If you want to make your outside space more functional or enhance its overall beauty, adding outdoor lighting is an excellent project to accomplish these goals. There are several options for outdoor lights, making it difficult to select the right pieces for your home. Our real estate agents encourage homeowners to follow these tips for upgrading their home's exterior lighting. 

• Think About the Purpose of Your Lighting
  It's difficult to select new exterior lighting if you don't know the purpose of the additional lighting. Spend a few moments envisioning your household's habits and outdoor entertaining style. Do you like to spend evenings relaxing and conversing as the natural daylight fades? Or, do you have certain features you want to draw attention to, like a beautiful garden or water feature? Perhaps you want to illuminate certain areas of your yard for safety reasons so you can see during the nighttime hours or deter unwanted visitors. Let your goals guide your lighting selections. If you want your lighting to add ambiance to your outdoor areas, focus on pieces that suit your style and desired atmosphere. For example, stands of twinkle lights or solar lanterns both work well for creating a romantic space. Or, if you're listing your home with other Tuscaloosa homes for sale, you might add motion-activated lights around walkways to help potential buyers see all your home's exterior beauty. 

• Decide How You Want to Power Your Lights
  Every type of electrical lighting requires a power source, but you have a few options for supplying energy to your lights. An existing outlet is a fast, easy option for powering outdoor lights; with electrical lights, you don't have to remember to check and change the batteries in lights or confirm that they're getting ample solar energy. A downside to electrical lighting is that outdoor outlets may be in limited supply, and you'll have to set up the lights close to an outlet. It is possible to add additional outdoor outlets by hiring an electrician, but this will significantly increase the cost of your project. If your plans involve installing several overhead light fixtures, you may prefer to hire an electrician to make sure everything is safely installed and adheres to your local building codes. Opting for battery-powered lights expands your style options and enables you to place light wherever it suits your needs. Need more lighting by your hot tub or water feature? Lanterns or spotlights make it easy to illuminate your preferred spaces. Solar-powered lights are an eco-friendly solution that you can use anywhere around your property that receives ample sunlight. This adds to their versatility, and you'll avoid increasing your home's energy costs. However, if there's a chance the lights won't receive ample amounts of sunlight, they may not work like you want them to. 

• Check That Your New Lights Adhere to Local Rules and Ordinances
  Before you hire an electrician or start shopping for exterior lights, see if there are any rules or ordinances that govern residential outdoor lighting. Some cities limit the brightness of outdoor lights to minimize light pollution, while others restrict the times that you can use the lights to avoid interfering with the habits of local wildlife. 

With a little planning and research, outdoor lighting can be a terrific investment in your home. Ready to find a place with more space for outdoor activities? Contact us to get started.