Services · Walkways & Driveways
Walkway, step & driveway lighting design
Front walks, garden paths, outdoor steps and driveways at homes, and the walkways and entrances of hotels, venues and shopping centers.
Walkway, Step & Driveway Lighting Design
Light the way without the runway
Paths, steps and driveways are where outdoor lighting earns its keep. People need to see the edge of each step and the turn in the path. They don't need a row of bright dots or light in their eyes.
Lighting by Design has designed outdoor lighting in New Jersey since 2009, with decades of experience behind the team. We plan walkway, step and driveway lighting for homes and for commercial grounds, as part of a full landscape and outdoor lighting design or on its own.
Walkways
Paths you can read at night
A good path light puts light on the ground, not in your eyes. We use low, shielded path lights and bollards spaced so the walk reads as one continuous route, and we let the garden on either side carry some of the light. Omnidirectional "mushroom" style fixtures and bare bulbs throw glare and light the sky, so we avoid them. In Wayne, layered light on maples and garden steps gives the backyard depth at night.
Steps
Every tread, no glare
Steps are where people trip. The goal is to show the edge of each tread without bright spots shining up into your face. Depending on the stair, that can be small recessed step lights set in the wall or riser and aimed down, lighting tucked under a handrail or cap, or nearby light that grazes across the steps. Recessed outdoor lighting works well here because it stays out of the way and out of sight.
Driveways
Easy to follow, easy on the street
A driveway should be easy to follow from the road without looking like a runway. We mark the edges and the turns, light the trees along the drive instead of lining it with fixtures, and keep light off the street and the neighbors. In Florham Park, driveway and tree lighting lead the way in.
Commercial grounds
Arrival, start to finish
For hotels, venues and shopping centers, walkways connect the parking area to the front door. At the Marriott in Saddle Brook the work covered the walkways, the drop-off area and the entryway. Walk lighting has to be even enough to feel safe, comfortable for guests, and consistent with the facade and exterior lighting. For the lot itself, see parking lot lighting design.
How we work
A plan before fixtures
We start with a site walk-through, then a layout scaled to the property: fixture types, positions, aiming and color, with low voltage or line voltage chosen to suit the site. Warm color, shielded optics and timers or dimming keep it comfortable and dark-sky friendly. Then we see the work through to a final walkthrough. Start with a lighting consultation, call 516-655-6126 or email lightingnj@gmail.com.
Homes
Front walks & entries · Garden paths · Outdoor steps & terraces · Driveways · Patios & pool decks
Commercial grounds
Hotel walkways & entryways · Drop-off areas · Venue & catering hall approaches · Shopping center walks · Office & apartment grounds
What’s included
On-site evaluations · Design concepts · Lighting layouts · Specification · Supervision
Portfolio
Walkway & grounds projects
Backyard · Wayne, NJ
Marriott Walkway · Saddle Brook, NJ
The Chateau Grande Hotel · East Brunswick, NJ
Backyard · Cresskill, NJMore ideas for the front of the house, driveways and pools: landscape lighting ideas.
Walkways & Driveways FAQ
How far apart should path lights be?
It depends on the fixture, its height and how bright the surroundings are. We space them so the path reads as one route rather than pools of light and dark.
Are step lights better in the wall or the riser?
Either can work if the fixture is shielded and aimed down onto the tread. The aim is to see each edge without light shining into your eyes.
Should outdoor path lighting be low voltage?
Low voltage suits most residential paths and gardens. Larger commercial grounds may call for line voltage fixtures. We pick per site.
Can walkway lighting be dark-sky friendly?
Yes. Shielded, downward fixtures, warm color and timers keep light on the path and out of the sky.
Do you design walkway lighting for businesses?
Yes. Hotel walkways, entries and drop-off areas are in our portfolio.
Where we work: Atlantic County · Bergen County · Essex County · Hudson County · Middlesex County · Monmouth County · Morris County · Ocean County · Passaic County · Somerset County · Sussex County · Union County
Free Design Consultation
Let’s talk about your project
Call us to discuss your project, or request a free consultation and we’ll be in touch.
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