Tips and advice for getting started Summer is upon us and many of us have already started spending more time outdoors. So in addition to making sure you have enough gas for your grill, it?s also a good time to figure out your outdoor lighting setup.
To help you get started, we asked two experts for tips and advice and included a handful of product picks to consider as well.

Set your goals first
?Establish what task you are looking for your lighting to accomplish,? says Jorie Garcia, creative manager at Schoolhouse Electric, the Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer of vintage-inspired lighting and decor.

Photo by Shane Lavalette
A single sconce lights up the entrance of this 320-square-foot cabin in upstate NY and brings home the all black everything look.
?I find value in addressing multiple layers of lighting, especially as we spend more time outside in the warmer months,? she says. ?From looking at task lighting for safety and illumination for the entrance of your home, to using ambient lanterns, candles, and string lights to make your outdoor space more inviting.?
Drawing up your own plan is especially important if you aren?t working with a professional. ?This will help you put together your budget as well as prevent you from ordering too many lights or not getting the right lights for different areas,? says Fernando Wong, a landscape designer with experience working on The Four Seasons At The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida,...