Landscape lighting fixtures have many different purposes. The most commonly used fixtures are spot lights, flood lights, path lights, bollards and deck lights.
Spot Lights
Spotlights provide bright light with a much focused beam usually in a single direction. They can be used to highlight and shadow houses, walls, trees, and garden statuaries. They can be staked in the ground to project light upwards or placed in trees and on houses to shine downwards simulating moonlight. Colored filters like red, yellow or blue are sometimes used to enhance the natural colors of plants or to decorate for the holidays.
Flood Lights
Flood lights are similar to spot lights but cast a less focused beam for broader areas. They are used for illuminating very wide areas, such as a large deck, patio spaces and front yards. They are commonly used to enhance security. Flood lights installed with motion sensors are a great option to secure a property without consuming much electricity.
Path Lights
Path lights are low to the ground and commonly have a domed top that spreads a pattern of light downward. They are used to highlight driveways and paths. The best designs create a staggered illumination that gives an ethereal effect to the landscape rather than an airport runway. Path lights come in a variety of materials but copper, aluminum, and stainless steel create a more aesthetic appeal to highlight the garden in the daylight hours.
Bollard Lights
Bollards, aka beacon lights, are short ground mounted posts with a multi directional beam that is horizontally focused. They are usually brighter than path lights and used to separate patios and terraces and separate yard areas. Bollards are excellent for enhancing security.
Deck Lights
Deck lights have several different categories:
Recessed Stair risers Lights Excellent idea if stairs are away from house.
Post caps LED lights that fit under a post cap and create a warm ambience for entertaining.
Post accent lights This type of light casts a downward glow and is used on the side of posts.
Recessed lights on deck Recessed lighting mounts flush with the surface of your deck.
Under-rail light This light is used under the handrails and is hidden. A downward glow is cast between the balusters.