Outdoor Lighting Glossary
By GoLights.com.au|May 18, 2013
Outdoor Lighting Glossary
It’s nice to help find the right key when you come home at night. It keeps you from tripping over things and can also help detour burglaries. All of that is great, however Outdoor Lighting can greatly improve the look of your home at night, and that is where the greatest benefit lies.
There are lots of different types of outdoor lights. Knowing what they all are will help you decide what is best for your home. Below is a brief glossary at the varying types of outdoor lights you can expect to encounter.
Bunker Lights – These are small, compact lights that sit on a flat surface. They can be used to brighten the garden or light a path and can be placed in areas exposed to the elements.
Deck and Step Lights – As the names indicate, these are great for decks and steps outdoors. Their size makes them great for obscure placement, such as walkways and garden paths, allowing you to illuminate area’s which would otherwise be dark.
Outdoor Ceiling Lights -- This is a very broad category that includes just about any light that is set on a ceiling. They range from the unobtrusive to the powerfully bright and you would typically find these in verandah’s porches or alfresco areas.
Bollards – Bollards are your standard post lights meant to line walkways and paths. Some Bollards are solar powered, meaning they collect energy during the day, and emit that energy as night falls. You won’t need to worry about turning them on.
Brick Lights – Brick Lights are meant to offer light while blending into the surroundings. They fit stylishly into brick walls or paths and enhance the natural outdoor beauty. Be careful when installing these because they are not actual bricks and are not capable of supporting a wall.
Post Lanterns – Post Lanterns come in many shapes and tend to sit on fences, offering a different angle than the other styles of outdoor lights. With strategic placement they can attract emphasis an area of the garden would want to bring attention to.
Post and String Lights – Post and String Lights are used mostly during the winter holidays. They are usually encased in a clear plastic that gives them the appearance and flexibility of rope. They tend to be wrapped around posts or trees in order to offer a more festive feel.
In ground Up lights – Simply put, they stick in the ground and shine light upward. In Ground lights are perfect for spotlighting specific items in your yard and create a beautiful effect.
Post Tops – Post Tops sit directly on the tops of fences or posts and cast light in all directions, giving a more majestic feel to any park or garden like setting.
Underwater and Well Lighting – These are specialized, waterproof lights meant for submersion. They’re great for emitting a glow from ponds or fountains.
Solar Lights – Solar lights are the most practical. They convert the sun’s rays into energy during the day, and release that energy as light at night. Moreover, you never have to turn them on. They can sense when light is fading, and will come on as needed.
Outdoor Ceiling Fans – Outdoor ceiling fans are great for adding style outside. They are waterproof and can withstand the elements very well as well as offering a cool breeze on warm summer’s days.
Outdoor Floodlights and Spotlights – Floodlights and spotlights are very beneficial for lighting larger areas. They are perfect for those late night pool parties or barbecues. They can also help deter any unwanted nightly visitors as many models come with sensory abilities.
It’s nice to help find the right key when you come home at night. It keeps you from tripping over things and can also help detour burglaries. All of that is great, however Outdoor Lighting can greatly improve the look of your home at night, and that is where the greatest benefit lies.
There are lots of different types of outdoor lights. Knowing what they all are will help you decide what is best for your home. Below is a brief glossary at the varying types of outdoor lights you can expect to encounter.
Bunker Lights – These are small, compact lights that sit on a flat surface. They can be used to brighten the garden or light a path and can be placed in areas exposed to the elements.
Deck and Step Lights – As the names indicate, these are great for decks and steps outdoors. Their size makes them great for obscure placement, such as walkways and garden paths, allowing you to illuminate area’s which would otherwise be dark.
Outdoor Ceiling Lights -- This is a very broad category that includes just about any light that is set on a ceiling. They range from the unobtrusive to the powerfully bright and you would typically find these in verandah’s porches or alfresco areas.
Bollards – Bollards are your standard post lights meant to line walkways and paths. Some Bollards are solar powered, meaning they collect energy during the day, and emit that energy as night falls. You won’t need to worry about turning them on.
Brick Lights – Brick Lights are meant to offer light while blending into the surroundings. They fit stylishly into brick walls or paths and enhance the natural outdoor beauty. Be careful when installing these because they are not actual bricks and are not capable of supporting a wall.
Post Lanterns – Post Lanterns come in many shapes and tend to sit on fences, offering a different angle than the other styles of outdoor lights. With strategic placement they can attract emphasis an area of the garden would want to bring attention to.
Post and String Lights – Post and String Lights are used mostly during the winter holidays. They are usually encased in a clear plastic that gives them the appearance and flexibility of rope. They tend to be wrapped around posts or trees in order to offer a more festive feel.
In ground Up lights – Simply put, they stick in the ground and shine light upward. In Ground lights are perfect for spotlighting specific items in your yard and create a beautiful effect.
Post Tops – Post Tops sit directly on the tops of fences or posts and cast light in all directions, giving a more majestic feel to any park or garden like setting.
Underwater and Well Lighting – These are specialized, waterproof lights meant for submersion. They’re great for emitting a glow from ponds or fountains.
Solar Lights – Solar lights are the most practical. They convert the sun’s rays into energy during the day, and release that energy as light at night. Moreover, you never have to turn them on. They can sense when light is fading, and will come on as needed.
Outdoor Ceiling Fans – Outdoor ceiling fans are great for adding style outside. They are waterproof and can withstand the elements very well as well as offering a cool breeze on warm summer’s days.
Outdoor Floodlights and Spotlights – Floodlights and spotlights are very beneficial for lighting larger areas. They are perfect for those late night pool parties or barbecues. They can also help deter any unwanted nightly visitors as many models come with sensory abilities.
