Flowery gardens and sculpted lawns bring curb appeal during the day.

And it doesn't take much effort to showcase that same attraction at night.

Lighting, whether inexpensive path lights, or the more elaborate, impressive, expensive landscaped lighting systems, can illuminate trees, bushes, gardens, patios, pathways, stairs, flags, and even homes — pointing out what you want others to see (and hiding what you don't).

And while a well-lit lawn may seem like a luxury, it's as simple and affordable as a homeowner wants and needs it to be.

Start with basic-level lawn lighting, solar lights, which draw energy from the sun, store it in batteries, and emit light through low-wattage LED bulbs.

As the technology has improved, particularly the brightness and energy efficiency of the LED bulbs, which last years and now provide close to the same amount of light as standard halogen bulbs, so has the popularity of solar lighting.

It’s a lot cheaper and it’s a lot easier than other electric-powered outside lighting, You just place it on the wall or stick it in the ground and there it is.

Godwin Ajah, a Lagos resident,was sold on outdoor solar lighting several years ago for those same reasons. There are now 10 solar-powered lights in his backyard and four in the median in front of his home.

He estimates he’s spent ₦145,000 on the lighting products in that time.

“We bought a lot of different ones at different times,” he said, “but it’s always been solar powered. We just tried different things. It’s cheap enough that you can change it up of you don’t like it.”

When asked how important the lawn lights were to him, he laughed.

“It’s more important to Joy,” his wife, he said. “But it’s nice to have.”

Solar-powered lights aren’t just for pathways, but can be decorative and fun, like the Maxigrid Outdoor Decorative Post Lamp and the PIR Wall sensor Light (₦12,000) which can be hung outside or set on a table or windowsill.

The next step up are low-voltage wired LED lights, which combine the lifespan and low-energy of solar lighting but without the hassle of battery replacement or even winter storage. The system requires a transformer, LED lights, and the wiring that connects them, and can be covered by top soil or even mulch.

“I usually tell people to start out small, don’t light everything you see. Pick out focal points: trees, bushes, plants — what you’ll probably want to light because you paid money for people to see them."

The system can also be much bigger, with flood lights in the trees and on the ground, small lights to brighten stairs and rails, underneath statues or other lawn fixtures, and along lengthy pathways.

There’s a lot of different technologies for landscape lighting, depending on what you’re trying to do.

Maxigrid has installed solar lighting systems all over the country especially in Lagos, ranging from ₦12,000 to ₦75,000. But the store also offers a free course a few times a year for those who want to do it themselves.

That’s why we’re here, to help you lay out the system and all the system pieces and parts.

Contact Irene at: info@maxigrid.com.ng or +234 8032395741.
Visit www.maxigrid.com.ng