During this first-of-its-kind summer, people are spending more time enjoying their homes, inside and out. Put your home in the best light and pull everything together with these simple tips:
Light in layers. Lighting is most effective if it utilizes overhead, task and ambient light sources. While this idea is commonplace for inside lighting, it's just as important for outdoor lighting where there are not typically boundaries and borders. By having three light layers (overhead, task and ambient), appropriate areas are illuminated for the intended interactions and use of that space.
Create a safe and secure environment. Enhance security with lighting on stairs, around toe-kick areas, in dark corners, and near outside entrances. When lighting outside areas, aim lights away from doors and not directly into people's eyes. Make sure any outdoor fixtures are weather rated.
Reduce glare. Inside install dimmers on any lights that require flexible control over the light level, such as bathrooms and hallways. Outside, light walkways and paths with light that is cast downward and with fixtures that are hooded.