Modern Landscape Lighting: Sleek Style and Cutting-Edge Technology
Whenever considering a landscape renovation, it’s always important to update landscape lighting at the same time to keep up with the changes. Of course, much of your existing landscape lighting may be usable for another decade or more, but if the light fixtures or wiring isn’t in the best condition, if the quality of the light isn’t what you want, or if you just want to freshen up the look, then change the lighting at the same time as you upgrade your landscape. Using modern landscape lighting will give your landscape the ambience and functionality you need.
Modern landscape lighting is a great blend of technological advancements and sleek styles that can improve any landscape whether your design aesthetic is modern or not. Yes, modern lighting does include retro or vintage style fixtures but with technological advances that make them a lot more efficient than in the past. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the best modern outdoor lighting and what makes modern landscape lighting the best option. We’ll even add in some of our product recommendations to get you started. Let’s light up your landscape!
Here are our picks for the top landscape lights.
Best Modern Outdoor Lighting
Kichler 15805BKT27R: This incredible landscape light fixture is designed to stand alone without the assistance of any hardscape feature. It shines downwards in order to illuminate the surface of the ground and keep the light out of direct eye contact. The elegant frame fits a mid-century modern or contemporary design style. Its metal housing features a sleek black color that is unobtrusive during the day. The light itself is housed in a surprisingly thin shade that holds LEDs. It stands just under 2 feet tall and the light extends just six inches out over the ground, making it a compact unit that fits beautifully into a formal or rustic landscape design. You can always trust Kichler to make some impressive landscape light fixtures as well as indoor light fixtures, so check out the Kichler catalog!
Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
Kichler Showscape Collection #28305: Another fantastic landscape light fixture from Kichler, this fixture is designed to fit all landscape styles from traditional to contemporary. The sleek cone of the shade of this light fixture lends itself to traditional designs, yet it fits perfectly in modern applications as well. It’s a walkway light that comes in a set. This light is intended for use along your walkways but it also makes a great perimeter light for a patio or pool deck, and can add a sophisticated look to a long and curving driveway. Best of all, it’s a great fit for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to lower their energy usage. The low voltage 3 watt LED lights cover a large radius without adding much to your electricity bill.
Modern Solar Landscape Lighting
Linkmoon Solar Landscape Path Light: It may not be what you picture when you think of solar powered walkway lights, but this excellent landscape lighting fixture from Linkmoon brings luxury with off-the-grid electric planning. Your guests will adore the look of these landscape lights and they won’t even realize that these fixtures are solar powered since the solar array is very small. The aluminum shell completely protects the electrical components inside and it’s fully waterproof. Keep in mind that with solar fixtures, you rely on Mother Nature to provide the energy so if you live in a location that sees a lot of consistent cloud cover, solar lights won’t be the best option for predictably bright light.
What Is The Trend For Outdoor Lighting?
As outdoor lighting design develops over time, there are some ideas that stay strong while many others fall by the wayside. It takes less than a generation for trends to look wildly different and it’s impossible to predict future trends because of the rate that technology is changing.
Many modern trends in landscape lighting have developed with ecologically conscious decisions. In fact, a good majority of the landscape lights you’ll find these days use LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which are far more energy efficient and longer lasting than any incandescent or halogen light bulbs; and they’re significantly more attractive than most fluorescent fixtures. LEDs also don’t give off any heat, which also practically eliminates the risk of fire for well-built light fixtures. Make sure to look for LEDs as you select the light fixtures for your landscape.
Other modern trends in landscape lighting have followed the advancements in technology in the last few decades. Many landscape lighting systems are designed to be operated with the use of a smartphone app. Some may also connect to bluetooth and combine with sound systems to further help boost the entertaining capabilities of your outdoor living space.
The main visual trend you’ll see in modern landscape lighting involves the outer shell of the light fixture, which tends to be sleek steel or aluminum with monochrome tones and flat or curved sides. These light fixtures are designed to be as minimalist as possible during the day so they can fall into the background and divert the attention where you want it.
What’s most important is that a light fixture works with your aesthetics and delivers the functionality you need to safely and beautifully illuminate your landscape and home. We recommend simple lighting styles that can transcend any changes in home or landscape design.
How Do You Illuminate Landscaping?
Bringing light to a landscape involves a mix of several different lighting strategies that all work together. Since there are too many strategies to get into in this short space, be sure to check out our comprehensive look at landscape lighting styles so you can better determine which techniques would work best for you. [INSERT LINK TO PILLAR ARTICLE]
What Is The Most Common Type Of Landscape Lighting Currently Being Used?
The most common type of landscape lighting is also the most important for a landscape: walkway lighting, also known as pathway lighting.
Every landscape requires some form of walkway lighting in order for safety. Old-school flood lights from high vantage points may illuminate a large area, but they create wild contrasts between illuminated spaces and shadows, and they have a tendency to become annoyingly blinding.
To cultivate a high level of safety, comfort, and appreciation of the landscape, install walkway lights all along your walkways, the edges of your patio and pool deck, and the sides of your driveway. Walkway lights never blind you because they’re at knee level or lower. They direct light where it needs to go. Wherever you use them, they create an attractive and safe atmosphere without being overly bright.
Other common landscape lighting techniques include spotlighting, moonlighting, uplighting, and downlighting. Before beginning a landscape lighting design, it’s important to understand most of the tactics of landscape lighting professionals so you can choose the ones that work best for you. Be sure to check out our in-depth dive into landscape lighting techniques so you can get the most out of your nighttime landscape.
What Is The Best Color For Landscape Lighting?
When landscape designers refer to the color of landscape lighting, they’re not referring to the colors of the rainbow. What they are referring to is called color temperature or how warm or cool a light appears. The color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and some of the most common ones you’ll see in home and landscape applications are numbers from as low as 2200K (extremely warm white) all the way up to 5000K (bright daylight). For a better understanding of what these numbers mean, check out our in-depth article on light color temperatures.
You won’t want to simulate daylight in your landscape at night with the exception of a few specific circumstances such as a food prep area in your outdoor kitchen. You also won’t want lights that are so dim you can barely see anything. The color temperature best used in landscape applications is 2700K, which represents warm whites. This is the light temperature that best represents safe and welcoming feelings in people at night, so it’s perfect for most areas in your landscape.