Mike's Bright Ideas

Landscape Lighting Blog

Top 4 Outdoor Lighting Trends

The Latest Outdoor Lighting Trends and How Mike’s Landscape Lighting Designers Can Help You Achieve Them Outdoor lighting is an essential aspect of any home’s exterior design. It not only enhances the beauty of your outdoor space but also provides...

Outdoor Lighting Connectors

When it comes to outdoor lighting, having a reliable and safe electrical connection is crucial. With exposure to the elements, including rain, snow, and high humidity, it’s important to use waterproof connectors that can withstand the outdoor environment...

Flagpole Lighting

Flagpoles are a symbol of pride and patriotism and lighting them can enhance their beauty while also providing an important practical purpose. Lighting your flagpole can improve the visibility and durability of your flag, and it can also make your property saf...

10 Reasons to Light Your Outdoor Kitchen

Are you wondering “Should I include lighting in my outdoor kitchen?” The best way to make the most of your outdoor kitchen and entertainment center is to light it up! Below are the top 10 reasons to light your outdoor kitchen. Light Up Your Outdoor Kitchen...

Why Install Landscape Lighting?

What Are The Benefits of Landscape Lighting? Landscape lighting is an essential component of a well-designed outdoor space. It not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your property but also improves its functionality, safety, and security.  In this blog, we...

Why Mike’s Landscape Lighting?

What Advantages Does Mike’s Landscape Lighting Have Over Our Competition?  Looking for some reasons why you should choose Mike’s Landscape Lighting for your lighting needs? Let me give you some history of our company first.  I started Mike’...

Ways to Light Your Long Dark Driveway

Are you wondering “What options do I have for lighting my long dark driveway?” This is a question we get asked quite often at Mike’s Landscape Lighting.  We have large estates out here in the suburbs and this is a common problem our designer...

Cost of Low-Voltage Lighting

How much does it cost to run my low-voltage lighting system? This is a question we get asked quite often, so why not write a blog about it?  So, how much will your electricity bill go up with a new outdoor lighting system?  There are a lot of factors that go...

How to Enjoy Your Outdoor Spaces in Winter

WELCOME WINTER Winters in Wisconsin and Illinois can feel like months-long indoor hibernation. The sun sets before dinner, the temperature drops, and soon enough, snow seems to block out any semblance of your once-beloved outdoor entertaining space. There are...

Color-Changing Bulbs

Wondering if you can add color-changing bulbs to your landscape lighting? Adding lights to your outdoor landscape can create a transformative aesthetic on its own. Adding color to those lights can create a completely different design dimension that expands cre...

Upgrade Your Incandescent Bulbs to LED

Wondering if you should upgrade your incandescent bulbs to LED? Let us walk you through it. While you may not have thought much about your landscape lighting, the truth is that the light bulbs you use matter. The light bulbs you use can vastly influence the pe...

The Benefits of an Outdoor Audio System

Outdoor celebrations are an awesome way to enjoy great weather, great company, and a great occasion. Whether you’re celebrating a graduation, a birthday, a wedding or just having a good time, using high-quality speakers can make your occasion that much m...

Hosting Tips for Outdoor Parties

Although winter is waning and Spring is just on the horizon, it’s never too early to start planning your pending outdoor parties. Whether it’s an upcoming graduation, birthday party, religious occasion, or family celebration, outdoor parties are a...

Landscape Lighting for Home Security

What do you think you need to do to keep your home safe when you’re not there? You might invest in a home security system. You may even invest in a video-recording system, either one linked to your home security system, and synced with your phone, or on...

Top Summer 5 Backyard Lighting Ideas

It may be hard to believe, but summer is coming quickly (after a beautiful Spring!). With summer comes long nights spent outdoors enjoying grilling, backyard activities, and the simple pleasure of sitting and enjoying the beautiful weather. Time spent outdoors...

Should I Light My Water Feature?

The answer is: yes! Adding light to a water feature provides a host of benefits beyond enhancing the aesthetics of your water feature. Lighting can improve the safety of the water feature itself, enhance its overall design and make other elements of the water...

Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Weddings

Are you looking for outdoor lighting ideas for your wedding? It’s the beginning of your new life together. You exchange vows underneath a canopy in front of your friends and family. You may have a large gathering or small, on a beach or in a reception ha...

4 Ways to Light Your Outdoor Paths

Looking for ways to light your outdoor paths this season? Outdoor lighting is part art, part pragmatism. A well-lit outdoor path allows users to navigate at all times of the day or night without worrying about tripping, slipping, or missing a step while provid...

Where to Place Outdoor Lighting

When the sun goes down, do you want your yard and property to sit in darkness, or do you want to light up the night?! Striking a balance between energy efficiency and tasteful lighting is an art in itself but can help to bring a new dimension to your outdoor s...

Are Solar Landscape Lights Worth It?

Are solar landscape lights worth it? That is the big question, and the answer isn’t as clear-cut as you may think. Below, we discuss the pros and cons of solar landscape lights so you can make the decision for yourself! If you decide that you need more h...

How Far Can Landscape Lighting Wire Go?

How far can landscape lighting wire go? You have come to the right place! Mike’s Landscape Lighting knows landscape lighting and low-voltage wiring inside and out! When first considering the idea of adding landscape lighting to your space, you may wonder...

How Does Landscape Lighting Work?

“How does landscape lighting work?” It’s a question that we’ve been asked countless times. To begin with, you’ll want to learn more about low voltage landscape lighting here! Once you’ve brushed up on your knowledge of low voltage landscape lightin...

What is Low Voltage Landscape Lighting?

You can highlight your favorite plants or light your pathways at night without the constant threat of shock or injury! Using only a few components, low-voltage landscape lighting can be set up quickly and efficiently, especially with the help of a landscape li...