The mushrooming of housing complexes and townships has widened choices for buyers. There are duplex and triplex apartments, condominiums, penthouses, row houses and, of course, the delightful bungalows and farmhouses.

Among several factors, outdoor lighting of bungalows, a neglected feature in old times, now needs special attention.

Kerb appeal

Introduce some lighting style to outdoor spaces and you will not only be making it look better, but also be creating irresistible kerb appeal of lasting value. Fortunately, the market for outdoor lighting has exploded in the last several years.

In addition to the time-honoured porch wall light and hanging light, we now have wall-mount brackets, new post mounted lights and landscape lighting options.

At the gate

While indicating where the entry gate is, such lighting also illuminates the way in and out of the building, signs and building numbers.

Use multiple low light level fixtures instead of one very bright fixture. If you use just one fixture, the area nearest to it is too bright and the areas farther away too dim. Multiple fixtures help you put the lights in areas of interest — near the gate, signs, by doorways and stairs — thus evenly distributing the light.

Walkway lights

Installing walkway lights is more than just a makeover. It adds visibility, and therefore safety for visitors, while showing off the shrubbery and plants. When deciding how to illuminate walkways, don’t forget that steps need to be visible too.

If your path has steps on it, be sure that the placement of lighting illuminates those steps — rather than casting shadows on them.

Walkway lighting is available in a variety of low-voltage configurations, which are well shielded and do not create a glare. For driveways, consider bollards that are between 30 and 36 inches in height.

Entryway lighting

Knock. Knock. “Who’s there?”

What do you mean, “who’s there?” If you got the right light shining at the entryway, you can see for yourself.

Having adequate lighting on your front door is a two-way street: it shines a warm, welcoming message to whoever is standing at the portal after dark and it illuminates a face if you’re indoors looking out.

Test this for yourself by having a family member or friend stand outside at your front door, while you stand inside and look out with the light on.

And yes, if you want your porch lights to go on when someone approaches the door, consider installing a motion activation system (a little expensive, though) that will trigger the lights when there is movement near your entrance.

Garage lighting

Garages should include adequate general or ambient illumination so you can see where you’re walking in what might be cluttered space. And you can spot whether any unwelcome guests — animal or human — have crept in.

It’s important to have adequate lighting outside your garage, too, for decorative and safety reasons.

The author is an interior design consultant, specialising in the design of corporate and residential interiors. As a senior faculty member at a Calcutta institute, she has delivered lectures, guided research and conducted projects in the field of ‘Housing & Interior Design’ for over two decades. She can be contacted at kusumsmail@yahoo.com