Cheap Outdoor Lighting

By uplighting plants and structures, grazing the surfaces of walls, and downlighting paths and patios, you can create a welcoming atmosphere at night. And it doesn't have to cost a bundle.

Cheap Outdoor Lighting Considerations

Maybe you have a cozy seating area, an interesting wood arbor, or dramatic tree that's worth attention at night as well as in the day. The proper lighting directs attention to these areas to accentuate the outline of plants and structures, and help you enjoy more of the outdoors.

When we say cheap outdoor lighting, we mean inexpensive, not poor quality. Paying any amount of money on something that will just fall apart after minimal use is a waste of money. But with a little comparison shopping, you can enhance your garden or walkway without busting your budget.

When choosing discounted outdoor lighting, you should look for:

• Manufacturer warranties.
• Bulbs that can be easily replaced. If the fixture model is being discontinued, make sure it uses a standard bulb that you can easily and inexpensively find elsewhere.
• Low-voltage lighting kits that you can install yourself without an electrician.
• If the outdoor lights are solar light fixtures, find out the number LEDs used in the lamp. The more LEDs, the brighter the light. Three LEDs are ideal for lighting stairs or walkways, whereas one LED is perfect for ambient or atmosphere lighting.
• Landscape lighting kits that support a variety of fixtures and can be added to later.
• A transformer that is bigger (has more capacity) than you need right now. This ensures that you'll have room to add fixtures later if you want without having to purchase a larger transformer.
• A light-sensing timer to turn your low-voltage lights on and off based on light levels. For example, at dusk, you can set up your landscape lights to turn on automatically.

Outdoor Lighting Options

Low-Voltage Lighting

Choose low voltage lighting for ease of use and do-it-yourself installation. Low-voltage lights take the normal line voltage from your home and reduce it from 110/120 volts to 12 volts. Low-voltage systems can be safely installed without an electrician.

Low-voltage landscape lighting comes in a huge variety of styles, including deck lighting, stair and path lighting, and feature lighting for trees and plantings. Fixtures include louvered pagoda styles, staked carriage lanterns, and in-deck lighting disks.

Solar Lighting

Solar lighting systems are very popular now, as more and more people consider our impact on the environment. They are easy to install and maintain, and since they draw on natural energy during the day, they are the best alternative for cheap outdoor lighting. Solar lights do not require any wiring and are equipped with a mini solar panel and rechargeable battery for capturing and storing the sun's energy.

While mounting hardware may be required for solar lights installed on decks and posts, many can be simply staked in the garden.

Tiki Torches

For parties and events, pole torches are inexpensive and dramatic. Most torches are oil burning, but you can also find gas-fueled torches. Only use the recommended oil in tiki torches and follow the manufacturer instructions. Paraffin oil burns the longest and cleanest, and citronella oil keeps bugs away. Better quality torches also use fiberglass wicks instead of cotton.

Unlike low voltage or solar lighting, tiki torches and candles should never be left unattended. For this reason consider these forms of only for parties and events where you and your guests will be outside and present at all times.

Cheap Outdoor Lighting Resources

On the Web, you can find cheap outdoor lighting for any landscape through these sources:

• Yardiac.com
• Overstock.com
• iTorches.com
• Lighting Universe