Landscape Lighting Installation in Oakland County
Professional LED lighting design that enhances curb appeal, improves safety, and showcases your landscape after dark.
Professional Landscape Lighting Design
Landscape lighting transforms your property after sunset. A professionally designed lighting system enhances architectural features, illuminates walkways for safety, deters intruders, and extends the hours you can enjoy your outdoor living spaces.
Earth Art Landscaping designs and installs low-voltage LED landscape lighting systems throughout Oakland County. With 39 years of landscape experience, we understand how light interacts with plants, stone, water, and architecture. Lighting is not an afterthought in our designs. It is an integral part of the overall landscape composition, planned from the beginning to highlight the best features of your property.
Modern LED technology has made landscape lighting more efficient, longer-lasting, and more versatile than ever. Today's LED fixtures consume 75% less energy than halogen systems, last 40,000-50,000 hours, and produce warm, natural-looking light. We design every system with energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, and long-term performance in mind.
Types of Landscape Lighting
Each lighting technique serves a specific purpose. We combine multiple techniques to create a cohesive, layered lighting design.
Pathway Lighting
Low-profile fixtures along walkways, driveways, and garden paths. Pathway lights provide safe navigation after dark and create an inviting approach to your home. We space fixtures for even coverage without creating harsh pools of light. Typical fixture height is 18-24 inches for residential installations.
Accent & Uplighting
Directional fixtures aimed upward to highlight trees, architectural features, and focal points. Uplighting creates dramatic shadows and depth, transforming a flat landscape into a three-dimensional composition at night. We use adjustable fixtures to fine-tune the effect on every feature.
Security Lighting
Strategic illumination of entry points, dark corners, and property perimeters. According to the Department of Justice, exterior lighting is one of the most effective crime deterrents for residential properties. We design security lighting that provides visibility without the harsh glare of floodlights.
Architectural Lighting
Wall wash, downlighting, and silhouette techniques that highlight your home's architectural details. Columns, stone facades, dormers, and entryways become dramatic features when properly lit. Architectural lighting increases curb appeal and creates a welcoming impression for visitors.
Hardscape Lighting
Recessed lights built into retaining walls, seat walls, steps, and patio edges. These fixtures integrate directly into hardscape features for a clean, built-in appearance. Step lights improve safety on grade changes while adding a sophisticated glow to your patio and outdoor living areas.
Water Feature Lighting
Submersible and perimeter lighting for ponds, fountains, waterfalls, and streams. Underwater LED fixtures create a mesmerizing glow that brings water features to life after dark. We use fixtures rated for permanent submersion with proper waterproof connections.
How We Design Landscape Lighting
Effective landscape lighting follows design principles that create atmosphere rather than just illumination. Too much light is as problematic as too little. Our approach focuses on balance, contrast, and purpose.
Layered Lighting
We use three layers in every design: ambient (overall illumination), task (functional areas like steps and walkways), and accent (feature highlighting). This layered approach creates depth and visual interest while ensuring every area has the right level of light for its purpose.
Warm Color Temperature
We specify 2700K warm white LED fixtures for all residential installations. This color temperature mimics the warm glow of incandescent light and complements natural materials like stone, wood, and foliage. Cool white lights (4000K+) create a sterile, commercial feel that is inappropriate for residential landscapes.
Light Pollution Control
Every fixture we install is shielded to direct light where it is needed without spilling into neighboring properties or the night sky. Oakland County communities like Bloomfield Township and Birmingham have outdoor lighting ordinances. Our designs comply with local regulations while maximizing your property's visual impact.
Smart Controls
We install programmable transformers with astronomical timers that automatically adjust on/off times based on sunset and sunrise throughout the year. Zone controls allow you to activate different lighting areas independently. Some systems integrate with Wi-Fi controllers for smartphone operation.
Benefits of Professional Landscape Lighting
- Increases property value by an estimated 15-20%
- Reduces slip-and-fall risk on walkways and steps
- Deters intruders by eliminating dark hiding spots
- Extends outdoor living use by 3-4 hours per evening
- LED systems use 75% less energy than halogen alternatives
- LED fixtures last 40,000-50,000 hours (15-20 years typical use)
- Highlights architectural and landscape investments
- Creates ambiance for outdoor entertaining
- Improves nighttime curb appeal year-round
- Low-voltage systems are safe around children and pets
Landscape Lighting FAQ
A basic landscape lighting package with 8-12 fixtures (pathway and accent lighting) typically costs $3,000-$5,000 installed. Mid-range systems with 15-25 fixtures covering pathways, accent lighting, architectural features, and hardscape integration run $5,000-$10,000. Comprehensive systems for large properties with 30+ fixtures, multiple zones, and smart controls start at $10,000. Every estimate includes design, fixtures, transformer, wiring, installation, and programming.
Modern LED landscape fixtures produce more effective illumination than traditional halogen fixtures despite using less energy. LED technology has advanced significantly. Our fixtures produce warm, natural-looking light at precise beam angles that put light exactly where it is needed. The perception of brightness in landscape lighting is more about placement and design technique than raw lumens. A well-designed LED system outperforms a poorly designed halogen system every time.
Minimally. A typical LED landscape lighting system with 15-20 fixtures consumes approximately 150-250 watts total. Running that system for 6 hours per night costs approximately $3-$5 per month at Michigan electricity rates. Compared to halogen systems that would consume 600-1,000 watts for the same number of fixtures, LED saves 75% on operating costs while producing equal or better illumination.
Yes. Low-voltage landscape lighting can be retrofitted to any existing landscape without major disruption. We use small trenching tools to bury wiring 6-8 inches deep with minimal disturbance to established plantings and turf. The transformer mounts near an exterior outlet. Most retrofit installations are completed in 1-2 days with no visible damage to the existing landscape.
Light Up Your Landscape
Schedule a free evening consultation to see how professional lighting can transform your property. We will walk your landscape at dusk and show you the possibilities.