As some of you may know, October is National Outdoor Lighting Month, aiming to educate homeowners on the benefits of outdoor lighting. Each of our clients have different reasons for installing outdoor lighting at their home, but one of the most common reasons is security.
Well-lit exteriors are less inviting to strangers and intruders. While it may make sense to have motion sensors placed on some of your lights in certain areas of your property, security lighting can also be beautiful. When designing your system, your outdoor lighting company should add lights in several areas of the property to increase your home’s security.
In a perfect case scenario, the entire front of the home would be well lit. The front façade, walkways, etc. would all have adequate illumination. Not only do well-lit homes look more lived in, but they are more difficult to break into. An intruder, for instance, is less likely to pick a lock on a front porch that is washed in light where passersby can see them than the home across the street which it pitch dark.
If the entire front of the home or property can’t be lit at one time, the first place to focus on is the entryways. Lit entryways make it more difficult for unwanted guests to either break in or walk out of your home with your possessions.
Lighting the outdoor living areas around your home has several benefits. The most obvious is that you can enjoy your decks, porches, patios, etc. well into the evening hours. Secondly, it invites the eye outside when you are spending time indoors, making your indoor spaces feel larger and more open. Lastly, by inviting the eye outdoors, people are less likely to try and hide in those bright areas where people can see them.
Some properties have areas that naturally are darker than others. Maybe there are streetlights that illuminate some of your property while other areas are left completely dark. Those dark areas of the property are inviting to intruders, they offer a place to hide. Consider adding lights in those areas making them less welcoming.
Outdoor lighting is a great way to increase the security of your home. A professional outdoor lighting company will not only design and install a system that considers safety, but also beauty. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we pride ourselves on design. Even though security may be the driving force behind the system, we still want all of you neighbors to oh and ah over your home. If you have questions regarding outdoor lighting, please reach out to your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives location.