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Many homeowners forget to treat their outdoor spaces with the same attention their interiors get when it comes to lighting. What usually happens is they place a few high-powered light bulbs around the backyard to make sure the entire area can be washed by light when necessary.

When it comes to landscape lighting, however, the goal isn’t to have as much light as possible. Instead, the trick is to find the balance between light and dark, which highlights features we tend not to notice during the day—think trees, rock formations, and pathways.

The interplay between light and shadows can make a backyard look amazing at night. What you need to do is figure out which lights to get and how best to use them in your [city] home’s backyard. Keep reading to do just that.

1. Spotlights

Spotlights are perhaps the most important landscape light fixture you can get for your backyard. They are often used as the main light source and to highlight outdoor features like sculptures, architectural details, buildings, trees, and other structures in the outdoor space.

2. Path Lights

While landscape lighting emphasizes the value of aesthetic appeal, it’s also about safety and security. This is where path lights come in, acting like little lamp posts with light bulbs inside diffused casing and placed along walkways or to frame a part of your backyard. These lights look beautiful lined along a path, around water features, or along the driveway.

3. Step and Deck Lights

Not only do these light fixtures add a beautiful glow to your deck, they also improve your outdoor spaces’ safety, shedding light on dark steps leading to the deck area. Step and deck lights are usually installed directly on a yard’s decking or hardscape, but you can find some units that used for washing lights on stone walls and to illuminate entertainment areas in the backyard.

4. Pier Mount/Post Mount Lights

As the name suggests, pier mount and post mount lights are designed to be installed on top of structure or posts. These lights serve a more architectural purpose in that they further enhance the atmosphere of an outdoor area and even help improve the façade of the house. These are usually placed along gates, entryways, around the deck, and on fences.

5. Bollard Lights

Similar to path lights, bollard lights are great for safety but also and enhance the architectural look of an outdoor area. These lights can be used as guide posts along paths and walkways or as separators for the different spaces in your outdoor area.

6. Flood Lights

Floodlights are high-intensity, broad-beamed lights that can illuminate large areas. Place them on top of a tree, post, or even along your roof and aim the flood beam on a part of the backyard you wish to light—it can be pond, a patio area, or even a tree.

7. Well Lights

Like spotlights, well lights are placed into the ground to create a seamless look in the landscape or hardscape. These are ideal to use if you want to light up details like trees, outdoor art, or even walls.

8. Pond Lights

Specifically made for ponds and other water details in outdoor spaces, waterproof pond lights can be submerged into the water to add drama and color to the area. Some pond lights even come with the ability to change colors or flash light patterns you to change the light’s color or light pattern.

Now that you know which lights to use, the next step is to use them to create a unique look that reflects your personality and the look you want your home to achieve.

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