December 19, 2007
With Content from Canada.com

Outdoor lighting and landscape lighting is a rising trend in North America according to Canada.com. Two new words: lightscaping and nightscaping have even been coined to describe homeowners addition of exterior lighting effects to their gardens and backyards.

Adding some outdoor lighting can create a whole new environment or atmosphere in your outdoor living space and can actually expand the livable space at your home.

Many people are familiar with floodlights as they are common place in most homes (sometimes accompanied by a motion sensor for added security) but most people consider them utility or security lighting and do not use them for decorative or accent illumination. However, a well-place spot light can do much more than add security to your home. A spotlight can highlight a striking feature of your home's architecture or landscape; light a fountain or pond; or illuminate the canopy of an attractive tree.

The introduction of new technologies such as LED lighting and improved performance solar lights are also adding to the options available to home owners. A high-output solar system can provide the same amount of lighting as a low-voltage hard-wired system but costs nothing to operate and requires no wire for installation.

People interested in trying out some outdoor lighting might considering starting with some simple path lights, rope light, and low power flood around their patio or deck.