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We all deserve a well-earned break once in a while, especially after dealing with the stresses of everyday life. Everyone loves a good vacation away from home. Unfortunately, so do burglars. Studies have shown that home invasions rise 10% between the months of June and August. This is likely due to the increase in the number of homeowners going on vacation in the summer.
How can you deter would-be thieves? Automatic outdoor lighting can help increase home security. If you’re interested in the benefits of outdoor lighting to help increase your home security, keep reading for more information.
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Types of Outdoor Security Lights
When lighting your home, it is important to pick the right style of lighting. The type of lighting you choose will vary based on the amount of light you wish to have and how you want your lighting aesthetic to look and function. Here are the different styles of lighting.
Floodlights
Floodlights have the capacity to spread a lot of light over a wide stretch of space. They are ideal for lighting up lawn spaces, driveways, backyards, and the sides of the house where there may be large patches of darkness otherwise.
Floodlights can be motion-activated or put on timers to go on and off during certain times of the night. Floodlights may also be solar-powered, which can save you money on your electric bill. Solar-powered floodlights get their energy from the sun during the day and turn on automatically at night as soon as the sunsets.
Walkway Lights
Walkway lights are used for lighting up the sidewalk or paths leading to or from the house. These types of lights may be turned on via a switch inside the house, set on a time to go on and off at certain times, or be solar-powered and switch on when the sun goes down. Walkway lights can stick out of the ground with stakes or posts or set in the ground like stepping stones.
Spotlights
Spotlights are for shining a single focused beam of light on one primary object. It could be a statue, a tree, a flowerbed, a fountain, or a mailbox.
Bistro Lights
Bistro lights are decorative bulbs or LED mini bulb lights on a string hung around patios, decks, or awnings. They can provide a dimmer and less concentrated light that is better for outdoor entertaining in the backyard setting.
Step Lights
Step lights are built-in or attached to the front or sides of the steps or on a staircase or railing. They prevent tripping when going up and down the stairs at night. They can also show if anything is on the stairs such as a rock or pinecone that could be a hazard. Or a dangerous threat like a snake that could be lurking on a step waiting to attack.
Security When Away From Home
If you are away from your home on vacation, many modern light systems today allow you to control your home’s lighting remotely from your phone or from a control panel that allows you to adjust the timer settings and functions.
A well-lit home is less likely to be burglarized because the increased lighting makes burglars on the property more visible to neighbors. This is important when you realize that 66% of burglaries are on residential properties.
Thieves casing a neighborhood for potential houses to rob will target houses that are dark for long periods of time as this is a major signal that no one is home. Having automatic outdoor lighting can make it appear as if someone is home and therefore acts as a first-line home security system. Studies have shown that areas with good outdoor lighting see a 39% drop in crime. Burglars will be less likely to attempt anything if they think there’s a chance someone might be home.
Outdoor Lighting Tips
Survey your property and look for any dark blind spots where a burglar could potentially hide and make notes of these areas. Especially side doors and windows where burglars tend to break in the most. Motion-activated lights can be used in conjunction with security cameras to get a bright and clear view of anyone who is on your property.
If possible, it is best to stagger timed lights so that they don’t always go on and off at the exact same time every day. Determined crooks will be able to see the pattern after a few days of observation and this will be a dead giveaway that no one really is home.
Outdoor Lighting Benefits
Not only can outdoor lighting increase your home’s appearance and security, but safety benefits as well. Lighting up areas such as stairs and driveways can prevent trips and falls from family members or friends going outside during those summer nights. Motion-activated lights turn on as soon as any kind of movement is detected by the light’s sensors. This goes for animals as well as people.
If there is a wild animal lurking around your property, this sudden flicker of light turning on will scare them away, which is another security benefit that can give you extra peace of mind. Outdoor lighting’s visibility should be ideally around 100 feet for the best benefit. It should be bright enough to easily see your surroundings but not so bright that it becomes light pollution to your neighbors.
Outdoor Lighting Adds Beauty to Your Home
Use a combination of walkway lights, floodlights, and spotlights on your property to create layers of light instead of one glaring beam. This will create a more ambient lighting effect. When your home is well-lit, it not only provides home security, it also reflects well on you as a homeowner who takes pride in their home.
Outdoor lighting not only adds to the safety of your home but also the beauty of it. An investment in outdoor lighting will have everyone in the neighborhood talking about how good your home looks.
Outdoor Security Lights
A good lighting system around your house is like an extra set of eyes watching your home while you are away. It’s peace of mind and home security all in one. We know you’ve worked hard to get your home and to keep it safe. The Perfect Light takes pride in providing our customers in the North Texas area with the best lighting systems to fit their budget and needs.
Looking to upgrade your lighting or add outdoor lighting? See how the perfect light can make your home shine. Contact Us at the Perfect Light today for your lighting estimate.