Stairway Lighting helps keep you safe!
A dark stairway is dangerous. Every year, over a million people are either injured, hospitalized or killed due to stair trip and fall issues. Proper stairway lighting can help prevent accidents and provide guidance as you and your guests as you traverse the stairs. Don’t underestimate the importance of illuminating your exterior stairways!
You may be wondering whether or not you can add lighting to your existing outdoor stairway and there is always a way if you are creative with your design. Tread lights, down lights, path lights and post lights are all options to be considered for stair lighting that can be a components to any outdoor lighting system.
How do you choose which stairway lighting technique you will use for your stairs? It depends on how you are using the particular space and the effect you want to achieve. Exterior stairway lighting is one of the best home improvement investments you can make to your property and is best when done by a professional. There are several different type of lights and mounting options to consider:
Tread lighting – This is lighting that fits right into the vertical face of the steps. The light shines down onto the step directly beneath it. The fixture looks natural and is barely seen because of the way it is installed.
Down Lighting – Fixtures are mounted high up in a tree or architecturally and illuminate the steps below. Directed onto a staircase, this type of lighting can provide effective lighting, while also maintaining a serene atmosphere
Path Lighting– Often times step lighting is done, not in a stair case, but alongside the far apart steps in a descending or ascending path. Path lighting is done to illuminate pathways, but can also be used to light up the steps that a pathway can sometimes have.
Rail Lighting – These fixtures are mounted onto the post or railing of your stairs. They are an effective way to light the steps beneath the railing.
Stair lighting installations often require precise placement and technical knowledge so it’s important to hire someone that knows what they are doing. If a fixture is not mounted properly, wired correctly or aimed accurately, it can create uninvited issues down the road.
Looking for inspiration for your stairway lighting project? Check out our post on sculpture lighting that offers path lighting with an artistic twist. We also thought some of the lighting ideas in this article from Houzz were really fun too.
httpss://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/15533528/list/no-fall-guys-please-ideas-for-lighting-your-outdoor-steps
