At Home Living: Outdoor lighting offers curb appeal, safety

Whether its for curb appeal or safety or even both, the lighting on the outside of your home can be as simple or as complex as you would like it to be.

From an aesthetic standpoint, Jason Keller, owner of Wolfes Landscape and Irrigation, of Topeka and Lawrence, since 2006, said outdoor lighting particularly up and down lighting - makes your lawn and property seem larger and it accentuates your whole yard.

It shows off all the plants, trees and trellises, he said. It just gives you a greater ambiance.

Keller said its important to have varying levels of light. He said a brighter light will draw the eye toward whatever the light is focused on, like a front door. However, he said lower levels of light are recommended for walkways and driveways.

Your eye is always drawn to the brightest part of the light, Keller said. You dont want to put bright spots in the middle of your yard. You want it softer as it gets away from the house.

Whether youre using halogen or LED bulbs in your outdoor light fixtures, Keller said both types of bulbs provide efficient lighting.

As a crime deterrent, Keller said outdoor lighting, including motion detectors, helps increase the safety around your home.

If you expand your lighting around your home, youll end up with a larger area of security around the house, he said. You want to make sure your surroundings are lit up.

While there are city ordinances that govern lighting around commercial businesses in Topeka, none exist for residential lighting. However, Sgt. Colleen Stuart of the Topeka Police Departments crime prevention unit has several suggestions as to how to make you and your property safer and less inviting to criminals.

The TPD, she said, uses the principles of the nationally-recognized program, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED, to make recommendations on how the proper lighting can reduce the chances of residential and business crime.

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At Home Living: Outdoor lighting offers curb appeal, safety