Beach House Landscape Lighting

Living on oceanfront property has many benefits. Being near the sea and hearing the ocean waves is soothing and deeply calming. The fresh coastal air is cleansing and invigorating. Not to mention gorgeous uninterrupted views and the extended outdoor living that beachfront property owners cherish. Oceanfront homes are breathtaking with the right lighting. Discover how to enhance your outdoor living without interfering with your natural coastal surroundings.

Here’s our tips for oceanfront lighting and maintenance.

Enhance the Evening’s Natural Ambiance with Beach House Landscape Lighting

One of the reasons that homeowners love beach living is because of the gorgeous night sky. Adding the right amount of illumination can be tricky and light pollution can negatively impact stargazing and moonlit nights. Installing too many light fixtures can be a common problem, but also using bulbs that are too bright. Soft lighting that is strategically placed is the goal to illuminate your space, making it functional and attractive. Less is more when designing oceanfront lighting. We recommend soft, low-wattage lighting that is thoughtfully placed throughout your outdoor space. The waterfront is already the focus of attention of your outdoor living, so choose a design that enhances the scene.

Brighten Your Seaside Design Using Wall Lights

Wall-mounted outdoor luminaries are essential for outdoor lighting. They can be used virtually anywhere that offers a flat vertical surface and are subtle enough not to overpower your natural surroundings. Wall mounted sconces are excellent for use on decks, patios, and pathways. These lights add the right amount of depth, brightening your seaside architecture. Wall mounted lights also provide ambient lighting for safety and security, without blinding your vision. Dual (up and down) lighting sconces are popular choices among homeowners, these fixtures highlight both the wall and walkway of your space. Recessed lighting is great for walkways and stairs. They are installed flush against the surface and illuminate downwards and sideways. They are a good deterrent for tripping hazards such as stair risers or low walls. 

Illuminate Your Palm Trees with Beach House Landscape Lighting

Palm trees are natural focal points in many beachfront landscapes, due to their exotic and lush look. Illuminating your palm trees properly will highlight their beautiful palm fronds and accentuate their opulent trunks. This requires some thoughtful planning and placement. One way to emphasize the trunk texture and fronds, is by placing a light fixture at the base of the tree and aiming mostly straight up into the fronds and leaves, producing a canopy of light overhead. Another technique is to place the light fixture in the ground a few feet away from the tree, pointed at an angle of 30° to 45° degrees towards the branches. This is best for highlighting the trunk and canopy shape, especially trees with unusual forms. For your larger palm trees, place lights on each side of the trunk, allowing them to cross as they travel up and under the canopy. For a whimsical touch, wrap your palm tree in LED string lights. A good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every 1.5 feet of tree.

Create a Nighttime Oasis with Moonlighting

An open sky that stretches for miles across the horizon is like  an open canvas. Create moonlit effects in your backyard with lighting techniques that will extend the natural nighttime beauty and that can be enjoyed from any vantage point. Placing fixtures from trees high above the ground, above the lowest branches, creates buoyant shadows that dance at your feet while the branches and leaves sway from the coastal breeze. Moonlighting is also very effective in eliminating dark areas along a path, providing visual appeal and safety.

Choosing the Right Fixtures and Materials

When choosing fixtures for seaside projects, keep in mind that most systems contain metals that react with salts and moisture. It’s necessary to choose high quality, corrosion resistant materials. Solid bronze is an ideal choice and more resistant than other metals. It’s important to securely mount all of your equipment with stainless steel screws and stakes too. Why not stainless steel fixtures? Stainless steel fixtures are a durable option, but can be costly for residential properties, making bronze an excellent alternative. A word of caution, if cold sea spray touches an exposed bulb, it could burst, so choose fixtures that enclose and shield the bulb. Bear in mind the extent of corrosion of your materials depends on the type of metal, protective coatings, and the duration and frequency of moisture.

Prevent Corrosion of Wires and Transformers

Wires and transformers are vulnerable elements of any beach house landscape lighting system, especially in coastal climates. For the best protection against moisture, choose a transformer with a resin-sealed core and a stainless-steel enclosure. These transformers will be protected from ocean spray and moisture-rich air. Stranded copper wire is commonly used for beach house landscape lighting projects, but for oceanside installations, a better choice is tin-coated marine-grade wire which provides extra corrosion resistance.

Mobile Illumination specializes in beachside landscape lighting. Our design experts can work with you to create the best oceanfront experience under the stars, right in your backyard. Click here to learn more. 

Want to see more ideas for spring landscape lighting? Check out our photo gallery!