Tips For Selecting Your Path Lights

The outdoor lighting fixture that is arguably the most important to your landscape lighting design is the path light. These fixtures allow you to navigate throughout your outdoor area safely, protects plants from being trampled, adds security to your home, and ups curb appeal. Not to mention, they provide an inviting vibe for guests. There are three styles of path lights but your selection depends on their intended use. Proper sizing and placement, regardless of the style of fixture, is necessary for your path lights to work effectively. It’s important to follow installation guidelines, keeping safety in mind.

Types of Path Lights

Traditional, directional, and bollard path lights are designed differently from each other, impacting how the light works. For example, to create a small focused downward light then post lights with opaque hoods would be a good choice. To add intrigue to lit outdoor features, opt for path lights with textured glass or a patterned diffuser. While all three path lights provide adequate illumination for pathways, their styles impact the look and feel of the space.

• Traditional

Traditional path lights are between 18 to 24 inches tall. They have a post with a hat on top that directs light downwards. Below the hat is the bulb covered by the housing. The fixture’s design allows it to create a small spread of light, enough for guiding people safely through a walkway or pathway.

• Directional

If you’re looking for something less traditional then opt for the directional path light. It has a directional light that sits on top of its post. The light faces downward at an angle, producing a wider spread of light than the traditional path light. The farther away from the path the directional path light is places, the wider the spread of light. These fixtures are great for preventing side glare.

•Bollards

Fit for commercial settings and places with heavy foot-traffic, the contemporary-looking bollard path lights are sturdy fixtures. This is due to their short and thick design. Its 360 degree light allows the bollard to illuminate both pathways and flowerbeds at once. They offer brighter illumination than the other path lights, perfect for parking lot safety and security.

Path Light Placement

Path lights should provide ample pools of light to guide you from one location to the next. Make sure to not light the entire space and overdo the brightness. You don’t want to make the pathway look like an airport runway! Avoid this effect by staggering the fixtures on each side of the pathway. Not only does this balance the light, this technique creates a nice soft glow for ambiance and avoids clutter. When staggering, it’s best to position the fixtures 10ft to 15ft apart from each other. Make sure path lights that are placed in the foliage are tall enough to peak out.

Installing Path Lights

Path lights are generally low voltage fixtures and are fairly easy to install. The project can be done in one day but consult a professional if you need assistance. Before starting, draw a blueprint of where you plan to install the lights and include the measurement of the space. That way, you know the length of cable needed and the number of lights to use. Lay the cables from the GFCI outlet along the path you are installing the fixtures. Be sure to not plug the lights in yet. Dig a small trench for hiding the cable. The number of fixtures you have will determine how many transformers you will need to handle the voltage. Properly installing your path lights is necessary for safety, effective functionality, and creating your desired look.

Familiarize yourself with your path light options so you can decide which fixture style works best for your purpose. Remember, placement is important. They should provide just enough light for navigating around your outdoor space while adding beauty to the surroundings.

Sources

http://nvlightingga.com/beginners-guide-to-path-lighting/

Path lights are landscape lighting fixtures used to safely guide you through dark pathways and add visual intrigue. Traditional, directional, and bollards are path lights designed differently from each other. This affects both how they emit light and their applications. There are various methods of installation that impact function and form. Distance from the transformer and the layout of cables determines lamp life and brightnesse. Path lights have a wide price range, but cheap fixtures means low quality.

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/hardscaping-101-garden-and-pathway-lighting/

Proper installation is required for balance, curb appeal, and prevents an overlit space. The benefits to path light are they add security, mark boundaries which protects flowerbeds from being trampled, highlights outdoor elements, and serves as nice visuals. Path lights come in different shapes and sizes, and have features which serve purposes, such as preventing side glare. Placement affects the spread of light and its direction.