The prevalence and popularity of outdoor living comforts are on the rise, as homeowners become accustomed to the many benefits exterior spaces have to offer. With cooler and shorter days just around the corner, now is the time to start preparing the outdoor spaces of your home for relaxing and entertaining that will transcend the seasons. Don’t let the darkness chase you indoors; with the right tools and techniques, you can extend your outdoor living season all year round. Our friends at Progress Lighting share tips for making your outdoor areas more enjoyable and “livable” – from season to season.

Illuminating your living spaces keeps your home’s exterior welcoming and comfortable. Areas that are frequently used after nightfall, such as a deck or patio, should be appropriately lit with fixtures that complement the structure. Choose fixtures that further the unique architectural elements of your home. Decorative post, hanging and wall lanterns can be easily installed to brighten your outdoor areas.

LED lighting is a highly energy efficient solution that offers many benefits for outdoor living. Not only can installing LED fixtures lower your energy bill, but also the longevity of LED technology makes them a very low-maintenance addition. No need to go through the hassle of changing bulbs when these sources last for decades. Plus, improved color temperature options provide a nice warm, inviting glow to illuminate outdoor living areas.

Brighten your pathways with landscape lights to improve safety and security. Path lights can also make your yard visually appear larger. Position lights on alternate sides for even illumination. Avoid shadows when used at steps, as well as away from plants so they don’t interfere with light distribution.

Use accent lighting techniques to highlight entryways and stationary pieces to create points of interest. These focal points will engage visitors and encourage them to take a closer look.

Remember to show balance and symmetry in your lighting design. Lighting should be proportional across the various areas of the property. Highlight symmetrical components in different landscape areas, such as columns or corresponding bushes. The goal is for the amount of illumination within and across different areas to be symmetrical.

Todd Roy currently serves as the National Sales Director for Progress Lighting, the largest single source for residential and commercial lighting. With more than 20 years of experience in the residential and commercial lighting industries, Roy’s knowledge of the homebuilding industry has helped Progress Lighting become the leading lighting company within the homebuilding market. As part of ongoing efforts to educate consumers about energy efficient lighting alternatives, Todd identifies community programs in which Progress Lighting can participate, including Best Practices Research Alliance’s ZERO Energy Lab Home and K. Hovnanian Homes’ Green High Performance Home. For more information, connect with Progress Lighting on Facebook and Twitter,