Installing landscape lighting on your property in Iowa will ensure its beauty can be continuously enjoyed and admired even after the sun has set. There are different landscape lighting techniques that you can implement so you can achieve a striking lighting display on your property. Wall-washing, silhouette lighting, moonlighting, and uplighting are great outdoor lighting techniques that you can utilize to highlight your property at night! Continue reading to learn more about these lighting techniques.


Wall-Washing Transforms the Overall Ambiance of Your Landscape

Wall-washing lighting technique on a wall near a pool in Ankeny, IA.

A popular landscape lighting technique that you should try on your landscape is wall-washing. This technique is achieved by installing a lighting fixture at a distance from a wall and then adjusting its angle so the light can illuminate the wall's surface evenly. When done correctly, this technique will wash the wall with bright and uniform illumination to make its surface look brighter and smoother.

This is a great landscape lighting technique that will make your landscape look bigger and wider. It can create the illusion of having a more spacious outdoor area, which will work well for properties with small yards. The diffused illumination of the light on the wall surface will also create a subtle glow throughout your landscape to create a more welcoming ambiance.


Highlight intricate details of your landscape features through silhouette lighting.

Silhouette lighting is another landscape lighting technique that will enhance the aesthetic of your property at night. The execution of this technique involves placing a lighting fixture behind a landscape feature so the light can outline its shape and highlight its intricate details. There should also be a wall behind the feature you want to showcase so it can catch the light and make the silhouette stand out more.

This landscape lighting technique can create a touch of mystery in your landscape. It will highlight the dark silhouettes of different landscaping features, accentuating their eye-catching shapes and details. The play on light and shadow with this lighting technique is also a great way to add visual depth to your landscape.


Create the look of a moonlit night with moonlighting!

Moonlighting is a landscape lighting technique that allows you to recreate the soft, subtle glow of the moonlight on your property. Moonlighting involves placing a lighting fixture high in a structure, like a tree, with the light angled downwards. The light will then filter downwards, casting dramatic and captivating shadows on the ground. Mimicking moonlight through this lighting technique will create a peaceful vibe on your property.

Make sure you use LED lights for your landscape lighting system as they are long-lasting and energy-efficient!

Create a Focal Point on Your Landscape Through Uplighting

Uplighting technique on green shrubs on a landscape in Ankeny, IA.

If there are certain features in your landscape that you want to turn into a focal point, the uplighting technique is a great way to achieve that. This technique involves installing a light source at the base of a feature and then pointing the light upwards. The stream of light from below will provide the landscape feature with its own spotlight, accentuating its unique textures and shapes. Uplighting is best used for features like tall trees, lush shrubs, statues, and architectural elements on your landscape.


Call our team today to schedule our landscape lighting service!

If you want to elevate the beauty of your landscape at night, you've come to the right place. Our team at ETCH Outdoor Living offers our landscape lighting service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, and neighboring areas in Iowa. When you work with us, we will install an LED lighting system on your property that can feature Bluetooth technology, so you can control it from your smartphone! Call us today at (515) 654-5447 to schedule and get started on brightening up your landscape!