue" color-correcting filter to make plants look more vigorous.
You may want to opt for compact fluorescents (CFLs) or cold-cathode compact fluorescents (CCFLs) that provide the look of incandescent bulbs but have longer lives and save energy.
Showcase the House
As potential buyers drive up to your home, you want them to see the house first. You can do this by using lights aimed at the home. Hide lights close to the home that glance off the façade instead of hitting it straight on; this will give your house a warm glow.
Setting the light so it goes through some grasses in the front yard will soften the light and create some wonderful shadow patterns for visual interest. Use a lower wattage to softly light the home. Usually 20 watts is plenty for a light-colored home and 35 watts on a dark-colored house.
Enough Already
Start with 8 to 10 lights and focus them on the darkest spots in your yard. An average-sized home will need no more than 16 lights total to illuminate everything, so don't overdo it. Walk down to the street level after dark and view it as a buyer seeing the home for the first time would do.
You want to showcase your home at all possible times of the day and night. Don't forget to show your home off even after the sun goes down. By investing in a few outdoor lights, you will make potential buyers feel welcome as they pull up to the front of your home at night. Brighten up the outside of your home, then call The Marla Schneider Team to sell your home today.
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