Lighting is usually considered a functional part of the home, both indoor and outdoor. Porch lighting and other security lights that allow for safe passage from one area of the yard or driveway to the home's entrance are considered necessary lighting installations. However, not all lighting is merely functional, there are many type of outdoor decorative lighting installations that are designed merely for their enhancement to the landscape.
Decorative lighting adds character and a decorative touch to the outdoor living area extending the personality of the home and its owner from the inside to the outside. The lighting scheme can be as complex or as simple as the designer wants it to be. Soft subtle lighting options can be used around patios and decks to allows guests enough light for socializing while more focused lighting can be used to highlight favorite garden flowers or trees.
Decorative outdoor lighting can be used to bring pools and ponds to life when the sun goes down. Water features are spectacular when the sun goes down with the use of floating or underwater light installations. This is also another example of how lighting is not necessarily installed for function but is designed to be a decorative, creative touch to the area.
When planning outdoor lighting plans that are meant to add charm and atmosphere to the landscape it is also possible to combine form with function. Pathway lighting can be decorative while also being a safety feature. Landscape stones with embedded lights are the perfect choice for a lighting option that is both a safety feature and a dramatic addition to the landscape plan.
Choosing lighting that has both form and function is an economical way to create a landscape design that goes beyond beauty and offers security and safety that is necessary for the home and its guests. Landscape architects are able to offer a complete analysis of the landscape and create a plan that is the perfect fit for the home. If the expense of the landscape architect is out of reach, the homeowner can design their own landscape lighting plan by simply following their landscape's design and their own wishes.