Spending time outdoors with friends and family is special. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows around a campfire or grilling hamburgers for a party, fun and laughter are sure to ensue. If you’re the kind of person who loves to spend time outdoors at night, make sure you have adequate outdoor lighting.

There are numerous benefits to outdoor lighting, apart from just brightening your space. You’ll add value to your home and be able to enjoy peace of mind. When you put all that work into making your home look like an architectural masterpiece, don’t let it disappear when nightfall comes.

With outdoor lighting, the possibilities are virtually endless. You can light walkways and driveways; you can implement zone lighting to highlight specific areas of your home; you can light up your deck, patio or pool; and you can install motion detector lights. No matter the location you choose to illuminate, rest assured it will add safety and security to your home. A well-lit landscape will help you feel safer at night and deter trespassers.

Whether you’re entertaining guests on your deck or patio or hanging out by the pool or hot tub, it’s important to have the right lighting to ensure the safety of you and your guests. The last thing you want is for someone to slip or trip and hurt themselves.

Even if having guests over isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll want to make sure you and your family are safe at night. Forgot something in your car? Waited until 10 p.m. to think about checking the mail? Ensure your pathway is properly lighted so that you don’t step on or near a critter or trip over a skateboard.

If you’re looking to enhance your curb appeal, outdoor lighting is the way to go. An illuminated home communicates to passersby that you care for your home, not to mention it’s warm and inviting. If positioned properly, you can highlight the best features of your home, such as your landscaping. When you put time and great effort into turning your landscaping into art, you want it seen at all hours, not just during the day!

No matter your reasoning for wanting to add outdoor lighting, rest assured a licensed electrician can help you choose the best lights for your needs and budget.

With the arrival of spring and the inviting weather it brings, you may want to spend more time outside, especially after having been cooped up all winter long. While it’s not yet warm enough to jump in the pool, there are numerous other ways to enjoy a pleasant evening with friends and family in your back or front yard. Without the proper outdoor lighting, though, come nightfall all the fun will have to stop. Because of your limited sight, you run the risk of hurting yourself and others. Whether you’re barbecuing, roasting marshmallows, watching your kids jump on the trampoline, or gazing up at a meteor shower, make sure you have the right lighting to maximize your experience! Check out these __ reasons to install adequate outdoor lighting.

Before you install lighting, consider how you use your outdoor space. For example, if you have a patio, deck or pool area, consider installing zoned lighting, which highlights a designated area. You’ll also want to illuminate areas such as your driveway, garage, sidewalk and entry way. All of these areas are important to light to ensure safe navigation and prevent a trip to the emergency room. Without proper lighting, one could trip over a hidden step, fall off the deck or worse – overcook the meat!

The more light the better. By installing the right fixtures in the right locations, you’ll eliminate all the scary spaces, increasing safety and peace of mind, not to mention guests will be able to find your house with ease. Illuminating your outdoor spaces will allow you to get the most of your day, and since the weather is only going to get warmer from here on out, we have a feeling you’ll want to be outside as much as you can!

When you add flood lights to your back patio, deck or front lawn, you’ll be able take full advantage of these spaces. Instead of having to go inside when dusk comes, you’ll be able to relax with your friends and family outside for as long as you like.  You could even enjoy a nice dinner around the patio table.

A well-lit yard and landscape deters unwanted guests from coming onto your property.  There are numerous types of lights you can install to increase home security:

Many homeowners make the mistake of adding security lights to the front of the home while ignoring the back. The back of your home can be one of the most vulnerable places because of fencing, so make sure you install lighting in this area as well. When deciding where to install your outdoor lighting, determine the darkest areas of your home as well as any places where an intruder could enter.

Your home is one of your most prized possessions. When you’ve spent countless hours perfecting the exterior of your home as well as your lawn and garden, why allow it to go unseen when nighttime comes? You can highlight the best features of your home by installing uplights, garden lighting and low voltage exterior lighting around your trees and shrubs. Not only will the perfect lights add appeal to your home, it will add an undeniable sense of warmth too. Friends, neighbors and passersby won’t be able to stop themselves from glancing at your home each time they walk or drive by it.

If you’ve never visited the DIY, home renovation blog Young House Love, you’re in for a treat. John and Sherry, bloggers extraordinaire, are renovating their home step-by-step, giving their readers a detailed look into the process. Every day they have some new clever project to write about. (And the way they tell stories gets addictive, quick).

The blog has a ton of posts on home lighting, some technical, some crazy and fun. Today, I thought I’d share with you my 3 favorite DIY lighting projects from Young House Love: