San Francisco is an amazing place to call home. Residents and visitors can often expect cool summers and mild, wet winters with consistent temperatures throughout the year. Of course, weather like this means more outdoor living, and outdoor living often means exterior lighting.

Outdoor lighting is both functional and beautiful for homes and outdoor spaces. In fact, there are many benefits to exterior lighting. Let’s look at five of them.

Improve the look of your outdoor space.

Imagine the beauty that can be uncovered as the soft glow of lights highlight the graceful silhouette of trees and intricate details of focal points, creating a captivating nighttime spectacle. With careful consideration of design and strategic placement, outdoor lighting can transform a garden or wall into a truly inviting space.

Many homes boast distinctive architectural features like eaves, columns, brick, or stonework that, when illuminated, can accentuate their charm and contribute to striking curb appeal. As the sun sets, outdoor lighting designs bring your garden to life. Yes, even your trees and outdoor art can benefit from well-placed outdoor lighting.

Keep your outdoor areas safe and secure.

Two things most homeowners are concerned about are the safety and security of their property. As you can imagine, outdoor lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing both safety and security. Path lights can illuminate driveways, walkways, and entrances, ensuring that family and guests move about with confidence, even in the dark.

Moreover, strategically placed lighting is a deterrent to potential intruders, reducing the risk of break-ins. Motion-activated flood lights not only enhance security but also offer an economical solution. When motion is detected on the property, these lights flood the area with illumination (thus the name), alerting homeowners to any unusual activity and providing an added layer of protection.

Make outdoor spaces more useful and enjoyable.

Are you tired of your outdoor space only being useful during the day? What about the weekends, when you want to build fond memories of family gatherings or friendly get-togethers? Not everybody has a fire pit, right?

Lucky for you, the benefits of outdoor lighting include making your outdoor space more useful. Picture the perfect setting for quality family time or festive gatherings under the gentle glow of strategically placed lights. Exterior lights bring your interior design style to your outdoor living space, extending their use well into the evening hours.

Outdoor lighting is a versatile solution as well. Whether you want to enhance your garden with moonlighting, bring a cozy ambiance to your patio with fairy lights, or cook at a well-lit grill with task lighting, the options are virtually endless.

Boost your home’s value.

You probably already know that home improvements can increase your home’s value. But did you know that’s also one of the benefits of outdoor lighting? There are numerous real estate professionals and appraisers who consider outdoor improvements when they assess property values. The value can also depend on the quality of work, market conditions, and the property’s location.

Curb appeal is the impression properties give when people view them from the street. The appeal is how the landscaping and attractiveness of the home all fit together at first glance. If you have plans to sell your home one day, curb appeal will play an important role. Adding light features boosts curb appeal, making your home’s exterior look more appealing in the eyes of real estate agents and potential buyers.

Be eco-friendly with energy-saving lights.

Who doesn’t want to save money on utilities? Maybe you’ve dreamed about adding accent lights or string lighting to your outdoor living space but thought it’d use too much energy.

However, options like LED lights can help you save on energy and costs. The great thing is these lights last a long time. Solar-powered lighting can also save on costs as it gets its power from the sun. These are two great ways to bring light to your outdoor spaces.

It’s also a good idea to check with your utility provider for programs that might offer rebates and incentives. CleanPowerSF or Peninsula Clean Energy are two sources that may provide helpful information. Rebates and incentives can make investing in outdoor lighting systems even more appealing.

Lighting Design Considerations for San Francisco

San Francisco offers stunning landscape views and year-round tolerable climate. However, the fog can affect outdoor conditions that call for creative lighting solutions. Outdoor lighting fixtures in San Francisco take into consideration the Bay’s weather elements, such as salt air, wind, and moisture. Fixtures must be able to resist the weather.

Professional Installation vs. DIY

Although we recommend hiring professional outdoor lighting installation, we recognize that some people are hard-core DIYers. Consider the following. Professional installers have the knowledge and experience you can count on to get the job done quickly and safely. There’s also the warranty coverage.

Some homeowners can do the job themselves, and their work turns out great. For others, there can be a risk when working with electricity. Whether doing it yourself or hiring professionals, the following is important:

• Use outdoor fixtures and equipment that the industry rates.
• Weatherproof every electrical connection.
• Check for proper grounding.
• Follow all electrical codes to the letter.
• Inspect the installed system regularly for wear and tear.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Regular maintenance is always good to keep outdoor lighting in the best condition. To keep your outdoor lights working well, make sure to remove any dust, dirt, and debris that builds up on the lamps and around the lights. When bulbs burn out, replace them. If any problems are too difficult to fix, call the professionals for repairs.

Real-Life Examples

We encourage you to visit all of our lighting-related blog posts and portfolio pages. This way, you can get a first-hand look at our work. This is an excellent example of an outdoor lighting project we did in the Outer Sunset neighborhood.

Conclusion

Outdoor lighting can be a winning solution and a year-round benefit in San Francisco. Look at it as an investment rather than an expense. You’ll enjoy the renewed look of your property along with safety features. The most important gain may just be your increase in property value.