As a Tampa Bay homeowner, you’d want to have a lighted walkway to improve your home’s safety and security. With adequate pathway illumination, you can enhance visibility to minimize slip, trip, and fall risks, deter potential burglars and intruders, and even boost curb appeal.
Lowering the risk of falls alone should be a good enough reason, even more so if you have an older loved one at home. As the U.S. CDC explains, over 14 million adults 65+ report experiencing a fall each year. Over a third of seniors who fall sustain an injury bad enough to require medical treatment or cause activity restriction.
If you’re unsure how and where to start, don’t worry, as this guide to walkway and landscape lighting designs has you covered. Read on to discover insights into outdoor lighting systems for walkways and the many other reasons to invest in them.
What Is a Lighted Walkway?
Also called “pathway lighting,” a lighted walkway refers to the use of exterior lighting elements and fixtures for illumination. You can use these lights in many parts of your Tampa Bay home’s outdoor spaces, such as:
- Pathways
- Sidewalks
- Garden paths and trails
The lighting products used in a lighted walkway are specifically for outdoor use. They come with weather-resistant materials (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and durable plastic bodies), for instance. They also have robust construction designs that allow them to withstand outdoor elements like dust, rain, and wind.
What Are Walkway Lights Called?
The “names” of walkway lights vary depending on the type of fixture. Some of the most common include:
- Bollard lights: Upright fixtures that deliver ambient, directional lights, ideal for wider paths
- Pathway markers (also called “spike lights”): Small lights mounted onto stakes that you then push into the ground to serve as an outline for paths
- Wall-mounted lights or sconces: Mounted on nearby or adjacent walls, with the lights shining downwards to illuminate the path
- Post lights or hanging lights (also called “lamp posts”): Classic choices that add sophistication and height to path lighting
- Ground-recessed lights: Sleek and modern, these light fixtures sit flush with the ground, reducing trip and fall hazards while creating a contemporary look
- Garden lanterns or hanging lights: Placed in strategic spots (e.g., hung from trees or walls) to create a whimsical or classic look
Are Path Lights Worth the Cost?
Yes, path lights, provided you install them correctly and in strategic locations, are worth the cost. You can even save on energy with the right products, such as solar lights, according to the folks at VerLuce…