ABSTRACT
Good exterior lighting design feels natural but takes a lot of work and a good understanding of how to use and balance light layers. Consider all light layers – task, accent, ambient, and decorative – on the exterior just as you would inside the house. Task lighting outdoors helps people get from the street safely up to the front door. The accent light layer illuminates plantings, sculptures, water features, and architectural details. The ambient layer plays a role outside in creating a comfortable relaxing sense of an outdoor room, and can be created by bouncing light off wall surfaces, gazebo ceilings, or even a tree canopy. The decorative layer includes pole lanterns, sconces, and pendants, and provides visual interest and focal points in combination with the other layers.
