Buying the Right Outdoor Solar Lights

Buying solar lights is not nearly as simple as it may seem. If you’ve done a few searches, there are so many outdoor solar lighting options and functions that your original purpose can be frustrated into which direction you want to go. This is my personal guide for the easy buying of solar landscape lighting.

First determine what your primary purpose in purchasing lights is. Are you concerned with home security and want bright lights to illuminate the deepest and darkest corners of your home, fence, and garden so potential burglars have nowhere to hide? Are you trying to paint a mood or atmosphere in your backyard? Some people seek out a romantic or relaxing setting for their patios and decks so they can enjoy their greenery and surroundings for themselves and social occasions. Another reason that somewhat shades into mood is decoration. Are you buying garden lights to have the perfect backyard with lights brightening up pathways and navigation on sidewalks?

After these questions, other objectives and concerns amount to saving money, becoming a more green friendly home, and just improving the quality of your existing lights (so you don’t have to keep replacing them because of aesthetics or they’re non-functioning).

Now that you know what your primary concern is, you can begin tailoring your search. You may have found that you want to accomplish two or all three of the primary goals you can have for your outdoor solar lights. This is fine, but stay focused on the initial reason you set out to buy solar yard lights and then refine your focus among choices once your first goal is met.

Let’s first take a look at mood and decor. Sconce lights help illuminate the walls and surrounding areas of your home. So for example, if you wanted to show off your Arizona Mesa style wall texture, you could use sconce lighting to bring the unique culture to the forefront so guests’ attention would attract to the wall. This gives you the ability to dictate the mood.

Mushroom lights are mounted on the floor and are appropriately named because of their mushroom shape. The top gives you the ability to spread light reflecting down into the ground and the circumference around the stake. This has a deadening affect on the light so they aren’t really practical but again, what they do do is help you set mood and guide eyes to what you want them to see. Perhaps your centerpiece Greek water fountain or just away from clutter around the back fence.

Recessed lights give you the spot light effect and have the unique ability to light from the ground up because they are built inside your deck or patio. These are more expensive because of the amount of attention and detail they require but the effort definitely shines through when you create that perfect backyard environment.

We’ll continue next time with practical outdoor solar light options.