Outdoor Lighting and Audio Upgrades are Hot Additions in 2016

According to new data from Houzz, a leading home improvement website, outdoor lighting is one of the most popular exterior technologies among homeowners today. Of the 1,000 U.S. homeowners who participated in the survey, nearly 57 percent plan to upgrade their exterior lighting. The 2016 U.S. Houzz Landscaping Trends Survey also found that 10 percent of homeowners report they are adding outdoor media.

Among the outdoor features that homeowners plan to illuminate are:

With an almost limitless number of options to transform your backyard, patio, deck or balcony, knowing where to start is often the most difficult part. As the popularity of outdoor living has grown so too has the focus on outdoor lighting. The right color temperature and quality of light are no longer design elements of only your interior spaces. Lighting is now being used to create inviting outdoor spaces that add more enjoyment to your property.

SEE ALSO: Seven Ways to Save Energy with Home Lighting Control

Our friends at Coastal Source offer a wide variety of outdoor lighting fixtures and are among the finest available. Designed to withstand the elements and outlast any other product, Coastal Source provides excellent value. Whether you want to showcase your home's landscape, illuminate stairs and pathways, or highlight your dock with waterfront lighting, Coastal Source's LED fixtures are the right solution. According to the same Houzz survey, while outdoor lighting may serve many purposes, it is first and foremost about the design and comfort of the outdoor space. Some of the top reasons for updating outdoor lighting include the following:

• Decor (illuminate features and create ambiance)
• Comfort (create a relaxing and enjoyable space)
• Safety (prevent falls/trip hazards)
• Curb appeal (improve home value)
• Security (deter crime)
• LED energy savings

While many homeowners are focused on making changes to outdoor structures, such as a patio, terrace, gazebo, or pergola, others are more interested in upgrading their outdoor media including speakers for entertainment areas. This type of outdoor upgrade could very well make your home the favorite for get-togethers. Our partner Sonance has taken its award-winning audio philosophy to the outdoors with a range of all-weather products that are designed to deliver best-in-class performance and complement the aesthetics of nearly any exterior environment. The Sonance Landscape Series (SLS) is a scalable outdoor speaker system that delivers even sound over a various coverage areas, and unbeatable sound quality. An additional benefit of the SLS is the small satellite speakers and subwoofers can be hidden out of sight among plants and in planters.

The audiophiles at ACS will design a system with strategically placed speakers around your property to direct the sound toward your listening areas. This type of design helps focus sound in areas that you want it, while reducing sound in areas you would like to remain quiet, and not disturb neighbors.

Are you ready to enjoy your outdoor spaces this summer and host more get-togethers? Contact us for a free consultation and to learn about adding lighting and audio to your outdoors.