Hardscape Lighting: Where to Start

Start with function, not fixtures. Steps and paths that are unsafe after dark are the highest-priority lighting locations on most properties, ahead of purely decorative accent lighting.

Think about how the space will actually be used at night — a dining patio needs different lighting than a quiet path to a side gate. Layering a few light levels usually reads better than one bright source.

Low-voltage systems are common for landscape and hardscape lighting because they are safer to work with and easier to adjust over time, but circuit planning and transformer placement still matter for a clean result.

If lighting is being added after a patio or wall is already built, ask how conduit or wiring will be run without damaging finished hardscape — this is easier to plan for during the original build than to retrofit later.