Levels for Your External Lighting

Ground Level

• Ground-level lighting enhances the exterior paths that lead to the various entrances of the home. Select tiny running lights protected by silicon tubing. Install these lights on either side of the path to create a boundary. The boundary not only prevents hazardous falls, but it also makes a visitor aware of exterior gardens and plants on display. Solar-power ground-level spot lighting is ideal for secured areas that do not require constant light during the night hours.

Plateau Level

• Gardens and porches with gardens are considered the cornerstone of an exterior design plan. The best gardens employ several plateaus of different heights to enhance the visual appeal of the area. This situation requires spot lighting of each different plateau. For the garden, select spot fixtures that are identical and coordinate with the other exterior lighting. Install the fixtures in each different plateau of the garden, no more than 1 meter apart. Avoid fixtures that are not easy to maintain and those that will compete visually with the plants on display.

Threshold Level

• Threshold-level fixtures are almost essential at each door, especially those doors that are used late at night when security is important. Install the fixture just slightly above the horizontal line of the threshold, but approximately 8 inches away from the vertical line of the door jamb. If there is a ceiling fixture as well, use a motion detector for the threshold-level fixture. This will reduce the home's energy costs and also allow the ceiling fixture to be the focal point of the entrance. Maintain visual balance and use a fixture on each side of the door when the entrance has no ceiling.

Ceiling Level

• Ceiling-level fixtures must coordinate with the threshold-level fixtures. There is no exception to this standard. From one door to the next, avoid design errors and select ceiling fixtures that are identical. Bear in mind the amount of square footage the entrance covers. Purchase a ceiling fixture that is in proportion to the size of the entry porch. Use common sense and purchase fixtures that can weather the various inclement outdoor elements, such as rain and snow. Center the fixture on the ceiling just in front of the doorway.