Illuminating the Growing Backyard

Illuminating the Growing Backyard By Jeff Dross

The mortgage crisis and the reduced value of the American home have stopped many from upgrading to a bigger house. Although most homes aren’t expanding indoors, there is one part of the home that continues to grow: the outdoors.

The American Society of Landscape Architects reports that today’s homeowners are thinking bigger than basic outdoor kitchens and are building entire outdoor great rooms, including living rooms, dining rooms and full kitchens. And just as they would when decorating indoors, homeowners are looking for ways to add a special dynamic outdoors — offering new business opportunities for lawn and garden retailers.

Expanding the Outdoors

The interior of a typical home provides 1,000 or 2,000 square feet of living space, but a yard may hold many times that amount. Lighting can serve as both a means to illuminate these areas and as a special decorative element.

It is expected that the No. 1 outdoor living trend for this year will be the outdoor room: an area sometimes set under an arbor or canopy that often includes a fireplace or fire pit and is typically furnished with a rug and seasonal furniture. When it comes to lighting these areas, retailers should consider recommending portable outdoor lamps that are UL listed for wet locations, include a UV stable lampshade, and can be easily washed and maintained. Retailers should emphasize that lighting will extend the usable time owners can take advantage of their outdoor escapes.

While some may not be able to afford a lavish outdoor living room, most homes do have an existing deck or patio. Adding deck, post-cap, step and under-bench lighting extends outdoor enjoyment far into the evening and also provides a level of safety for family and guests.

An Eye for Design

Like the interior of a home, where the carpet matches the furniture and the drapes blend with the wall coverings, a cohesive aesthetic is now being incorporated outdoors. Lighting can be selected to complement the overall style of the garden. Many manufacturers offer complete lighting “families” to create a cohesive look. If a customer builds a garden with Asian or Zen inspirations, they can find accent landscape lighting in that same style and match similar fixtures for use on the deck or the pathways. Lighted centerpieces, such as gazing balls, garden gnomes and birdbaths, also are available in a variety of different styles.

And after years of solely blending earth tones with the outdoors, designers are incorporating color into the exterior. Hybridists have been working hard to develop plants and flowers with bolder colors that will stand up to even the most drought-ridden climates, and properly selected landscape lighting can complement those varieties with a much-needed punch of color during the day and a sprinkle of illumination in the evening.

A Nod Toward Efficiency

As electricity costs continue to rise, homeowners are searching for energy-saving solutions. LED lighting has become a viable option, especially as it relates to landscape lighting. Twelve-volt LEDs can save as much as 75 percent of monthly energy consumption. Given their long lifespan, light bulb replacement also is no longer necessary, creating a virtually maintenance-free element in the garden. Remember, because LED technology is so new, it is important to seek out only the most reputable manufacturers.

In the past, exterior lighting was used only for security. Recently, landscape lighting has become a key element in an around-the-clock presentation of the home’s beauty, offering a new area of business for lawn and garden retailers. To allow exterior space to transcend into darkness and add value to the home, include professional landscape lighting in design plans and recommend it to your customers.