Summer to Autumn Lighting Transitions: Your Complete Guide
As the seasons transition from summer to autumn, our outdoor spaces undergo a transformation. The blazing hot, long days of summer give way to the slightly cooler, shorter days of fall, and spending time outside becomes much more enjoyable. At Outdoor Lighting by Decorating Elves, we understand the importance of adapting your outdoor lighting to complement this welcome change at both your home and business. Here are some tips to seamlessly transition your outdoor lighting from summer heat to autumn chill:
Illuminate Your Fire Features
With the cooler fall evenings, you’ll likely be using your fire pits or patio fireplaces more frequently. Enhance the beauty of your fire features with accent lighting while also making them safer for family, friends, and guests.
Create Warmth With Lighting
Introduce uplighting and downlighting, accompanied by copper or bronze sconces, to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your outdoor areas. Adjust any white LED lights to the warm setting, and for colored LEDs opt for warm fall colors like orange, yellow, and red.
Clear Away Foliage
Autumn means falling leaves and branches. Regularly clear them away from your outdoor lighting fixtures to prevent obstruction of light beams and keep your lighting looking its best. Foliage can also be a potential fire hazard when it piles on top of lighting fixtures, so keeping it clear is also a safety concern.
Modify Lighting on Deciduous Trees
If you have deciduous trees that shed leaves, adjust any lighting directed on those trees to focus on the trunk rather than the bare branches during autumn and winter (unless you’re going for the scary Halloween look)
Light Up Your Pathways
If you’re expecting trick-or-treaters or guests for autumn parties, or even just some casual weeknight company, consider adding pathway lights to guide them safely to your entryways and outdoor spaces.
Add String Lights
String lights are more than just a passing trend. They can add a touch of elegance or whimsy to any outdoor space when placed correctly. For added ambiance during fall gatherings, consider supplementing your existing lighting with string lights.
Switch to LEDs
If you’re still using halogen bulbs, consider transitioning to LEDs. They’re energy-efficient and can help reduce utility bills, which is great all year long! LED landscape lighting also offers many extra features other lighting types cannot, such as color-changing, remote functionality, and the flexibility to be installed almost anywhere.
Backup for Solar Lights
Solar lighting is great for the environment and your wallet, but the shorter fall days might not give you the charge you need for a late-night gettogether. If you use solar outdoor lighting, have a backup plan for evenings when the party outlasts the batteries.
Update Your Lighting Timers
Those shorter days also mean that you’ll need to adjust your landscape lighting timer to turn on earlier in the evening. Some may even find it necessary to adjust the morning cutoff time as well. Do a little research to find out the best times to set your lighting timers.
Routine Maintenance
Fall is a great time to check your outdoor lighting system for any necessary maintenance or updates. If repairs are needed, be sure to handle them promptly. Delaying repairs often leads to more issues down the road. If you’re in Tampa Bay, Outdoor Lighting by Decorating Elves offers a full-service Preventative Maintenance Program to keep your outdoor lighting in the best shape year-round.
Trust Decorating Elves for Flawless Outdoor Lighting All Year!
Transitioning your outdoor lighting for the fall not only ensures safety but also enhances the beauty and functionality of your outdoor spaces. At Outdoor Lighting by Decorating Elves, we’re here to help you make the most of every season. To schedule your free design consultation, call 727-474-2628 or contact us online today.