Landscape Design
Houzz Pros Share What’s New in Outdoor Lighting Design
Lighting professionals and landscape designers weigh in on the latest and greatest in exterior lighting
Outdoor lighting can do so much to improve an outdoor space: It can mark the way, highlight a landscape design, complement a home’s architecture and boost the ambiance of an outdoor seating or dining area in the evening. It’s also one of the most popular outdoor upgrades these days, according to the 2019 Houzz & Home report, with 1 in 5 homeowners who renovated in the previous year updating their outdoor lighting.
We asked lighting professionals and landscape designers on Houzz to share the latest trends in exterior lighting they’re seeing, and what their clients are excited about. The result is a fresh crop of lighting ideas that’s sure to inspire future projects.
We asked lighting professionals and landscape designers on Houzz to share the latest trends in exterior lighting they’re seeing, and what their clients are excited about. The result is a fresh crop of lighting ideas that’s sure to inspire future projects.
In another example of the trend, the project by ZEN Associates seen here, linear LED lighting illuminates the steps up to a patio built for entertaining as well as the rim of the fire pit. The lighting design emphasizes the graceful curve of the steps, boosting the look as well as increasing safety and visibility.
Hire an outdoor lighting designer on Houzz
Hire an outdoor lighting designer on Houzz
Floating Structures
Another trend Mackell is seeing in exterior lighting is placing lights beneath landscape structures, creating the illusion that they are floating. “We are designing more and more details where light is hidden to visually float steps, benches, bridges and other outdoor landscape elements,” he says. In the landscape shown here, a bench lit from below “floats” against a backdrop wall.
Another trend Mackell is seeing in exterior lighting is placing lights beneath landscape structures, creating the illusion that they are floating. “We are designing more and more details where light is hidden to visually float steps, benches, bridges and other outdoor landscape elements,” he says. In the landscape shown here, a bench lit from below “floats” against a backdrop wall.
The built-in cushioned benches of this Chicago rooftop by dSPACE Studio appear almost weightless, thanks to LED lights glowing beneath them. A linear LED light in an adjacent planter highlights the angular cutout of the planting bed as well.
Sleek, Modern Fixtures
“A big trend is to use path lights that look more architectural, rather than the traditional flower or mushroom shapes,” Mackell says. For example, the LED-powered BEGA bollard luminaires seen here have a simplified geometric shape, echoing the proportion of the home’s rectangular windows. They project light from two sides onto the lawn and the pathway.
Shop for modern path lights on Houzz
“A big trend is to use path lights that look more architectural, rather than the traditional flower or mushroom shapes,” Mackell says. For example, the LED-powered BEGA bollard luminaires seen here have a simplified geometric shape, echoing the proportion of the home’s rectangular windows. They project light from two sides onto the lawn and the pathway.
Shop for modern path lights on Houzz
For this entryway to a home in Milwaukie, Oregon, landscape designer Glenn Nardelli of Pistils Landscape Design + Build selected modern-style pathway lights in matte black. The light fixtures’ hard angles complement the angles of the rectangular concrete pads and floating stairs leading to the front door.
Designer tip: As mentioned earlier, less is more. “A little accent lighting goes a long way,” Nardelli says. “It’s very easy to overdo it, so we like to stick to a pretty minimal approach.”
Tour more of this garden on the Willamette River
Designer tip: As mentioned earlier, less is more. “A little accent lighting goes a long way,” Nardelli says. “It’s very easy to overdo it, so we like to stick to a pretty minimal approach.”
Tour more of this garden on the Willamette River
Low-Voltage Lighting
While low-voltage lighting is not necessarily a new concept, manufacturing improvements mean there are more high-quality options than ever before. “It’s really thanks to improvements in the quality and longevity of transformers, which are basically the heart of the low-voltage system,” says lighting designer Steve Marin of Nightfall Landscape Lighting.
Landscape lighting that connects to the energy line running to a house typically operates on 120 volts. Low-voltage lighting can operate on just a tenth of that power — 12 volts. Not only is it much easier and less invasive to install (you don’t need to bury the wires as deep in the ground), but it also produces subtler, less glaring exterior light and uses less energy.
While low-voltage lighting is not necessarily a new concept, manufacturing improvements mean there are more high-quality options than ever before. “It’s really thanks to improvements in the quality and longevity of transformers, which are basically the heart of the low-voltage system,” says lighting designer Steve Marin of Nightfall Landscape Lighting.
Landscape lighting that connects to the energy line running to a house typically operates on 120 volts. Low-voltage lighting can operate on just a tenth of that power — 12 volts. Not only is it much easier and less invasive to install (you don’t need to bury the wires as deep in the ground), but it also produces subtler, less glaring exterior light and uses less energy.
Clients are helping to drive this trend as well. Marin says more customers are now asking for low-voltage designs. “I think clients are educating themselves more on the options and are now searching directly for low-voltage landscape lighting when they are ready to move forward with this addition to their property,” he says.
Designer tip: Stagger light fixtures to Illuminate your landscape paths without creating a runway look. “I prefer to offset the fixtures, if possible, and typically space them about 8 feet on center,” Marin says.
Designer tip: Stagger light fixtures to Illuminate your landscape paths without creating a runway look. “I prefer to offset the fixtures, if possible, and typically space them about 8 feet on center,” Marin says.
Warm LEDs
Energy-efficient LEDs have been around for a while, and they’re continuing to improve. “Most of our clients didn’t prefer the harsh blue-white tone of the first LED bulbs that were available a few years ago,” Marin says. “With the color temperature options in newer LED bulbs, you can more easily match the more yellow, softer color of the old halogen bulbs.”
Not only does a warm-tone LED have a subtler glow in the landscape, but it’s also better for nocturnal wildlife than blue-tone and true-white LEDs. In addition to being energy-efficient, LEDs are some of the longest-lasting bulbs around, which makes them more environmentally friendly than halogens and saves time in terms of replacing bulbs.
Energy-efficient LEDs have been around for a while, and they’re continuing to improve. “Most of our clients didn’t prefer the harsh blue-white tone of the first LED bulbs that were available a few years ago,” Marin says. “With the color temperature options in newer LED bulbs, you can more easily match the more yellow, softer color of the old halogen bulbs.”
Not only does a warm-tone LED have a subtler glow in the landscape, but it’s also better for nocturnal wildlife than blue-tone and true-white LEDs. In addition to being energy-efficient, LEDs are some of the longest-lasting bulbs around, which makes them more environmentally friendly than halogens and saves time in terms of replacing bulbs.
Improved Solar Fixtures
As with LEDs, solar-powered lighting has improved, with more reliable products on the market. “Solar has made some huge headway in the last few years,” landscape designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill says. Solar lights are — no surprise — considered the most sustainable option, given that they require only a few solid hours of sunlight to work at their best. If the solar power units are included in the fixtures, you also have the advantage of easy, no-wires-required installation.
Browse solar-powered light fixtures
As with LEDs, solar-powered lighting has improved, with more reliable products on the market. “Solar has made some huge headway in the last few years,” landscape designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill says. Solar lights are — no surprise — considered the most sustainable option, given that they require only a few solid hours of sunlight to work at their best. If the solar power units are included in the fixtures, you also have the advantage of easy, no-wires-required installation.
Browse solar-powered light fixtures
Bluetooth-Controlled Lighting
We’ve reached the era in which you can adjust the schedule or brightness and color of your exterior lighting with the flick of a finger across a phone. “Bluetooth transformers allow clients to adjust schedules right from their phone, without having to access the transformer itself to change the timers,” Marin says. While the setup can be pricey to install, think of the drama and ease of being able to turn on mood lighting, as if by magic, as guests walk into the garden.
We’ve reached the era in which you can adjust the schedule or brightness and color of your exterior lighting with the flick of a finger across a phone. “Bluetooth transformers allow clients to adjust schedules right from their phone, without having to access the transformer itself to change the timers,” Marin says. While the setup can be pricey to install, think of the drama and ease of being able to turn on mood lighting, as if by magic, as guests walk into the garden.
Color-Changing LEDs
Why settle for one color when you can have the option of flicking through a rainbow of hues? “Color-changing fixtures have become more popular, allowing clients to change bulb color from an app and adjust colors seasonally or to show their support for their home team,” Marin says.
Why settle for one color when you can have the option of flicking through a rainbow of hues? “Color-changing fixtures have become more popular, allowing clients to change bulb color from an app and adjust colors seasonally or to show their support for their home team,” Marin says.
For this project in Washington, D.C., also shown in the previous photo, Olson Weaver Lighting Design and Install installed a 55-foot-long strip of color-changing LED lights under the cap of a garden wall. The owners can change the lighting from green to red or set it to warm white for a more classic look.
Outdoor Chandeliers and Pendant Lights
Hanging outdoor pendant lights — perfect for outdoor pergolas and front porches — that resemble their interior counterparts is a trend that landscape designer Heather Sweeney of Mom’s Design Build in Minneapolis is seeing. “There are a lot more options for [wet-rated] chandeliers and pendent lights, meaning they can survive the rain and elements,” Sweeney says. Wicker-style pendant lights run along the length of this patio by Chango & Co.
Hanging outdoor pendant lights — perfect for outdoor pergolas and front porches — that resemble their interior counterparts is a trend that landscape designer Heather Sweeney of Mom’s Design Build in Minneapolis is seeing. “There are a lot more options for [wet-rated] chandeliers and pendent lights, meaning they can survive the rain and elements,” Sweeney says. Wicker-style pendant lights run along the length of this patio by Chango & Co.
Multifunctional Lighting
A growing number of outdoor accessories, such as planters and side tables, are lit from within and can double as outdoor lighting. These items can serve multiple purposes in the landscape and, given that they’re relatively new, create a surprise factor when turned on at night.
In this Minneapolis backyard, for example, Sweeney placed a trio of LED-powered planters alongside the pool. They serve as attractive containers during the day and light the walkway and become a landscape focal point at night.
More on Houzz
Illuminate Your Landscape With These Dramatic Lighting Effects
Read more outdoor-design guides
Browse thousands of photos of landscapes
Work with a landscape architect near you
Shop for outdoor products
A growing number of outdoor accessories, such as planters and side tables, are lit from within and can double as outdoor lighting. These items can serve multiple purposes in the landscape and, given that they’re relatively new, create a surprise factor when turned on at night.
In this Minneapolis backyard, for example, Sweeney placed a trio of LED-powered planters alongside the pool. They serve as attractive containers during the day and light the walkway and become a landscape focal point at night.
More on Houzz
Illuminate Your Landscape With These Dramatic Lighting Effects
Read more outdoor-design guides
Browse thousands of photos of landscapes
Work with a landscape architect near you
Shop for outdoor products
Linear Lighting
“There’s a trend toward the more extensive integration of lighting with modern hardscape elements,” says Gregg Mackell, principal lighting designer at 186 Lighting Design Group.
Sleek, minimalist linear step lighting illuminates a path while keeping light fixtures hidden from view. It also enables you to more easily highlight an architectural feature, such as stairs or a freestanding wall.
Mackell designed the stair lights for the home in Boulder, Colorado, seen here, installing a linear outdoor-rated light-emitting diode (LED) light channel under the cap of each step. “The light channels are aluminum, with an acrylic lens pointing downwards,” Mackell says. “Inside the light channel is a wet-location-listed tape light. There are a number of manufacturers who make this kind of light, which can be factory-cut or field-cut to an exact length.”