How much sun will these areas get during winter? We have solar on our side yard and it’s only usable for summer as there isn’t enough sunlight rest of year to give the lights the power needed to go on for long enough. It’s fine for us as people only use the side yard in summer.

@WestCoast Hopeful We get enough light that ferns, hostas, and hellebore are very happy! Now that leaves are falling, sunlight will increase. Does that help determine whether or not you think solar would be a good option?

The amount of sun an area gets shifts in the seasons. Just be mindful of how much direct sun is needed for the lights you choose. We just got ours at Costco

@WestCoast Hopeful Costco recs are even better! Thank you!

I doubt they have them now though. Pretty sure we bought them start of spring one year. Maybe online

Even in full sun, solar is a no-go here in winter. The days aren't long enough, the lights have to come on relatively early, and the low temperatures drain the batteries.

First have the house completely washed from the roof down to bring out its best.

I think you're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Keep the wood burning in the backyard.

IMO staining the siding portion of the house white would go the longest way to improving the overall appearance of the home. It looks old, sad and dreary right now.

There are significant amounts of shade in the front yard. I'd consider planing some evergreens that would keep their color all year & then plant a no fuss hosta garden around the bast of the big tree. Keep the rest of it grass except for the defined walkway to the front door.

I don’t think they are updating the house?

Spend the money where is has the most impact. The biggest bang for the buck.

@beverlyfladeziner agreed and were tackling this next year — thoughts on lighting that will carry us through for the winter/dark season?

Whose "biggest bang"? Beverly, in case you didn't notice, the OP is asking: Help me light up my house so its safer for my parents and cozier! ...I want to add outdoor lightingto spruce up the front exterior and landscape to make it more inviting and safer in the increasingly dark days.

IMO all you need is to light the pathway to the front door right now. I also like much nicer lighting on a porch, It is not a huge deal to run some actaul plug in lighting alng the path on one side and get the lights that will light the path from one side . Then spend the winter planning how to do this differently . I agree you need some work to make this front yard better so plan away. I just moved in to anew house with nothing in the yard but gravel so my plan spend winter deciding what I will do come spring. That is why I love the down time in the winter.

Solar won't do what you want/need. Think now about your long-term plans for the yard, and enlist your friendly electirician. Probably you can decide at least some places where you want to have permanent lighting. Certainly you can add bright lights at your doorway to light the steps. You might also want a lamp where the slate walk bufricates near the house. So, call the electrician now and see what they say can be done now in a way that won't interrupt your landscaping plans.

The wiggly grass borders would be a real pain to mow and edge. And I agree that solar lights will be too weak for what you want. And they often look lopsided and tacky. Do the job properly with an electrician and it won't need doing again for many years.

If you're only looking to spend less than $1,000 for lighting then that's off the shelf product, probably path lights and a wall light on the building. Any uplighting shining on trees will require wiring and a transformer.

Usually the lighting goes in last so the landscapers are not cutting cables.

My read is that the OP is looking for a stop gap till they are ready to do the big project. They want some light. That’s all.

They are better off with a trouble light and an extension cord.

For winter I would agree. Solar lights are great for summer.

Whatever you do in the yard, don't leave little strips of grass that have to be mowed, especially around those wiggles. If you're planting most of the yard, plant all of it. Low shrubs maybe in some areas.

A motion sensored flood light in the corner by your front door where your string of lights are would work whenever someone is coming or going. This would be better than outside lights on when not needed increasing light pollution IMO.

Please add a photo with the locations of the hardwired existing lamp post and exterior porch light circled. You may be able to have an electrician move the existing lamp post so that the slate walkway and front porch walkway are both illuminated.

Hostas and ferns are shade loving plants, not really a good indication of much sun.

Our front yard is very dark at night.

We strung patio string lights like yours along the front path using stakes all the way out to the street. Plenty of light.

We have no outlet on the porch. We got a converter so the string lights can plug into the porch lightbulb socket.

We flip the light switch indoors to turn them on and off which is handy.

I agree with Lyn in re the crushed stone. I am 73 (and a half-hehheh) and would hesitate to use it. We have a gravel drive which I now dislike.