With lighting technology soaring to new heights, the outer environment of a structure need not fade into boring darkness with the setting of the sun. The landscape surrounding the house is often as lovely as the house itself. For most, it is a prized procession worthy of being displayed and enjoyed at all times. Landscape lighting ensures that the beauty of nature is not lost in the dark.

Most landscapes are resplendent with natural charm and owner cherishes them as much as their houses. Lighting can create different moods and ambience in the world outside a structure, providing balance to indoor lighting as well as highlighting the beauty of the structure from outside.

There are various techniques of landscape lighting, each creating a different kind of mood and effect. Moonlighting uses a hidden source of light high up on a tree positioned to disperse the light downwards. This produces a subdued, romantic and tranquil moonlit effect. Silhouetting is done to accentuate the interesting shapes and forms of the branches of a tree, by putting the source of light right behind the object. The color and texture of the object is not seen; rather, a dark form provides a subdued dramatic effect.

Spotlighting is done to highlight the beauty of an object. Up lighting helps to display the beauty of trees and other architectural features, and can be repeated for symmetry and effect. Shadowing involves fixing a light source in front of the object of interest at various angles to create a light and shadow effect. Sign lighting, security lighting, down lighting, step and deck lighting, and walkway lighting are some of the other forms of landscape lighting.

Grazing involves positioning the light source to fall on the object at a sharp angle, and is generally done to highlight texture. Washing surface involves fixing a light source to fall at a blunt angle on the object. Water lighting is generally done from within to provide a rippling, reflecting and flickering natural or dramatic effect.

Landscape lighting should be done with due planning to bring out the desired effect. There should not too many dark gaps between the focal points, as these lead to a loss of visual interest. Landscape lighting can guide a person across a visual dimension, making him an active participant in the milieu created and relishing the mood reflected. Landscaping should guide the vision towards a destination (the house), creating a sense of depth that provides the greatest emotional impression. Landscaping should provide a sense of symmetry, and should appear interesting from all perspectives.