Dear Ray
Where should I put landscape lights around my house?
Dear Ray, I know I want landscape lighting, but I do not know where to start around the house. What should I light first?
— Staring at a big, dark yard
Dear Staring,
Start with the places people use and the features that make the house feel like yours. A good first plan usually covers the route from drive or sidewalk to the door, any changes in elevation, and one or two architectural or landscape features worth noticing after dark.
Walk the property at dusk and make a short list: entry path, front steps, driveway edge, patio, a favorite tree, or a textured wall. Then rank them by safety, everyday usefulness, and visual value. The placement guide can help you turn that walk into a balanced starting plan.
Avoid trying to light every shrub and every surface. A few well-chosen pools of warm light create depth; too many fixtures flatten the yard and make maintenance harder. Keep light out of bedroom windows and neighboring yards, and aim fixtures so the source is hidden whenever possible.
Plan the transformer and cable routes early, even if you install in stages. That lets the first phase support the second instead of forcing you to work backward later. The layout ideas guide is useful when you are ready to sketch zones.
Begin with the route home and one feature you genuinely enjoy seeing. That is enough to make the yard feel cared for, and it gives you a clear next step instead of a catalog-sized decision.
— Ray
If you want to go deeper