Hardscaping
Outdoor Lighting in Overland Park: Your Complete Guide
Wherever you are, from concerts and movies to hospitals and schools, lighting makes a big difference. And when we forget to consider lighting, it can turn out badly—think fireworks before the sun goes down, or an outdoor wedding on a cloudy day.
That’s why, when we design outdoor lighting in Overland Park, we’re careful to consider everything from the minor details to the big picture. If you’re not concerned with ambience, don’t forget about the added safety and security of outdoor lighting.
At GD Services, we take lighting seriously. We prioritize the look, longevity, and functionality of your light fixtures. Here is your complete guide to outdoor lighting in Overland Park.
Getting the Right Look
When you’ve put time, effort, and money into making an oasis out of your yard, you want to see it! Any time you’re enjoying your outdoor space in the evening, lighting is an important part of that.
The brightness, color, and hue of the light in a space can make or break its vibe. GD Services provides lighting options with wireless remote control of these features because it can be so impactful to the atmosphere.
Whether it’s illuminating a small babbling fountain, spotlighting your favorite maple tree, or casting a glow on your entire garden, GD Services can make it happen. Let’s look at the different types of lights we use to do that.
Types of Outdoor Lighting
There are 3 primary types of lighting we use to craft the perfect look in your outdoor space. They are up and down lights, path lights, and bistro lights. Within these types are additional categories that are even more specific.
Up & Down Lights
We use lights that point up and down to draw your attention to specific focal points throughout your space. Up lights can light up trees and columns, while we typically incorporate down lights into your hardscaping to improve the visibility of elements such as stairs or walls.
Path Lights
As their name suggests, path lights are used to help guide your movement through a space. You could place them on either side of a walkway or along a retaining wall.
Bistro Lights
Bistro lights are typically hung from above to illuminate a dining area or patio. The most popular option for bistro lighting is string lights, which add a charming quality to any space.
If you’re curious about the different types of outdoor lighting, take a look at our new blog using the button below.
Shedding Light on Your Outdoor Options
Making Your Lighting Last
It’s uniquely frustrating to make a purchase and have it fail before it should. At GD Services, we believe in building things that last. We don’t want your yard to look the best it ever will the day we leave. Your space should continue to look great long after we’ve finished our work.
When selecting your outdoor lighting in Overland Park, we prioritize quality materials and professional installation methods. When done correctly, your lighting should last years.
Choosing Durability
Manufacturers have learned how to make lighting components cheaper and cheaper. And while the price might be nice, the quality usually isn’t. GD Services will always recommend top-grade materials to ensure they don’t burn out within the month.
We choose lighting options with internal serviceability. That way, if a bulb does need changing, it’s an easy fix. With us, you should never have to purchase an all new light fixture just because something went wrong internally.
Picking a light fixture with a solid external build is also very important. Our team looks for external components that were designed with care and will stand the test of time.
Weather-Proofing
Speaking of time, over the course of a year, your outdoor lighting in Overland Park will see a full range of weather. Whether you’re from Kansas or Missouri, you’re undoubtedly familiar with everything from unbearable heat to torrential downpour to 2 feet of snow.
We choose lighting brands that are crafted to withstand the elements. We even have some lighting options designed to work underwater! Those are great for lighting up ponds and waterfalls.
Sensible Installation
Foolish installation can cause disaster for outdoor lighting. We’re careful about where and how we install outdoor lighting in Overland Park to promote long-lasting performance.
To prevent any inconvenience or accidental damage, we strategically bury our wires. You might hire another landscaper down the road, and we wouldn’t want them jamming a shovel through your electrical wiring.
For example, we like to place wiring along garden beds, patios, or up against the foundation of your home because these areas are out of the way. Being consistent with our installation methods also means that if you need something repaired, we can easily locate the wiring without digging up half your yard.
Another element of smart installation relates to the lighting that is built into your hardscaping. As we mentioned, many down lights are integrated into your hardscaping, so repairs could mean removing permanent materials.
In these cases, we use the highest-quality lighting hook-ups possible to prevent removing thousands of dollars of stone just to access a $100 light.
Lights Are More Than a Look
We’ve talked about the way lighting can look quite a bit, but the importance of outdoor lighting goes beyond its appearance. Outdoor lighting adds benefits in functionality, safety, and security.
Functionality
You’ll want to use your outdoor space after dark regularly. Whether it’s a gathering of friends for an NFL game or just letting your dog out to the bathroom, you’ll want to see where you’re going.
On top of that, lighting can guide movement through a space like we mentioned earlier. Strategically placed path lights can keep guests from wearing down the lawn or communicate where to set snacks and beverages. An outdoor chandelier is a fun way to signal to guests which area is the focal point of your patio.
Safety
Proper outdoor lighting in Overland Park will help to make sure you aren’t bumping into tables or stumbling down stairs every time you go outside. Tripping down steps is the second leading cause of injury in the US, right behind car accidents! Good lighting can prevent you from contributing to that statistic.
Security
Research has shown that well-lit spaces experience lower rates of crime. When you can see your yard, wrongdoers are less likely to show up, and they’re easier to spot if they do. A well-lit front, back, and side yard can keep your property more safe.
This can come in handy even when you’re not home. Because our lighting is often on a timer, you can keep thieves thinking you’re around, even when you’re on vacation.
For Your Convenience
Most people don’t want their lights on full bore 24/7. So, we install lighting systems with an astronomical timer. This incredible technology will track the time of year where you are and adjust to the corresponding seasonal lighting daily.
All we have to do is plug in the date and your time zone, and the timer does the rest. We can also connect your lighting to your wifi and control the timing settings that way.
In this case, we can make adjustments to the timing based on your preferences. For example, some of our customers like their lights to come on at 4:30 AM, while others prefer 8 AM. Although, our lights do much more than go on and off.
GD Services offers the option to set up your lighting system with dimming capabilities. It’s likely you’ll want more gentle lighting as the sun sets and brighter lighting late at night. We’ll give you the power to adjust the exact nature of your lighting at any time you like.
Of course, we can always set up a manual switch on the inside of your home to control your outdoor lighting as well. That way, you can change your light settings without the hassle of waiting on the timer or needing to head outdoors.
Our Vested Interest
We care about Overland Park. After all, we live here too and want to see it flourish. GD Services has roots in small town America, so fishing, hunting, and enjoying the landscape is in our blood. When we create your space, our admiration for the natural world is at the helm. That’s how we design places we would want to spend time in too.
GD Services is passionate about getting our community outside more often. There’s nothing for your soul, like sunlight and greenery. This means you can trust us to light your space thoughtfully. We consider light pollution and how your neighbors are experiencing your outdoor lighting too.
Here’s a Bright Idea: Book With GD Services Today!
If your yard could benefit from outdoor lighting, don‘t hesitate to reach out! We can guarantee beautiful fixtures that will enhance your outdoor space and last a long time. Use the button below to get started on brightening your life.