How to Properly Light a House: Tips for Homeowners Who Want to Do It Right

Outdoor lighting does more than make your home visible at night—it shapes the mood, enhances safety, and highlights the beauty of your home and landscaping. But getting it just right requires careful planning.

Think Like a Designer 

Before you shop for fixtures, take time to plan your lighting like a designer would. Ask yourself:

• What parts of your home or yard do you want to highlight?
• Where is visibility most important (steps, paths, driveways)?
• Where are the shadows or dark zones that might feel unsafe?

Tip: Think in zones. Break the space into areas like front façade, driveway, walkways, patio, trees, and garden beds. Each area may need a different approach as well as a plan for a cohesive look.

Tree Lighting: Dramatic but Tricky

Lighting trees is one of the most dramatic ways to enhance a landscape—but also one of the easiest to get wrong. Here’s why:

• Beam spread and angle matter. A narrow beam on a tall tree might only light the trunk, while too wide a beam can wash everything out.
• Uplighting needs precision. Placing the fixture too close creates hot spots; too far away, and you lose impact.
• Light positioning affects safety. Poor placement can create glare into windows or across walkways.

Tip: For layered depth, consider lighting a few trees from both the ground and above (called "moonlighting") to mimic natural light. (If you’re using tree-mounted fixtures, use tree-safe hardware and fixtures and plan for tree growth. Click here to read more about effective tree lighting.)

Path Lighting: Go Beyond the Norm

Many homeowners go for classic path lights, but there are many other options to consider. Alternatives include:

• Downlights from nearby trees – Less obtrusive and more natural-looking.
• Integrated step or hardscape lights – Ideal for steps, retaining walls, and edges.
• Decorative bollard lights – Add character and texture to the light itself.

Tip: Avoid the “runway” look. Instead of lining both sides of a path evenly, stagger fixtures or highlight only curves, landings, or transition points.

Architectural Lighting: Less Is Often More

When lighting the house itself, aim to highlight structure and texture without overwhelming it.

• Use grazing light to emphasize stone or brickwork.
• Aim for even spacing but allow for visual breaks—darkness is a design tool too.
• Light vertical elements like columns, corners, or peaks to give the house dimension.

Common mistake: Using too much light or placing fixtures at the wrong height can flatten the appearance or create harsh glare.

Other Tips for a Successful System

• Use the right color temperature.
• Avoid direct glare. Always consider where people will be standing or walking.
• Mind voltage drop. If you’re using low-voltage lights, long cable runs can cause dimming unless planned properly.
• Invest in good fixtures. Aluminum might corrode quickly. Brass or composite materials are more durable for outdoor use.

The Art of Outdoor Lighting

Achieving beautiful results with outdoor lighting is part art, part science—and when it’s done right, your home will feel and look complete.