Table of Contents

• What Are Lumens?
• Types Of Lighting
• Step Lighting
• Pool Lights
• Path Lighting
• Flood Lights
• Other Factors To Consider
• Home Style
• The Size Of Your Yard
• Additional Lighting
• Services From Get Lit Landscaping

Choosing the best lighting for your outdoor space can depend on many factors, including brightness, the size of your home, and your personal style. Lumens is the rating system used to determine the brightness of the lighting used around your home. This blog will break down what lumens are and how to choose the best lighting for the exterior of your home or entertaining space. 

What Are Lumens?

Lumens are the measure of light or brightness that something produces. Many modern lighting solutions are able to produce more lumens without using less energy. Fixtures around your home are able to illuminate the space without increasing your energy bill. Choosing energy-efficient lighting and looking at your monthly energy costs is something you need to consider in addition to lumens. Brighter lumens can typically be appropriate for outdoor use as they cut through the darkness of all seasons, light pollution, and more. 

Types Of Lighting

Lumens and the placement of the lighting around your home can determine how much brightness is needed to keep your home safe and aesthetically pleasing. Let’s look at different types of outdoor lighting and what lumens will work best for these locations. 

Step Lighting

Porch steps, front steps, or other stairs leading into the home need to be well-lit to avoid accidents. 12-100 lumens is recommended for outdoor staircases to help you spot debris and the depth of each stair. If lighting is placed on each step, lower lumens will be sufficient; however, if you are placing an overhead light for the entire staircase, higher lumens will prevent harsh shadows. 

Pool Lights

Lighting that cuts through water needs to be brighter than other lighting in the outdoor setting. Pool lights should be anywhere between 200-400 lumens to make the pool usable during the evening and make it visible for those navigating the yard. Pool lights can lower the risk of drowning and slips around the pool area, so choosing the right lumens is crucial. 

Path Lighting

Similar to step lighting, path lighting is essential for those coming to your home or leaving when darkness surrounds the home. Path lighting should be over 100 lumens to keep the walkway safe and free of hiding wildlife. Using multiple lights along the entire pathway will increase the lumens in the space, thereby enhancing visibility.

Flood Lights

Flood lights should have the highest lumens of any type of lighting because they cover a wide area. Lumens for floodlights should be between 700 and 1300. 

Other Factors To Consider

The placement of the lights and available space in your home are also factors that should come into play when selecting outdoor lighting. Looking at all elements of your home when choosing the right lumens will help keep every corner of your yard and walkways well-lit. 

Home Style

The aesthetics of your home and the layout can play into how bright your lights should be. Modern homes could benefit from permanent lighting, flood lighting, and landscape lighting. Cottages or traditional home styles could utilize solar string lights or more ornate porch lights.

The Size Of Your Yard

Measuring the size of your yard will help you determine the number of lights needed as well as the lumens needed to enhance the outdoor space. Smaller yards can obviously benefit from fewer lights and lower lumens, but large yards will need strategically placed lighting and higher lumens to achieve the same effect. Take note of the shape of your yard and where obstacles may block the light and create blind spots.

Additional Lighting

If you have existing lighting, this can help you determine how many more lumens you need to add to the space. Old lighting may not provide the amount of light you are looking for, so even if you have additional lighting, replacing it may be better than adding more lights. Adding more lighting will improve the safety and aesthetics of a home, so adding more is never a bad decision.

Services From Get Lit Landscaping

Get Lit is not just another typical outdoor lighting company; we consider ourselves artists. With a passion for transforming your outdoor spaces, you will have peace of mind knowing that our experts will treat your home with respect, bring innovative solutions to your space, and prioritize functionality. Whether you want to highlight architectural features or create an entertainment space, we have options for you. Let Get Lit change your home into an outdoor retreat with bright and sustainable lighting.