Lighting enhances water features

Lighting a water feature is more than just pointing a spotlight. After all, you don’t want the light to bounce off the water and blind passersby. Instead, the goal of lighting is to enhance the feeling of serenity and highlight what makes the environment unique.

Whether you’re planning a new water feature or want to light an existing one, there are a few things to consider. Now, we’re slightly biased, so we think it’s worth it to have a pro light your water feature. However, it’s not an impossible DIY. No matter what you decide, here’s what to keep in mind.

Landscaping lights come in all shapes and sizes. And there are lights designed to work underwater, too. Get the right equipment for the job, and remember that water dissipates light. So, you probably need more lights than you think. Consider LEDs instead of traditional fixtures. They are more expensive, but they last longer. And, the harsh blue tint of LEDs doesn’t have to be a concern. Now, some manufacturers are offering a mellower glow.

Lighting a water feature is more than pointing some spots and calling it good. Water is a wild card, and even experienced lighting designers make tweaks once night falls. The goal is to illuminate your water feature. So, that might mean using underwater lights to focus on a waterfall or highlighting plants with carefully placed spotlights. You want a lighting plan that makes the most of your water feature, not one that recreates high noon.

Like all lights, landscaping lights do occasionally need new bulbs. Make life easier on your future self by wrapping extra power cord around underwater lights. That way, you can pull the light out of the water to change the bulb instead of draining water or moving rocks. And keep in mind, too, that you’ll want to check on lighting when you do your annual maintenance in the spring. Plants grow around lights and algae can collect on lenses.