Tip: Consider all sources of light when lighting a landscape.Although mounted on the house, these sconce lights greatly impact the net effect of the landscape lighting. Perfectly placed for safely navigating the step at the edge of the deck, approaching the house and determining where the door is, they're likely to be too strong for any landscape lighting in this rural location. Consider putting a dimmer switch on such fixtures so that you can adjust the ambient light to fit your mood.More Tips:Motion sensors. Consider motion sensors to activate some or all of the "functional" lights — the safety and security ones — only when needed.Balance. Look for balance in the overall composition once you've set your lights up. Adjust as needed.Easy does it. It's hard on the eyeballs to move from brightly lit spaces to unlit spaces. Try a subtle overall wash of light versus sporadic bright lights. Consider also the ambient light when selecting wattage: If you've got a street light shining into your front yard, for instance, you're going to need to use stronger landscape lighting for it to even show up. Finally, consider adding a dimmer or lowering the wattage of the existing fixtures mounted on the outside (and the inside) of the house. With a dimmer you'll be able to lower the lights to fit your mood or crank them up to accomplish a task (barbecuing, finding your contact lens or performing an open-air operation, for instance).Night sky–friendly lighting. Minimize the use of uplights to reduce light pollution; this is a code requirement in some localities.Hot spots. Or what I refer to as "light stabbing you in the eye." Check for these when your lighting is done. Adjust the orientation of the light fixture, add a shield, lower the wattage, move or eliminate the offending fixture etc. Low-voltage fixtures are easily adjusted to get the mood just right.More: Spectacular Landscape Lights Dazzle in the Dark