Landscape Lighting Design
Landscape lighting transforms the nighttime portrait of your home.
Our low voltage lighting specialist will install and maintain a lighting system appropriate for your needs.
Landscape Lighting Design Basics
Before deciding what and how to light, we must first ask “why light?” Our design decisions are dependent on proposed uses for landscape lighting for a variety of reasons such as safety, security, property value, or enhancement of the beauty of the garden and structures. Most likely, the answer will be a combination of two or more of these uses. A specific technique can be employed to satisfy more than one requirement.
For example, uplighting a prominent tree near the house entrance will provide safety, security and aesthetic enhancement.
Landscape lighting design is very similar to the design of the landscape itself: we must determine focal points, area use, traffic patterns, outdoor “rooms,” style, mood, etc. We need to consider how the proposed lighting will enhance the form, color and texture of the soft and hard landscape elements. Lighting should serve to unify both interior and exterior design themes, conceal what may be unattractive and shape the view of the landscape at night.
The design process should begin with a site map, drawn to scale, showing all landscape features and areas that need lighting. Fixtures and lamps are chosen for each area based on the desired effects such as path lights for safe passage along walks and stairs, wash fixtures for silhouette effects against a wall, etc.
After deciding on the size and placement of lighting fixtures, the electrical system is designed. The heart of the system is the transformer, which converts the household 120 volts into safe, efficient 12 volts, and delivers this voltage to several circuits. Using appropriately sized cables and approved connectors, fixtures are connected to the transformer.
Group fixtures in zones determined by the distance to the transformer. The number of fixtures on each circuit will be limited by the wattage of individual lamps, distance to the transformer and associated voltage drop in the circuit.
Voltage drop calculations are critical; excess voltage results in hot lamps with greatly shortened life – insufficient voltage results in weak, ineffective lighting. The design challenge is to match cable size, total lamp wattage and circuit length to produce voltage within the range of 10.5 to 12 volts.
A new generation of transformers uses a multi-tap configuration to provide voltages in excess of 12 volts for those zones at a sufficient distance from the transformer. (The excess voltage is reduced by the length of run to the first fixture). This allows greater design freedom and efficiency.
A common practice among lighting designers and installers is to allow for plenty of movement of the fixture locations. By leaving extra cable at each fixture, changes can be made to the system after installation, and after several years of plant growth.
Residential Landscape Lighting Maintenance
Here’s a quick look at what can be covered under the maintenance of residential lights:
- Perform seasonal site visits two times per year to thoroughly check night lighting system.
- Check all electrical fixtures, connections, and wiring.
- Replace bulbs as needed at quoted price.
- Re-set lighting timer according to season.
- Clean fixtures. Clients can call in at any time if lighting system fixtures need replacement bulbs or service.
Why Northern Virginia Homeowners Choose Perfect Landscapes for Landscape Lighting Design
- Nearly 30 years of experience designing and installing landscape lighting for local homeowners
- Real technical expertise, including proper transformer sizing and voltage drop calculations that many contractors overlook, so your fixtures last instead of running hot or burning out early
- Complete in-house service, from fixture placement and installation to seasonal maintenance, handled by one team
- Thoughtful, property-specific design, balancing safety, security, and aesthetics rather than installing generic fixture packages
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Perfect Landscapes Frequently Asked Questions
How much does landscape lighting design and installation cost in Northern Virginia?
Lighting project costs vary based on the number of fixtures, system complexity, and the size of the property being lit. Perfect Landscapes provides a detailed cost breakdown during your free consultation, along with financing options to help fit the project into your budget.
What is low-voltage landscape lighting, and is it safe?
Low-voltage lighting uses a transformer to convert standard household 120-volt power down to a safe 12-volt system before it reaches outdoor fixtures. This makes it significantly safer than line-voltage lighting while still providing effective illumination for pathways, trees, and architectural features.
Why does landscape lighting design matter, rather than just adding fixtures?
Effective lighting design considers safety, security, property value, and the beauty of your garden and structures together, not just where to place a light. A single technique, like uplighting a tree near your entrance, can serve multiple purposes at once. Perfect Landscapes plans your system around a full site map rather than placing fixtures without a design behind them.
Does landscape lighting require ongoing maintenance?
Yes. Perfect Landscapes provides seasonal maintenance, including twice-yearly system checks, inspection of fixtures and wiring, bulb replacement, timer adjustments for changing daylight hours, and fixture cleaning to keep your system performing reliably year-round.
Can landscape lighting be adjusted after installation as my plants grow?
Yes. Systems are installed with extra cable at each fixture specifically to allow for future adjustments, so fixture locations can be changed after installation as trees and plantings mature over time.
What areas of a property can landscape lighting cover?
Landscape lighting can highlight walkways and stairs for safe passage, uplight prominent trees and architectural features, wash light across walls for silhouette effects, and illuminate outdoor living spaces, gardens, and entryways throughout your Northern Virginia property.
Does Perfect Landscapes offer financing for landscape lighting projects?
Yes. Perfect Landscapes offers flexible financing options so homeowners can move forward with their lighting project without paying the full cost upfront. Ask about current plans during your consultation.
What areas of Northern Virginia does Perfect Landscapes serve for landscape lighting?
Perfect Landscapes designs and installs landscape lighting for homeowners throughout Northern Virginia, including Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Reston, Great Falls, and McLean, along with surrounding communities.
Where We Work
Bringing Exceptional Outdoor Living to Northern Virginia
From custom landscape design to complete outdoor living environments, our team proudly serves homeowners throughout Northern Virginia. Explore your community below to learn more about the landscaping services available in your area and discover how Perfect Landscapes can transform your property.