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Landscape Design
Backyard Lighting Design — Beyond String Lights
Real landscape lighting transforms a yard at night. Here's the layered approach we use on every project.
Dylan, AE Outdoor Living · January 24, 2026
Three layers, every time
- Path & step lights — safety and circulation.
- Accent (uplighting) — palms, columns, art, walls.
- Ambient — string, sconce, pendant under structures.
Spec basics
Use low-voltage (12V) LED — safer, longer wire runs, dimmable. Warm color temp 2700K (NOT 4000K — that reads industrial). Brass fixtures last 25+ years in AZ; aluminum corrodes around pool chemistry.
Easy wins
- Uplight every palm trunk — instant drama.
- Wash key walls with downlights from soffits.
- Step-light any elevation change for safety.
- Underwater pool lights with color-changing LEDs.
- Dimmer/smart controls (Lutron Caseta or Pentair) so one button sets the mood.
