Are you spending more time at home this summer? Lots of people are and it’s not hard to see why as inflation continues to soar. Instead of spending tons of money on vacations, many homeowners are choosing to hold onto it right now and we can’t say we blame them! Have you considered dipping into the budget and enhancing your outdoor living space by adding LED lights into the mix though?
LED lights are the perfect addition to any outdoor setting. They’re relatively inexpensive to purchase compared to other lighting choices. The lifespan is much longer than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs and they can withstand extreme weather conditions. Extreme temperatures don’t affect them either. Moreover, they don’t cost an arm and leg to operate!
Lighting up the night around your home creates a completely different environment. You and your family are sure to enjoy the new ambiance outdoor lighting creates. And, we dare say, your neighbors will likely enjoy it too!
String lights are enchanting
Whether you drape them over rafters, in the trees and shrubs, or securely anchor them around the perimeter of your outdoor living room, string lights create an environment that many describe as “magical.” Most sets are equipped with color-changing capabilities. Homeowners can use the accompanying remote or even download the company’s app to program the lights from their phones.
Planning a party? Jazz up the atmosphere with a bold, colorful light show synched to music. Do you plan to spend most evenings relaxing on the lanai or out by the pool? String lights are the perfect choice for creating a twinkle effect that is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Spotlights are for highlighting
LED lights aren’t limited to string lights. Spotlights can create a dramatic effect for any outdoor features in your yard that you want to enhance. Draw attention to that beautiful garden spot or sculpture you’ve purchased—or created. Angling spotlights to hit specific elements of your surroundings creates depth and dimension.
Spotlights can also be used to illuminate treacherous terrain that could cause someone to be hurt if they are unable to see it in the dark. It allows everyone to navigate your yard safely at night.
Another advantage of spotlights, of course, is to illuminate doorways and other areas where you feel you may need some added security.
Guide your steps
LED lights are an excellent choice for pathway lighting to enhance safety and show off some style. They are small but mighty in that they illuminate your walkways while adding a touch of elegance to your overall design. Available in various styles, you can decide which will best complement your outdoor space. Whether you’re lighting up your garden paths or the walkway to your front door, rest assured that your family and guests can safely navigate through the darkness.
Not to mention the beautiful effect that pathway lights create for nighttime strolls. Once you’ve finished installing them, it may be hard to resist the softly glowing lights. You may find yourself looking forward to walking through the midst of them as often as possible as soon as dusk turns to night.
Underwater experience
LED lights are the perfect choice for accentuating your pool, fountain, or babbling brook. Lights reflecting on—or shining through—water has a mesmerizing effect like no other. Lounging by the pool surrounded by the soft glow created by the underwater lighting is the perfect way to relax on a warm summer evening. Adding lighting to your water features enhances the relaxing effect that the sound of running water tends to have on many of us as well.
Of course, underwater lighting has practical benefits—especially around the pool—because it helps us see where we’re going at night. However, that mesmerizing glow is hard to beat when you need to regroup and relax after a rough day.
Some facts about lifespan
While LED lights do have a longer lifespan than other forms of outdoor lighting, many claim the lights don’t last as long as professed on the packaging. It turns out that there are contributing factors that make that a true statement.
Manufacturers are prone to focus on how long the lights last under optimum conditions. There are factors to consider that can influence how often you’ll be replacing the bulbs. It would be a good idea to check out the warranty or guarantee of a product before buying to ensure you’re making a wise purchase.
Intense heat
The soaring temperatures that are a natural part of our lives here in Florida can adversely affect the lifespan of LED bulbs. Come to find out, LED lights function best when the temperatures average around 75 degrees. Even though that may mean you’ll never see a light bulb last for 20 years as proposed by the manufacturer, it’s likely going to last between four and six years.
That’s because when operating in higher outdoor temperatures, the semiconducting element within the LED bulb increases too. When it does, it accelerates the degradation rate of the diodes.
Currents don’t just run through water
LED lighting is created to operate on a specific electrical current. When the electrical current is too low or too high, it affects the lifespan of the bulb. A low current extends the lifespan. A higher current than advised decreases it. Living in a sub-tropical climate, that’s our reality.
Due diligence can help you find LED lighting equipped with a heat sink component. This component absorbs the thermal energy produced by LED modules. It, then, distributes the energy into the surrounding air regulating the temperature of the bulb, thereby, increasing its longevity.
Lights illuminate the dark
Installing LED lighting in and around your family’s outdoor living space is going to positively affect the mood you create. These days, every little bit of positivity we can muster can give us the peace of mind we need to push through these trying times.
Creating a space that your family enjoys being in is going to increase the positivity factor in our lives tenfold. That’s because when you’re spending time together swimming, relaxing, celebrating, or just hanging out, it’s the togetherness that matters most. Strengthening the family bond is how we weather this tough period because having a firm foundation on which we stand means we don’t bend or break. And when things start evening out again—and they will—we’ll be ready to soar!