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When people hunt for a rental place, they check out important things like how big the home is, what the kitchen and appliances are like, how well the outdoor areas are lit, and how clean the house is. But what matters most to renters is feeling safe and secure in their new home. They need to know they can live comfortably when they move into a house or apartment.
One of the top ways landlords can make renters feel safe is by having good outdoor lighting. This means that people living in the building should be able to see anyone coming near their home, whether a person or an animal. People should also be able to come and go without worrying about criminals hiding in dark corners around the house.
And it's not just about safety; good lighting makes the rental more enjoyable and gives the home a better look overall. People will spend more time outside if the outdoor areas are well-lit at night. The right lighting makes a home more appealing to renters and visitors.
Table of Contents
Key Elements of Effective Outdoor Lighting
Landlords must prioritise outdoor lighting as much as indoor lighting for their rental properties. Both require equal attention and care. Even if the inside of the home is perfectly lit, potential renters might choose the property only if the outside is.
Good outdoor lighting can be broken down into three key aspects: luminance, uniformity, and the absence of glare.
- Luminance refers to the quantity of light that falls upon surfaces within a specific area. The adequacy of light varies based on the intended use of that space. If the light isn't sufficiently bright to fulfil its purpose, it's considered insufficient.
- Uniform lighting ensures that individuals don't experience temporary blindness when transitioning from a brightly illuminated area to a dimly lit one. Instead, a constant level of light makes it easy to see everything in and around the space.
- Too much light can be a real pain in the eye. It can make you squint and even make it hard to see. That's called glare. In spaces with glare, it becomes challenging to distinguish objects or discern intricate details.
If you balance these three things: how bright it is, how even the light is, and how much glare there is, then outdoor lighting can be effective and helpful in creating a well-lit and comfortable environment.
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The Positive Outcomes of Effective Outdoor Lighting
When outdoor lighting effectively incorporates the three components of good lighting, it brings about the following advantages:
- Effective outdoor lighting eliminates eerie shadows and obscure pathways surrounding the premises by illuminating previously dark and potentially concealed areas that could serve as hiding spots for criminals and animals.
- Criminals are less likely to target a property that doesn't have places for them to hide. They're more likely to move on to an easier target if there's nowhere to go unnoticed.
- Good lighting makes it more fun to do stuff at night. With clear visibility of both each other and their activities, individuals are inclined to spend prolonged periods outdoors.
Outdoor Lighting Tips for Rental Properties
Survey the Space
Before embarking on any lighting project, it's crucial to survey the outdoor area of your rental property. What areas require illumination, and why? Take a detailed look at the entrances, pathways, driveways, stairs, patios, gardens, and unique landscape features. Does your front porch need more light to enhance security? Could your garden benefit from some aesthetic spotlighting? Creating a blueprint or sketch of your outdoor area can help you visualise where the lighting needs to go.
Questions to Ask:
- What is the primary purpose of lighting each area: safety, aesthetics, or both?
- Are there spots that could potentially be hiding spots for intruders if not properly lit?
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A Multi-Faceted Approach to Effective Lighting
A successful outdoor lighting setup usually involves a layered approach.
Three Tiers of Lighting:
- Overhead Lights: These lights are generally mounted on the eaves of the home or as stand-alone posts. They provide broad illumination and enhance security by making the area visibly clear.
- Ambient Lighting: These could be wall sconces, hanging lights, or landscape lighting. They serve to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, especially in areas like patios or decks.
- Task Lighting: These are often smaller, table-height lights or even ground-level lights that illuminate specific tasks—like an outdoor kitchen area, reading space, or stair steps.
Special Techniques:
- Up-lighting: Placed on the ground, these lights shine upwards to highlight architectural features or large trees.
- Spot-lighting: These are used to focus intense light on particular elements like signs, door numbers, or artworks.
Watch the Gaps
One common mistake in outdoor lighting is the oversight of gaps or "dark zones" between lights. Good lighting isn't just about the fixtures you install; it's about how they work in concert to guide the eye from one focal point to another. Any lapse could result in dangerous or unwelcome dark pockets.
Tips:
- Make sure there is a balance between light and shadow to avoid harsh contrasts.
- Use smaller accent lights to fill in gaps between primary light sources.
Guiding the Way
Pathway lights serve as both functional and aesthetic elements in your landscape. Placed alongside driveways, walkways, steps, and entryways, these lights act as guides for navigation while also contributing to the overall ambiance.
Considerations:
- Choose fixtures that align well with the exterior décor to elevate the property's facade.
- Ensure lights are spaced evenly and are of appropriate brightness to prevent stumbling or tripping.
Size Matters, and So Does Placement
The dimensions and placement of the light fixtures can dramatically affect their efficacy and the atmosphere they create.
Guidelines:
- Larger areas may require fixtures with greater luminosity.
- Always consider the height at which the light will be placed; too high and you risk glare, too low and you may not get sufficient coverage.
Before installing any fixtures, it's wise to do a "mock placement" to gauge their impact. Even a small misstep can disrupt the harmony of your well-planned outdoor lighting scheme, so take your time in the planning phase to ensure optimal results.
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