29 Dec Tips to help Landscape Lighting Prospective customers envision their ideal outdoor space
By Mike Gambino
Spring may still seem out of sight, but it is right around the corner. And as more people are itching to get back outside, you can bet that more people are spending their days dreaming about their ideal outdoor living space… A place for cookouts with family and friends, a place to relax in the sun with a good read, a place to display all my beautiful art, a place to bring the garden of my dreams to life… the list goes on and on.
Yes, we know, it’s holiday time late December. But warm weather is closer than you may think.
As minds fill with visions of gardens, pools, barbeques and all things sunshine and fresh air, your opportunity for a productive and enjoyable outdoor season grows. But the work starts now – now’s the time to start thinking about all the design possibilities and features to help make your outdoor space a dream come true. You may be thinking about creating your outdoor space, but you need concrete ideas to put the ball in action. Here are some helpful tips to envision your dream outdoor space in 2017.
Survey and examine the space carefully
Start to think about how you plan to use the space. To get a real feel for the type of space and design that would best suit your needs, sit in different spots and at different times during the day. You should know which areas receive sun and shade, which areas are dry and damp and which areas receive prolonged exposure to the heat or cold.
You also want to consider a) what you like about your outdoor space now. Are there certain plants worth saving? Do you want to keep the same theme going? And b) how an outdoor space might affect your current indoor space. For instance, will the outdoor space block the views from the kitchen or family room?
Your ultimate satisfaction should be of utmost importance, so understand how important it is for you to really think about what you want. Planning is always important, not just on your part, but your prospective contractors as well.
Research your ideas
When given the free reign to envision anything, it’s easy to go overboard. That’s fine, but sometimes the things we imagine are not entirely practical or appropriate in reality, especially with regards to plants. Say for instance you have interest in a certain exotic plant and you may think you know the “perfect spot” for it, but the plant could be completely inappropriate for the area, which either ends up costing you more money, if you have to go back and replace a failed plant. To avoid the situation altogether, do your research. Better yet, consult with a pro who can Educate you on the types of plant’s that would do well in their environment.
Tie your outdoor space to your indoor space
The outdoor space is really an extension of the home. It should blend perfectly with the style, look and feel of the house. If the inside interior is eclectic and artsy, the outside space should be as well. If the home is modern with Asian accents, a Japanese garden might suit the outdoor space nicely. It’s not to say that certain design elements that contrast the home can’t be included in the outdoor space, but a general rule of thumb is to make the house and yard draw together as one. Listed below are some quick tips for extending the style of the indoor home outdoors:
- Put splashes of color from inside outside (cushions, pillows, outdoor rugs, etc.)
- Replicate house proportions with outdoor decorations (big statues, plants, furniture, etc.)
- Take similar decorations from inside outside
Plan your Outdoor Lighting early
Think about how it will benefit your garden after dark. Enhance the usability and enjoyment of your outdoor spaces. The most successful lighting happens when it is planned for early on in the remodel or new construction process.
Some opportunities may be lost when lighting is not planned for early and treated like an afterthought. Leave room in the lighting budget, quality lighting always costs more than you think it will and once you get started it can be addicting leading to a much larger project than you originally thought.
This landscape lighting blog is published by Mike Gambino of Gambino landscape lighting inc. all 
rights reserved. Mike is a professional landscape lighting system designer/ builder and has been designing, installing and maintaining landscape lighting systems for more than 20 years. Mike resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and 2 sons. To visit his website go to www.Gambinolighting.com . To inquire about hiring Mike please click here .
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