Upgrades to Spruce up your Outdoor Space for Spring (2023)

Published by Wiseway Blogger on Feb 3, 2023 9:38:32 AM

Spring is just around the corner. You're ready to mulch, pull weeds, and fertilize the lawn - but don't forget about your outdoor lighting! Here are five tips to upgrade your outdoor space for spring so you can enjoy your backyard, porch, or patio even more! We'll cover topics like landscape lighting, security and general outdoor lighting, as well as upgrading your existing fixtures with LED bulbs.

Upgrade #1: Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting is an important element of outdoor design that can bring a whole new level of beauty and functionality to any outdoor space. Not only does landscape lighting provide safety and security for your outdoor area, but it can also improve its aesthetic appeal. It's proven that it can improve the overall perceived value of your home. That will come in handy if you ever need to sell!

Upgrading your outdoor space with landscape lighting can be especially beneficial for those homeowners who have large outdoor areas such as a garden, patio, deck, or pool. It can be used to create an inviting atmosphere that can help bring people together, making your outdoor area a great place to entertain or just relax.

You've already invested in beautiful landscaping, why not highlight that? Whether it’s a water feature, a garden, or a patio set, landscape lighting can help draw attention to it and make it look more attractive. Landscape lighting can also be used to provide a practical purpose such as illuminating pathways or steps to make them safer and easier to navigate at night. In addition to the aesthetic and practical benefits of landscape lighting, it can also improve the security of your outdoor area. Landscape lighting can be used to deter intruders by illuminating potential hiding spots and making it more difficult for them to approach your property unnoticed.

With integrated LED fixtures like Kichler's VLO accent landscape lighting, maintenance is virtually null. They boast a 15 year warranty. Talk about peace of mind!

This Kichler V-LO fixture is the perfect integrated LED accent landscape light for a variety of applications.

Path lights can be used as decorative, ambient light. They're also help keep the walkway safe to navigate.

Hardscape lighting can be used to accent stairs, retaining walls, or an outdoor bar.

Accent lighting can be installed on the ground, in trees for a moonlighting effect, or on other features like this trellis.

Upgrade #2: Security Lighting

When it comes to protecting your home, one of the best upgrades you can make is home security lighting. Security lighting can provide you with an added layer of protection around your home, giving you peace of mind that your property is safe. From motion-activated LED fixtures to simple flood lights, there are many different types of security lighting available to choose from. Security lighting is an effective way to deter burglars and intruders from entering your property, as well as providing visibility in dark areas of your property. Motion-activated lights can turn on when any movement is detected, providing an added layer of protection. These lights can be used to illuminate pathways, driveways, and other areas around your home. Integrated LED security lights are becoming increasingly popular for home security lighting since they can last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and are more energy efficient.

While we offer many types of security and flood lighting options for your home, the Bullet from Satco is by far our favorite! It has a bright, integrated LED that produces 1,900 lumens, features a security camera, and is Starfish enabled. That means it can be controlled via the Starfish app! Starfish products from Satco such as tape lighting, downlighting, and bulbs, give homeowners an easy and affordable way to upgrade to smart, app-controlled lighting.

Upgrade #3: Decorative Outdoor Lighting

As spring approaches, it's time to check on your outdoor lighting fixtures. Are they tarnished? Have they gathered dust and debris? If you're falling out of love with your current fixtures, now is the perfect time to upgrade! Outdoor lighting can be an easy and inexpensive way to give your home a fresh new look while also providing safety and security. Many decorative outdoor fixtures in our showrooms offer a 3-5 year warranty on their outdoor fixture finishes. This helps keep your outdoor fixtures looking brand-new for longer!

Popular decorative outdoor lighting fixtures:

Wall lanterns
Post-mount fixtures
Pier-mount fixtures
Flush mount
Hanging fixtures

Upgrade #4: LED Bulbs

If upgrading your exterior lighting isn't on your list this year, then upgrade your current fixtures with LED bulbs! We stock quality, long-lasting LED bulbs in a variety of shapes and bases.

Expert tip: When choosing an LED bulb for a fixture that has clear glass, make sure to purchase a clear bulb. When choosing an LED bulb for a fixture that has frosted glass, make sure to purchase a frosted bulb. Clear bulbs behind frosted glass can create strange shadows on the glass from filaments inside the bulb, making the glass appear dirty.

Why choose LED for your exterior lighting fixtures:

Less heat - Incandescent or halogen bulbs can produce high heat levels that have been known to crack glass in light fixtures.
Instant illumination - Typical CFL bulbs have an initial "warm-up" time when the light is first turned on. With LED bulbs, you receive the full brightness of the bulb instantly.
Wind tolerance - Delicate filaments of incandescent bulbs can become damaged from strong gusts of wind that rattle a fixture.
Color temperature - With LED, you can choose a warm glow from a Kelvin temperature of 27K or a brighter, white glow from a Kelvin temperature of 30-40K.
Longevity - Change your outdoor lighting bulbs less often!

BONUS TIP: Infrared heaters!

With the arrival of spring, mornings and evenings can still remain quite chilly. Infrared outdoor heaters can provide a great solution to keep you comfortable even in the coldest climates. Not only are they an effective way to heat outdoor spaces, but they also offer a variety of designs to make them an attractive option for outdoor heating. One of the primary benefits of infrared outdoor heaters is their energy efficiency. Compared to other types of outdoor heaters, infrared models use less energy and are able to heat a larger area more quickly. In addition to being energy efficient, infrared outdoor heaters are also relatively safe to use. Since they don’t produce any open flames, they can be used in areas where traditional heaters can’t. This makes them particularly useful for areas like patios, decks, and other areas where open flames can pose a risk.

Infrared outdoor heaters are low maintenance and easy to use. They require little to no setup and can be turned on and off with the push of a button. This makes them an ideal solution for those who want a simple heating solution for their outdoor space. One of the best features of these outdoor heaters is their ability to provide targeted heating. Unlike traditional heaters, infrared models can be directed towards specific areas, making them ideal for heating individual people or seating areas.

If you're thinking of extending your time outside this year, stop by one of our showrooms to browse our selection of Innova outdoor heaters!