The Perfect Starting Point for First Time Homeowners
If you’re a first-time homeowner or unsure where to start with outdoor lighting, VOLT makes it simple to enhance your favorite outdoor spaces. While the world of landscape lighting can feel overwhelming, VOLT guides you through design ideas and purchasing decisions so you can create a beautiful, well-lit exterior.
VOLT Essentials is the perfect starting point. It is fully compatible with the rest of the VOLT lineup, allowing you to thoughtfully build and expand your system over time. Add well lights, downlights, bollards, or other fixture types from higher tiers on the same transformer with the same connectors, turning your initial investment into the foundation of a lighting system that grows with your home. Essentials delivers trusted quality with simple features, easy installation, enhancing style and consistency.
DIY Lighting Ideas with VOLT Essentials:
Design with Spotlights
Control Glare for a Clean Design: Glare can quickly ruin an otherwise beautiful lighting design. When placing fixtures near the home or in high-traffic areas, we advise you to position lights carefully, so the light source isn’t visible. This will keep the illumination comfortable, polished, and visually appealing.
Use Angles and Multiple Fixtures for Better Effects: The direction and intensity of your lights will shape the overall look. Spotlights aimed directly at an object reduce shadows and create a smooth wash, while indirect angles create grazing effects that highlight texture and shadow. It is important to keep the illumination balanced. Instead of relying on a few very bright fixtures, use more lights with softer output often creates a professional result.
Layer Your Lighting to Add Depth: A strong design relies on more than one lighting technique. Use a combination of uplighting, downlighting, path lighting, and accent lighting to actually create a dimension. This is more appealing to the human eye. Layering the lighting will help elimate dark spots and enhance unique features in your yard. Lastly, it creates an intentional, high-end feeling to your backyard or front yard.
Design with Flood Lights
Highlight Focal Points: Angle Flood lights at sculptures, trees, or architectural elements to showcase different shapes and textures. If you position the fixtures thoughtfully, this will enhance visual interest. All while preventing light from spilling into neighboring areas.
Wash Large Features with Light: Use flood lights to softly illuminate large surfaces like walls, hedges, or fences. Place the fixture a few feet away and aim it so the light spreads evenly across the surface instead of creating bright spots. This creates a smooth, polished look and helps larger features stand out while tying the rest of your landscape lighting together.
Create Contrast for Visual Impact: Not everything needs to be lit the same way in your yard. To create depth, allow some areas to remain in shadow. This will allow for your design to be impactful. The focal points will stand out more naturally, giving the entire space a more refined look.
Design with Path Lights
Frame Entry Points: The path to your front door or main entrance sets the mood for your home. Place your path lights evenly on either side of a walkway, gate, or doorway. Steps, thresholds, or uneven surfaces at entry points are safety hazards. Lighting these areas gives people time to adjust their footing before reaching. Dark entry points are also attractive to introducers. Lighting will reduce opportunistic break ins.
Balance and Layer Lighting: Space path lights evenly, typically 6 to 8 feet apart, adjusting closer if the fixtures are dim or your plants and decor are in the way. To enhance the lighting output, layer up lights on trees, downlights on walls, or accent lights to add dimension and depth. Balanced lighting is crucial for managing contrast and keeping overall luminance uniform while softening the space. Your eyes are happiest when light levels change gradually, keeping you visually comfortable throughout your back and front yard.
To learn more about lighting design and installation, check out our Learn Center. Our Learn Center is the perfect place for DIYers to gain inspiration and learn about current and new products.
