Can you install the lighting yourself?
In general, doing it yourself saves money. If your expectations are realistic and you're willing to be patient, you can come up with a perfectly suitable lighting plan. Don't expect to achieve the kind of spectacular results featured in books, however, as artistic lighting is a specialty requiring know-how, skill and sophisticated equipment.
For a lavish and spectacular result, your best bet is to hire a lighting designer. He or she will experiment with different types of lighting, as well as look at varying intensities and beam widths using professional-quality bulbs and light fixtures. It's not unusual for a pro to use up to 18 different bulb types in a single garden!
The five commandments of good neighbouring
Poorly designed, misdirected or excessive lighting can be blinding or intrusive. To avoid sowing discord with your neighbours:
1 Use the fewest fixtures possible for your lighting purposes.
2 Make sure the beams are pointed in such a way that they don't have a blinding effect on you or your neighbours.
3 Use minimum-intensity bulbs.
4 Use a lighting timer.
5 Devise a plan based on having separate lighting areas to highlight different sections of the garden.
Read more in Homes and Gardens
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