Security lighting for homes and businesses: Tips and tricks to get it right

This is branded content for Lighting Style.

Many years ago, security lighting meant a single light bulb over the door. Thankfully, modern lighting has evolved to a much higher level of sophistication.

Outdoor lights are used not only for illumination and enhancement of homes and businesses, but increasingly also for safety and security.

But how do you achieve the most effective security lighting while keeping it sensible? Here are our ten top tips and tricks.

Before you install any lighting, walk around your property, and find security weaknesses. You should do the walking at night because some problems may only become apparent then. Record each and every problem - this will form your security lighting plan.

Solar lights are perfect for security lighting because they are free to run - since they require no wiring to the mains - and can be installed absolutely anywhere. High-grade solar lights can keep on illuminating even after several cloudy or rainy days.

Most motion sensor lights use Passive Infrared (PIR) detectors so will only respond to bodies that have a heat signature. These types of lights are great against intruders as well as for providing temporary illumination for when you enter at night through a dark front garden. They are also energy efficient as most of the time they are on standby.

Flood lights are suitable for large areas that require very high intensity illumination with a wide beam angle. As a rule of thumb, the height of a flood light should be one half the distance of the area that needs to be lit (for example, if you need to illuminate an area of 10 metres then install the flood light five metres up).

Nothing beats coach lights outside your front and back doors because coach lights provide superb security and safety illumination due to the fact that they are installed at head height, and they look lovely as well.

A trespasser will focus on your weakest point. From a security perspective that means the entryway with the least lighting, so make sure every entryway to your home or business is illuminated well.

The safety of family, friends and personnel is just as important as their security - which means having gardens and steps that are extremely well lit to avoid falls. You can use a variety of lights for this including up-lights, ground lights, spotlights, step lights and bollard lights.

Once your security lights are in place, you need regular maintenance to ensure optimal security. This includes pruning branches, replacing burnt out globes and cleaning dirty lenses.

There is nothing that says that because a light is used for security and safety, it needs to be industrial and bland. In fact, you should mandate that every light you install adds to the charm of your property.

Our final tip is to make sure any security lighting you install considers your neighbours. A flood light shining directly into their window or a sensor light that flickers on and off could cause untold angst which can be easily avoided with a bit of planning.

For the largest range of security lights in Australia, with thousands of products, see Lighting Style.