Tips to Prevent Light Trespass with Your Landscape Light Designs

Landscape lighting transforms your yard into a well-lit, inviting outdoor space. It adds a sparkling ambiance to your space, ensures your paths are visible, and adds moonlighting to your deck or patio. However, poorly installed lighting can be different. Lights can be blinding due to their incorrect angles or intense brightness levels. Blasting light directly into your neighbor's windows can annoy them. It also becomes more like light pollution that you will want to avoid. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the effects of light trespass when designing a landscape lighting project. There are some ways you can prevent light trespass without losing illumination in your yard. If you have heard the term light trespass for the first time, keep reading to discover its definition and tips to prevent it.

What is Light Trespass?

Light trespass is a term used to describe the lighting that escapes the boundaries of your property and spills annoyingly to adjacent properties. It is caused by the wrong types of lights, extra bright lights, or lights not angled correctly. Light trespassing is a common concern in urban, high-growth areas, but it also occurs in residential areas if the lighting system is poorly installed. It kills both the beauty and functionality of landscape lighting. If you have ever had a floodlight shine into your room window, you understand how light trespass can affect you and your neighbors.

How to Prevent Light Trespass on Your Landscape Lighting?

Here are the tips to professionally design and install your landscape lighting while avoiding light trespass.

1. Use Shrouds or Shields

The LED lights in outdoor lighting are designed to be precisely aimed, and this skillful aiming focuses the light on the area where it is needed instead of at windows. However, they may require little help in the form of glare shields or shrouds. Shields are lighting accessories you attach to the side or top of light fixtures. They steer light in a specific direction so it does not reach where it should not be. Shields can be included with original light fixtures, or you can purchase them separately and add them later. Figure out where the light trespass occurs and then adjust the shield to prevent light from shining where it catches people's eyes.

2. Turn Off Unnecessary Lights

If you are not using the lawn, keeping only the path lights on is wise for safety and security. Turn off all unnecessary lights when you're not in your room or yard. Moreover, you should switch off all aesthetic landscape lights before bed. Flipping off insignificant lights inside and outside the home will save you money and prevent light pollution in your area. Getting into the habit of turning off light fixtures when you don't need them is beneficial to your overall home.

3. Check Lights from all Viewing Angles

Next, check fixtures from different angles to check for light trespass. Standing in your yard at night admiring the lovely landscape lighting is not enough. You must also consider how it looks to everyone else. Notice lights glare from the road, see from your neighbor's deck (if possible), or walk down the sidewalk to observe the angle. Light trespass is not always obvious to you, so it is essential to put yourself in other people's place to know how your lighting will appear to them.

4. Check Your Wattage

Another tip to prevent light trespassing in your landscape lighting project is to avoid over-illuminating areas. Lighting has its language, including lumens, wattage, and color temperature. A lumen measures the light coming from your bulb, or you can call it the bulb's brightness, light intensity, and visible light emitted. The higher the wattage, the higher the lumen and the higher the light output. This looks sharp, and reflection can go over to unwanted areas. Most types of outdoor lighting come in the range of 50-300 lumens, depending on the type. If you blast your tree with 400 lumens, you will blind your neighbors. This also leads to wasting money by burning more wattage than needed.

5. Trim Down Your Lighting

You need balanced light throughout your landscape to create a lovely light flow. Many homeowners make the mistake of over lighting the landscape, which causes light trespass. Anytime you think more lighting is better, you risk increasing outdoor light pollution. In addition to contributing to pollution, it can also look aesthetically unappealing.

Start your lighting design with a minimalist look, starting with a few essential and tasteful fixtures. This modern, chic style will save you money, and you can add more later. Too much lighting will wash out your landscape and patio. If you light up everything in your yard, it will not look special and focused.

6. Match the Lighting Fixture to Task

Choose the right type of fixture for a specific task to reduce light trespass even on your property. If you are lighting a path, ensure your light keeps the illumination down and prevents glare or spillover. Choose smaller lights for small and narrow spaces. Use spotlights to focus on an individual area or object. Install floodlights to spread wider beams in the yard; however, it is recommended to use floodlights as little as possible in residential properties. Matching the lighting fixtures with their purpose will help reduce light pollution. Moreover, consider your home's architecture to ensure the lighting blends into your home style and design.

Read More: How to Choose Landscape Lighting

7. Check Local Light Trespass Guidelines

Many states, including California, have light trespass regulations. Mono County, California, Dark Sky Regulations prohibit light trespass, moving lights, changing-intensity lights, and glare. These laws can vary from place to place. We recommend that you review specific regulations applicable in your area to prevent any penalties or issues.

The Bottom Line

As a homeowner or landscape designer, you have the power to enhance your home's exterior and landscape with the right lighting. However, it's important to be aware of the potential mistakes in your lighting project to avoid light pollution and ensure peace in your neighborhood. Understanding light trespass is crucial for preventing it. By considering light trespass from the start of your lighting project and being careful about the design, you can ensure success. Choosing the right location for lights, installing the right type of light fixtures, using shields, and adjusting the beam angles are all within your control and will make your lighting look stunning and keep you in good standing with your neighbors. Follow these tips to improve the appearance of your home without overpowering the night's tranquility.

Are you looking for gorgeous landscape lighting options to create a vibrant landscape and increase the security of your home? Explore our impressive collection of outdoor lighting and find the right fixtures for your project.