Expert Tips on Outdoor Lighting

Expert outdoor illumination

Expert Tips on Outdoor Lighting

In summer, much of our time spent outdoors occurs in the evening hours, when we enjoy relief from the hottest temps of the day. Part of ensuring our outdoor living areas are comfortable spaces to relax is having adequate and appropriate lighting. Beyond entertaining, outdoor lighting affects safety and a home’s curb appeal, so we’ve consulted local experts this season on the various fixtures and their best uses.

“The biggest mistakes we often see are clients specifying too many fixtures, using fixtures that are inappropriately scaled to the individual space, and adhering to the outdated idea that fixtures should all ‘match,’” says Drew Bevolo, owner of Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights. Widely known for their iconic copper gas lanterns, Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights continues its long legacy of handcrafting each fixture. The company offers a number of styles – traditional, modern, coastal, industrial, and more – with wall, ceiling, and post mount options. In New Orleans, the copper lantern, whether gas or electric, continues to be a highly sought fixture.

“Our old-world methods are time-honored and tested over our 80-year history and in every environment you can imagine,” says Bevolo. “Copper is a remarkable material, durable in even the harshest environments, and will age beautifully over time and naturally with the home itself.”

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When a customer approaches Bevolo for a project, the first thing Drew and his team aim to understand is its unique conditions: location, architectural style, placement of the light in relationship to other architectural details, and lighting considerations for each space. How do you know whether to use gas or electric?

“We say it’s more of an art than a science,” says Bevolo. “One must consider how each space is used, how much light is needed for safety and utility, how many light sources exist, and the overall flow of the design of the home itself.” For this reason, the company prefers its designers review each project to help identify the best strategy for every client and condition.

According to Bevolo, gas lanterns are designed to elevate the mood of noteworthy spaces or create curb appeal. A little goes a long way, he says, so he encourages restraint and recommends using gas in statement or conversation pieces by front doors, near pools, patios, and porches, and on entry gates or as streetlighting.

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At Élan Studio Lighting, Showroom Manager Jeremy Friloux echoes the popularity of copper gas lanterns in the region, but he recommends buyers keep in mind that gas lanterns do not produce much functional light. In conjunction with gas lanterns, Friloux and his team often recommend supplementing the area with recessed lighting. Élan Studio Lighting offers decorative, security, and landscape lighting, including comprehensive systems for a well-lit home and yard. In addition to deterring theft/intruders, comprehensive lighting can add curb appeal.

“Our favorite system that fills all those needs is the Spektrum Plus series from American Lighting,” says Friloux. “They offer app-based recessed, landscape, and wall sconces among many other options.”

According to Friloux, app-based lighting is becoming increasingly popular for the home with RGBW color changing capabilities as an added benefit. These systems include recessed lights, landscape lights, light bulbs, and decorative lights that can change to any color of the spectrum as well as white with the ability to set scenes and timers.

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“You can change the colors on your house for seasons and holidays without having to get on the roof and add lights or change bulbs in your fixtures,” he says. “These products are very user-friendly to activate and integrate with all of your smart-home platforms.”

Friloux uses color-changing lights at his own house in combination with Satco Starfish security flood lights with cameras for added security. To increase curb appeal, he plans to install LED house numbers and a new hanging lantern.  In terms of trends, Friloux says solar lighting is still gaining traction in the residential market but that batteries are not yet strong enough to produce sufficient light for long periods of time.

“The only way to achieve solar lighting for a residential package is to have a whole-home setup with a remote battery,” he says. At this point, these whole-home systems are still cost prohibitive for most customers.

Whether you’re deciding which trees to highlight in your landscape or choosing a new statement lantern for your front door, lighting is important. Your safety, comfort, and home’s value are all at stake. Experts recommend getting to know your options – from old-world to futuristic – and seeking helpful advice from a pro.

 

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