Safety & Security

When entertaining family and friends at home, lighting for safety and security is always a priority.  Keep these tips in mind as you consider how best to protect your home – and your guests – from accidents and crime.

Install lights on either side of all doorways and above so that the steps, door, house number and lock can be easily seen.

Brighten up driveway and walkway lighting with floodlights or spotlights.  Perfect for outdoor fixtures, they emit a bright sparkling light that lasts three times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs.

Illuminate steps so guests can navigate their way safely.  Try lining pathways and steps with low-voltage halogen walkway lighting.  They’re easier to install than line voltage lights because wires don’t have to be buried as deeply.  During the Monsoon season you'll want to pay special attention to places where rain accumlates on sidewalks and walkways.

To better identify visitors, try overhead or house-mounted lighting fixtures.  Avoid direct glare on the person visiting and be sensitive to how glare affect neighbors across the street.

Use landscape and ever-mounted flood lamps to light out to the perimeter of the property, making sure not to light any of your neighbor’s property.  Consider installing an easy-to-reach switch for instant light.

Light paths evenly by overlapping the patterns of light.  Sharp contrasts between dark and light can confuse or disorient your guests.

To reduce glare, position lighting from the side or end of your pool from which it is most often viewed.  Use a dimmer to either soften or brighten lighting for appearance or safety.