Landscape Lighting Guides, Tips & How-Tos

Beautifully illuminated residential landscape showing multiple landscape-lighting effects.

Landscape Lighting Photometrics Explained: Lume...

Chris Kelly

Learn what landscape-lighting photometrics measure and how lumens, candela, foot-candles, lux, beam angle, and coverage help you plan an outdoor lighting system.

Landscape Lighting Photometrics Explained: Lume...

Chris Kelly

Learn what landscape-lighting photometrics measure and how lumens, candela, foot-candles, lux, beam angle, and coverage help you plan an outdoor lighting system.

 A homeowner may add trees, a patio, a walkway or an outdoor kitchen.

How to Plan Landscape Lighting for Future Expan...

Chris Kelly

Plan a low-voltage landscape lighting system for future expansion using realistic transformer capacity, logical wire runs, hardscape routes, documentation and voltage checks.

How to Plan Landscape Lighting for Future Expan...

Chris Kelly

Plan a low-voltage landscape lighting system for future expansion using realistic transformer capacity, logical wire runs, hardscape routes, documentation and voltage checks.

How to Light Retaining Walls, Seat Walls & Outdoor Kitchens

How to Light Retaining Walls, Seat Walls & Outd...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to light retaining walls, seat walls and outdoor kitchens with hardscape, step, uplight and downlight fixtures while planning glare, wiring and service access.

How to Light Retaining Walls, Seat Walls & Outd...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to light retaining walls, seat walls and outdoor kitchens with hardscape, step, uplight and downlight fixtures while planning glare, wiring and service access.

Landscape Lighting Voltage Drop Calculator showing a transformer, voltage meter and lighting wire

Landscape Lighting Voltage Drop Calculator: Est...

Chris Kelly

Estimate voltage at your landscape lighting fixtures using transformer tap, wire gauge, one-way run length, actual fixture/lamp mix and fixture layout. Compare 18/2 through 8/2 wire and review practical Total...

Landscape Lighting Voltage Drop Calculator: Est...

Chris Kelly

Estimate voltage at your landscape lighting fixtures using transformer tap, wire gauge, one-way run length, actual fixture/lamp mix and fixture layout. Compare 18/2 through 8/2 wire and review practical Total...

Path lights, step lights and hardscape lights can all improve nighttime visibilit

Path Lights vs Step Lights vs Hardscape Lights:...

Chris Kelly

Compare path lights, step lights and hardscape lights by mounting location, light direction, fixture visibility, service access and best-fit applications.

Path Lights vs Step Lights vs Hardscape Lights:...

Chris Kelly

Compare path lights, step lights and hardscape lights by mounting location, light direction, fixture visibility, service access and best-fit applications.

Well lights and uplights can create similar upward lighting effects, but the fixtures solve different placement problems

Well Lights vs Uplights: Which Landscape Lighti...

Chris Kelly

Compare in-ground well lights and above-ground uplights for trees, architecture and landscape features, including aiming, visibility, mowing, drainage and service access.

Well Lights vs Uplights: Which Landscape Lighti...

Chris Kelly

Compare in-ground well lights and above-ground uplights for trees, architecture and landscape features, including aiming, visibility, mowing, drainage and service access.

Reducing them does not necessarily mean using fewer fixtures. It means putting light where it is useful, controlling the beam and checking the design from the places people actually see it:

How to Reduce Glare and Light Trespass in Lands...

Chris Kelly

Reduce landscape lighting glare and unwanted spill with better aiming, beam control, shielding, fixture placement, output selection, controls and after-dark testing.

How to Reduce Glare and Light Trespass in Lands...

Chris Kelly

Reduce landscape lighting glare and unwanted spill with better aiming, beam control, shielding, fixture placement, output selection, controls and after-dark testing.

Choosing fixtures is only one part of planning a low-voltage landscape lighting system.

Daisy Chain vs T-Method vs Hub Wiring for Lands...

Chris Kelly

Compare daisy-chain, T-method, hub and hybrid low-voltage landscape lighting wiring layouts, including voltage balance, wire use, troubleshooting and project fit.

Daisy Chain vs T-Method vs Hub Wiring for Lands...

Chris Kelly

Compare daisy-chain, T-method, hub and hybrid low-voltage landscape lighting wiring layouts, including voltage balance, wire use, troubleshooting and project fit.

Front yard illuminated with warm low-voltage landscape lighting at dusk

How to Light a Front Yard: A Simple Landscape L...

Chris Kelly

Plan a front yard with layered low-voltage lighting for paths, architecture, trees and steps, then work through lamp choice, transformer load, wire routes and after-dark testing.

How to Light a Front Yard: A Simple Landscape L...

Chris Kelly

Plan a front yard with layered low-voltage lighting for paths, architecture, trees and steps, then work through lamp choice, transformer load, wire routes and after-dark testing.

Backyard outdoor living space illuminated with warm landscape lighting at dusk

How to Light a Backyard & Outdoor Living Space

Chris Kelly

Plan backyard lighting by zones for patios, decks, steps, paths, hardscape and trees, then coordinate beam choice, controls, transformer capacity, wire routes and nighttime aiming.

How to Light a Backyard & Outdoor Living Space

Chris Kelly

Plan backyard lighting by zones for patios, decks, steps, paths, hardscape and trees, then coordinate beam choice, controls, transformer capacity, wire routes and nighttime aiming.

Residential property with layered low-voltage landscape lighting at dusk

How Many Landscape Lights Do I Need?

Chris Kelly

Estimate how many landscape lights a project needs by counting paths, trees, architecture, steps and outdoor living zones instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all formula.

How Many Landscape Lights Do I Need?

Chris Kelly

Estimate how many landscape lights a project needs by counting paths, trees, architecture, steps and outdoor living zones instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all formula.

Total Light Brass Step Light

Total Light TL-SL200-CB Brass Step Light: Place...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to use the Total Light TL-SL200-CB low-profile brass LED step light, including placement, glare control, 2700K vs 3000K, optional remote dimming, mounting surfaces, system planning, and maintenance.

Total Light TL-SL200-CB Brass Step Light: Place...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to use the Total Light TL-SL200-CB low-profile brass LED step light, including placement, glare control, 2700K vs 3000K, optional remote dimming, mounting surfaces, system planning, and maintenance.