Outdoor lighting provides safety and security to your home. A well-designed lighting plan can also make a dramatic change to your landscape - without a dramatic change to your budget.

You should plan your solar landscape lighting based on several factors. First, select a focal point or main element around which to build your lighting plan. Elements to consider are large trees, the main entrance, a front walk or a specially-landscaped portion of your yard. Look for dark spots in corners and behind large bushes. Check also for potentially hazardous steps and curbs. Light these areas for safety and security. In high-maintenance areas, be sure to select the proper lighting, otherwise lawnmowers, power trimmers and other equipment can destroy your lights.

Your decision to buy a solar light should be based on your specific outdoor lighting needs and the lighting effect you wish to achieve. The following points should be kept in mind while buying outdoor solar lights.

Number of Lights Needed
The number of lights used and the distance placed between them greatly changes the overall lighting effect. Generally, it is better to use fewer lights, placed closer together, (approximately within 10 feet of each other) than to use many lights, scattered too far apart.

Finishes
Choosing verdigris and black fixtures will allow them to blend in with your surrounding foliage. For fixtures with higher visibility, choose styles and colors that best complement your home's exterior design and landscape theme.

Types of Solar Landscape Lights
To make the selection process a little simpler, first ask yourself which type of light will be best for your outdoor setting.

• Tier lights transfer light downward on the ground or shrubs and minimize glare, making them ideal for lighting walks and steps.
• Floodlights are a good choice for eliminating dark areas around windows and doors.
• Spotlights and floodlights transfer light upwards at controllable angles to illuminate statuary and highlight landscaping fences and architectural surfaces.
• Well lights throw light up and out to highlight a garden structure or wall.
• Low fixtures hold the light close to the ground, perfect for landscape borders and driveways.
• Taller fixtures spread the light over larger areas and can be used in gardens, patios or walkways.

Lighting Effects
Here are some outdoor lighting effects that'll help you choose your perfect solar outdoor lighting.

• Down-lighting: Lights are mounted high up in a tree or arbor and aimed downward for a soft and romantic feeling. You can use spotlights, floodlights and spread lights/path lights to get this effect.
• Up-lighting: Up-lighting uses fixtures that are surface or ground mounted and angled upward to highlight a key object. Use spotlights, floodlights, or in-ground fixtures for this effect.
• Cross-lighting: Lights are mounted on either side of a tree, gate or arbor to reveal detail and soften shadows. Use spotlights or floodlights for cross-lighting effect.
• Shadowing: A light is placed at ground level to throw an object's shadow on a surface behind it. Use spotlights, floodlights or in-ground fixtures for shadowing.
• Silhouetting: Silhouetting lights the surface behind an object for a striking effect. Spotlights, floodlights, or in-ground fixtures are good for silhouetting.
• Accent Lighting: Intense light is focused on a specific object to contrast it against a dark background. You can use spotlights or mini spread lights for accent lighting.
• Spread Lighting: Use spread lights to create circular patterns of light to illuminate flowers and low shrubs from above.
• Grazing Light: Uses a beam of light which just grazes the surface of an object to reveal its texture. Using spotlights, floodlights, or in-ground fixtures achieves this effect. For further enhancement, you might consider adding more color to your solar outdoor lighting. Solar lights are available in red, green, blue and amber which will help create the right outdoor atmosphere. Consider using one color scheme, such as blue, for a cooling effect, and amber for warmth. A mixture of colors adds drama to your solar landscape lighting.

With little effort, you can use the right solar outdoor lighting to bring out the colors and shadows of foliage and the many textures your landscaping has to offer.