Taking on a residential development project or buying an existing housing community can be a huge undertaking. Getting the chance to give people a new house they can call home is an amazing feeling.

The best part about it is that you will have the chance to add and modify all furniture and decorative pieces inside and outside the houses. This allows you to get your creative juices flowing and make these new spaces feel like luxury homes.

One step of this process is to choose the lighting around the exterior of the houses which is why we have put together this guide to help you along the way.

1. Space Type

One of the first things to consider when choosing decorative anything is the space itself. Whether you are remodeling or installing something for the first time, you need to make sure that whatever you add suits the type of space.

When it comes to street lamps, you have to keep in mind the function of the space before you start making any big decisions.

For instance, if you are looking to light up the path that leads to the community swimming pool, you might want to get lamps that do not attract a ton of bugs as that can make the swimming experience very unpleasant.

2. Architecture Style

Another important factor to pay attention to is the architectural style and feel of the houses. This can be pivotal in choosing a street lamp style for the entire property.

If you cannot find a street lamp style that matches the architectural style of the house, at least try to get something close that will complement the house.

While you can choose a style that is in complete contrast with the houses’ architecture, street lamps hardly ever are statement pieces so it is best not to experiment too much with clashing styles.

There are many style options available when you are looking into decorative street lamps from medieval gothic feels to a classic modern look giving you all the flexibility you need.

3. Light Temperature

Many developers forget this or leave it up to the lighting company to make this choice, but light temperature is an equally important factor to consider when choosing street lamps.

Residents' moods are affected severely by the light temperature a bulb functions at and can change the way they feel about a space. For example, if you are building a gazebo or a cabana next to the outdoor pool, you might want to choose warm lighting that creates a cozy atmosphere.

Since spaces like these are built for relaxation and lounging, you do not want to install bright white lights that signal the body to wake up.

4. Budget

Just because you are choosing to add decorative lighting to your space does not mean that you have to break the bank. Even while adding these lighting elements, you can make conscious choices towards saving money and environmental sustainability.

You can do so by installing LED bulbs that are more energy efficient and help you save money in the long run. If you already have solar panels installed on top of all roofs, you can just connect your new lighting structures to them too.

By saving money in this way, you can choose to splurge on a nicer set of lamps if the building budget was a big constraint for you.

5. Brightness

When you choose the lights, you will have to answer several questions such as what voltage, wattage, and how many lumens you want the lights to be. All of these answers will give you an idea of how much light each lamp will provide.

Brightness and the amount of light emitted from a lamp are important factors to consider as these can affect the daily lives of your residents.

For instance, if you install extremely bright and tall lamps near driveways, it can have a negative effect. These bright lights may blind drivers or create a glare which means that there can be increased difficulty in seeing the garage.

6. Installation

The installation process for big lighting structures can be long which can cause some disturbances in your building schedule. However, you need to pay attention to the installation process or your entire space can end up looking messy.

One of the most important parts of the process is to pay attention to the wiring and make sure that there are no exposed wires and that they are nicely organized if the need for repairs ever arises.

Uniformity is also something you should keep in mind as asymmetrical installations or out-of-line installations can become a nuisance  - both to look at and to fix.

7. Size

When you are making decisions, you will also have to make some measurements and even look at some 3D models to see what looks good in a space. This is done to ensure that you can bring your vision to life without compromising on any aspect.

Be prepared to choose a pole length, a base size, a goblet size, and even decorative finial sizes.

Size matters a lot as you do not want your lighting structures to take away from the beauty of your residential community and the surrounding environment. It can also affect function, for instance, a driveway should have small path lights to help residents park but not interfere with their vision.

Conclusion

Finally, the possibilities are truly endless when it comes to choosing street lamps or lighting of any kind. While these choices are nice to have and even necessary for some, they can quickly get overwhelming for new builders.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, make sure to consider the above factors such as brightness, temperature, budget, and size to ensure you are avoiding mistakes.

Additionally, you can also seek feedback from previous residents and even ask them how they felt about the lighting before you start remodeling. This can give you an idea of what troubles residents were facing in the area.