Safety

• Low voltage lighting can increase the safety of the home by both preventing criminals from hiding behind the cover of darkness and by preventing home occupants from tripping or bumping into anything, such as stairs and fences.
  
  

Low-voltage Lighting

• Homeowners should use low-voltage lighting when illuminating the landscape. Low-voltage lighting operates with only 12 volts of electricity as opposed to the 120-volt line voltage systems, which should be saved for large-scale commercial applications. Because of the lower voltage, homeowners do not have to worry about shocking themselves when installing the lights. They do not have to run the cable underground. They can work safely despite moisture. The only downside is that these lights need a transformer to drive the 120 volts down to 12 volts. If the transformer is not installed correctly, homeowners can experience a voltage drop. By not properly installing the low voltage lighting system, the lights will simply not produce enough light to illuminate the home's exterior.
  
  

Inconspicuous Lighting

• With smaller light bulbs, homeowners can use low-voltage light bulbs to create really small light fixtures that blend into the landscape. The fixtures can also be made in the colors of nature, such as greens and light browns, so that they further blend in as a more subtle landscape lighting design.
  
  

LED Landscape Lights

• LED landscape lights are the best options for outdoor nighttime lighting because they produce enough lighting to keep the outside of the home illuminated with very little wattage without the light spilling into other areas. They also experience less wear and tear, so homeowners will need fewer service calls.
  
  

Fixture Options

• Outdoor lighting fixture options are similar to those found indoors. Homeowners can place accent lighting on the ground with the fixture directing light on a specific object. Deck lights can be installed on walls inconspicuously. Path lights are tall lights that resemble floor lamps and can help illuminate the ground so that visitors can see the pathway. Homeowners can buy lights that are built into statues and other decorations. The homeowner can also fill the entire area with flood lighting or use bollard lights to illuminate the entrance.
  
  

Dark Sky

• The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Dark Sky Association have been working on a criteria to control light pollution so that stars in the sky remain visible since 2009. Before installing landscape lighting, homeowners should inquire about any current legislation.