The patio pavers you choose for your Troy, MI, outdoor living space are carefully curated, to help build a usable space as well as a beautiful aesthetic for your landscape. You want your pavers to be just as gorgeous after the sun sets as you do in the daytime, and some strategic lighting decisions can make all the difference. Here are four landscape lighting ideas that showcase the beauty of patio pavers.
Related: 5 Outdoor Lighting Ideas Tailored to Winter Landscapes in Macomb and Rochester Hills, MI, Areas
Focusing on the Ground
The further light travels, the dimmer it becomes, and this is even noticeable in shorter distances like 10 to 15 feet. Light fixtures that are built up high are designed to cover a wide area with a single source, but this strategy can be inefficient. The amount of energy needed to do this could be considered inherently wasteful; the quality of the light is low. Near the light, the area is harshly illuminated; farther away, there is a stark contrast between light and dark. A series of smaller light fixtures close to the ground could do a much better job of illuminating the patio and highlight the textures of your pavers.
Switch to LEDs
The technology of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) keeps improving year after year, and the current models can create an incredibly energy-efficient and versatile backyard lighting system. Along with keeping light fixtures low to the ground, you can also rely on LEDs to potentially lower both your energy costs and maintenance and replacement costs. LEDs use far less energy than their traditional light bulb counterparts and also require significantly fewer replacements.
An automated light system that uses different programs could be set to various timers so that you do not need to worry about fiddling with dimmer switches and remembering to turn off the lights in the morning. You can even program these outdoor lights to use different colors to set an always interesting mood for all your outdoor parties. During the holidays, it could be possible to wash your pavers in alternating red and green lights so that your family has a more festive experience as they approach your front door.
Highlighting Spaces
Any special outdoor features deserve to be highlighted at night. The same goes for patio pavers, including accents and borders. If you use different styles of pavers in different areas of your patio, such as juxtaposed angles or different colors and shapes, landscape lighting experts can use different strategies to highlight the individual areas. Just like you would highlight a gorgeous piece of art, you can showcase your entire patio as a masterpiece using the techniques of spotlighting, washing, downlighting, uplighting, and even silhouetting.
Moonlighting from Above
One of the most effective lighting strategies involves using several techniques at once. A great way to subtly illuminate your patio is moonlighting. This strategy constitutes a white light high up in a tree. This light is pointed at the ground, simulating the gentle glow of the moon. The effect is a wonderful backdrop that illuminates other portions of your landscape that aren’t typically used at night, such as plant beds or lawns, while adding ambient light to your patio and walkway as well.
Moonlighting can be even more dramatic when the light passes through the leaves of a tree. The slightest breeze will cause the leaves to dance and create a dazzling, shimmering effect on the ground, painting a gorgeous tapestry all over your beautiful patio pavers.
Related: The Many Ways Outdoor Lighting Can Make a Landscape Design Feel More Spacious in Rochester Hills, MI
