Outdoor Lighting cont.
As for lighting the backyard for the kids or for activities like a winter firepit, he says motion detectors can be set for longer stretches of time and any movement in the yard will keep triggering them. Simkin says there is a plan for every property. “Different effects create different atmospheres.” Your fixtures and the colours you choose can also make a statement, especially at your front door. “You can get outdoor chande- liers that look pretty spectacular and people are putting them at the front door to create a grand entrance, something we’re seeing more of in the last five years,” says Brett Robinson, president at Robinson Lighting. “People that have a pergola and an outdoor dining table out back might put an outdoor chandelier there as well. The style of lights is going to depend on the house and the taste of the homeowner.” Recessed lighting in the porch ceiling or sconces on either side of the door are welcoming. Coach lights are also a nice option. Then choose between frosted and clear lighting. “A clear bulb will give you a much more crisp light, but it can also create a little more glare,” Robinson says. “The frosted bulb helps diffuse the light.” Either choice is good, but it’s a rule of thumb to match frosted bulbs with frosted glass and clear bulbs with clear glass. A mismatch will look odd. Coloured lighting is a popular trend, letting you change the mood. These LEDs use RGBW tech- nology with red, green, blue and white LED chips, and strong Wi-Fi is
PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY
“You can get outdoor chandeliers that look pretty spectacular and people are putting them at the front door to create a grand entrance, something we’re seeing more of in the last five years.”
key for their apps to function. They save you the trouble of stringing out holiday lighting, but Robinson suggests sticking with white lights against greenery (colours don’t show up well). Use colours on walk- ways and the entryway. Robinson says when planning your new home, think ahead. “It’s a good idea to sit down with the designer and have that planned out before the build starts.”
– BRETT ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, ROBINSON LIGHTING
30 PARADE of HOMES FALL 2024
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