Light up Your Outdoor Oasis After the Sun Goes Down

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 09/20/2020

If you're like many modern homeowners, your ideal of an ideal outdoor living space is one that serves as a personal oasis. Perhaps you've cultivated a thriving culinary herb garden complete with classically inspired statuary or maybe you've carved out a serene space in the middle of a flowering thicket. Whatever type of sanctuary you've created in your outdoor living space, you probably want to be able to enjoy it as often as possible, and there may be nights when you find yourself reluctantly heading indoors as the sun sinks below the horizon. However, with the right type of outdoor lighting, you can relax or entertain in your outdoor living space no matter what the time of day. Following are just three ways to light up your night:

Water Feature Lights

If you've got waterfalls, fountains or ponds in your outdoor living space, consider using lighting to add a dramatic effect. Backlighting works well on waterfalls and fountains, and in-ground lighting highlights and defines ponds. If you're lucky enough to have a stream running through your property, you can place solar lights on the bank for added visibility.

Walkway Lights

Walkways of all types, from winding garden paths to basic concrete walks leading up to your front door can benefit from ground-level lighting. Walkway lights increase aesthetics as well as provides a layer of protection against slip-and-fall accidents, making them ideal if you like to do a lot of outdoor entertaining.

Another lighting option when you want visibility on walkways or other ground-level spaces is downlighting from posts placed alongside the walkway. This is a great option when you want the area to be extremely well-lit at night.

Specimen Plant Lights

Specimen plant lights showcase individual trees and shrubs that feature particular visual interest. Monkey puzzle trees, for instance, make good choices because of their unusual appearance. You might also choose to have specimen lighting options installed for the purpose of backlighting your favorite flowering shrubs. Specimen plant lighting is also instrumental for those who want to create architectural balance after dark. For instance, if you've got two tall arborvitaes flanking your front entryway, specimen lighting backlighting each one provides a classically elegant appeal.

Overhead Fairy Lights

If midsummer soirees are a part of your seasonal entertaining agenda, consider bringing an ethereal accent to the picture by stringing fairy lights in tree branches. You can also use them on hardscaping features such as gazebos, railings, pergolas and arbors.

Whether your favorite after dark activity in your outdoor living space is enjoying an al fresco dinner party with friends or soaking up the serenity in the company of a good book, outdoor lighting helps enhance the experience.

DIY

Outdoor Living

Lighting

About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.