The break in the weather has many people thinking about the warm summer sunshine beating down and keeping the outdoor activities fun and comfortable. The Groundhog did confirm that spring will be early this year, so it is probably time to start planning your outdoor landscaping and space.

Having an outdoor space for entertaining and eating is a great way to spend time together as a family, while enjoying the nice weather and getting out of the house. An area to eat dinner outside or the spend time in the evening hours can be very therapeutic after a long and difficult day.

But, you want to make sure that area is safe and well-lit. It isn’t any fun to watch the kids play in the backyard when the lighting is bad and they continually trip over toys that they can’t see. Plus, eating outside in an area that is not well-lit could make more of a mess than anything.

Here are a couple of safety tips to keep in mind:

• First, make sure to do your research as far as which lighting fixtures you choose to install. You want to make sure that each fixture is rater for outdoor use so that it withstands the elements all year around. Even though you will likely only use the lighting during the late spring and summer months, all the rest of the year it will be subject to the weather so you want to make sure that it will hold up.
• Next, make sure that the light bulbs that you purchase for your outdoor lighting are rated for outdoor use. Most people think a light bulb is a light bulb, but this is not the case. In fact, there are light bulbs that are rated for outdoor use and those that are rated for indoor use. It is important to purchase the outdoor use bulbs for your outdoor fixtures.
• Finally, make sure that the light bulbs that you purchase are the right size wattage for the light fixtures that you are installing them in. A light bulb that is too big will cause problems with the fixture and the electrical wiring, and a light bulb that is too small could burst.

If you are thinking about installing outdoor lighting, make sure that you are planning it with safety in mind. Permanent lighting outside of your home is a great way to improve the ambiance and safety of the space, but you don’t want to incur an injury in the process.