Outdoor lighting design is an effective way to increase the use of your outdoor space and to add style to your property. So whether you are planning an commercial or residential outdoor area lighting design, will help to achieve the complete desired effect.

Amander Flaherty is a lighting designer with a background and training in architecture. Amander decided to specialise in what she was most passionate about; outdoor lighting design.
Amander started her own outdoor lighting company, Light on Landscape ten years ago.

During her career, Amander has noticed a few broad trends in the industry. "The days of having a big open lawn with a clothes hoist in the middle and a few trees scattered around are gone," she says. "Smaller blocks mean more people are putting their resources into landscaping, whether that's a water feature, a sculpture, or outdoor garden lighting. They want to create their own little sanctuary."

Spending time and money on designing an outdoor area can have wonderful results; personalizing a space can create a peaceful retreat and thus an additional room to any home or commercial space.

When embarking on a commercial lighting or residential lighting design project Amander recommends the following:
- Plan ahead: research your desired aesthetic - both commercial or residential outdoor lighting design for implementation can lead to their own complexities that can affect the time and cost of a project.
- Consider practicality: it is easy to not think through the practicalities of outdoor lighting design and how it can apply to an outdoor area. Lighting pathways and steps is paramount in any design whether it is residential or commercial lighting
- Light the landscape: rather than thinking about certain garden features, consider your whole landscape; avoid flood lighting and consider a mixture of downlighting, backlighting and uplighting to showcase your outdoor area.

Amander is excited by design and the potential of transforming a space. She advises that anyone thinking about installing lighting in their outdoor garden areas should talk to a lighting design specialist to achieve the full potential of outdoor lighting design.

For assistance with planning and executing your commercial or residential lighting design project visit Light on Landscapes website: http://www.lightonlandscape.com.au/flash/lighting-design.html