Porch or outdoor lights have become essential to add to the outdoor area. Apart from creating a beautiful, dreamy exterior space, such lighting guides people into the home and deters intruders. Most burglars tend to avoid homes that appear to be occupied and well-lit. And by installing lighting outdoors, you can create that illusion of being at home even if you are not.
While garden lighting brings significant benefits, there are certain risks associated with its installation. Since we want to make the installation process smoother and safer for you, we are going to share some tips. We have come up with a list of safety tips for outdoor lighting that will guide you through the process. Implementing these tips will keep your yard well-lit and danger-free. Always remember, “It is better to be safe than sorry.” Read on!
1. Pick The Right Bulb To Install Outdoors
In today’s time, the lighting is not restricted to simple porch bulbs or lanterns. Rather, they have evolved to be more creative, attractive, and secure. To ensure better security with the lighting, all you need is to get it right. The right light can quickly turn even the mundane surroundings into a beautiful sight without compromising security. This is one of the safety tips for outdoor lighting that is simple and straightforward but definitely worth noting.
2. Plan Early Before Setting Up Plants
A well-planned installation is about getting the lights placed at the right spots. Deciding where to put the lights should always be the first step before you start decorating the outdoor space with plants and furniture. This will help you know where the wires will go, find the electric source, your theme, etc. This will further assist you in deciding the placement of the plants. If you fail to plan ahead and put the plants and furniture before the lighting, you might end up placing the light where there’s no power.
3. Combine Porch Lights With Smart Home Security Devices
While outdoor lighting is excellent in itself, they are more effective when combined with smart home security devices. This will make you feel safer and more secure even when you leave your home for an extended vacation. Installing outdoor security devices and lights will deter the burglars and inform you if someone is trying to intrude. In other words, it will enhance safety and keep you, your home, and your loved ones secure.
4. Invest In GFCI Protection
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, a fast-acting circuit breaker that may cut off electricity in the case of a ground fault. It is a protection measure that is much needed in bathrooms, kitchen, laundry rooms, garage, and outdoors. In the case of outdoor lighting, if your wiring has GFCI protection from a circuit breaker, then you can use a regular weather-resistant receptacle or box. However, if this is not the case, then you need a GFCI receptacle outside for better protection.
5. Use Weatherproof Boxes And Receptacles
Outdoor lighting is more prone to harsh weather, rains, heat, etc. This makes it essential to protect them with weatherproof boxes and receptacles. Apart from keeping your lights safe, such receptacles make the lighting look more presentable as they provide a space to keep the cords or wires hidden rather than running through the doors. Ensure you install such boxes and receptacles and protect your switches and cords from the harsh weather.
6. Watch Out For Flammable Materials
This is one of the safety tips we highly emphasize. While installing the lights outside, make sure you keep them away from heat-generating devices or materials that can easily catch fire. Things like pine needles, wood chips, dried grass, etc., can ignite and burn easily and harm your outdoor lights. This is why you must be really careful and preferably get professional assistance before installing lighting outdoors.
7. Be Mindful With Turning On & Off The Lights
Getting outdoor lighting installed is not enough. You need to use them at the right time for adequate security. While keeping the lights on isn’t a guarantee of safety, you need to understand when to turn them on and off. Here are some tips to be mindful of the lighting outdoors.
- It’s always good to leave the lights on when you are at home alone at night time.
- If you are leaving home with kids behind or are expecting a home delivery when you are out, you must leave outdoor lights on.
- When you are leaving home for a long vacation, you should not keep the lights on all the time. Instead, ask someone to turn them off during the daytime and leave them on at night. Else, you can also invest in a light timer.
8. Get Creative While Placing The Outdoor Lights
You must be creative while placing the outdoor lighting for the best effect. Putting on lights in a straight line wouldn’t increase the safety and make your space look like an airport runway. So, avoid that and get creative. Pick the right spot and try to add lights in a way that won’t look distracting. Use different angles and types of lights to secure your entire yard without making it appear unpleasant.
9. Don’t Overdo It
When it comes to placing the lighting, you should not overlight your yard or place too many lights in one place. This is one of the most common mistakes people make as they believe the more the number of lights, the better security it will provide. However, in reality, the outdoor lighting is just to light up the dark areas that can make it easy for you to navigate to the house and challenging for the intruders to break in. So, instead of lighting up your yard with too many lights, you should position a few lights that can offer a better effect, provide protection, and make your outdoor space look decent.
Final Words
Well-installed outdoor lighting does more than just merely bring your garden to life. It can boost safety and provide you with a space where intruders feel terrified to step in. As per the studies, it is found that burglars, thieves, or other criminals often don’t lurk around the yard if it is brightly illuminated. This makes investing in such lighting a great decision. If you, too, find garden lighting a great way to enhance the beauty of your home while keeping you safe and secure, you must follow the above-mentioned safety tips for outdoor lighting. They will make your lighting both beautiful and functional.
If you find this article helpful and would like to discover more about the safety and security of your home, visit Home Of Expertise official website. There, you will get many tips, reviews, recommendations, and interesting articles that you will enjoy reading.
