Exterior lighting visually expands the interior rooms of a residence. When there is no illumination outside, the black-mirror effect occurs: Windows reflect interior lights, making people feel boxed in and the space seem smaller. When they can see the yard, guests feel safer and no longer on display. Balancing the amount of light inside and outside the house allows the windows to become more transparent.

Uplighting This can be a very dramiatc way to light trees that have a sculptural quality. The luminaires can be ground-mounted or installed below grade. These buried luminaires, known as well lights, have little or no adjustability, so they aren't the best choice for rapidly growing trees. Above-ground directional luminaires, which shrubbery easiiy conceal, have much more flexiblitiy.

Silhouetting Particularly in the winter, deciduous trees often look better when left dark with the wall behind them illuminated. Many flouresecent luminaires can do a good job of wall-washing for a small amount of power and long lamp life. Remember to specify a ballast designed for low temperatures if you live in a cold region.

Downlighting Good for outdoor activity areas, downlighting luminaires can be mounted on trellises, eaves, gazebos, and mature trees. To reduce shadowing, overlap the luminaires' spread of illumination.

Path Lighting Use this lighting technique judiciously. Too often, pagoda-type path lights are the only source of exterior illumination, causing walkways or driveways to look like an airport runway. When a pathway light is needed, consider using an opaque mushroom-type luminaire that projects light downward without drawing attention to itself.

Moonlighting By mounting luminaires relatively high in mature trees, a dappled pattern of light and shadow is created on pathways and low-level plantings. Moonlighting, as this is called, looks very natural.