By Franco D’Ascanio, Founder of Coastal Source, Nick D’Ascanio, Landscape Architect, D’Asign Source and Franco D’Ascanio Jr., Architect and VP of Construction at D’Asign Source.

The experience of outdoor lighting is undergoing a significant change, reframing the way lighting designers think about the outdoor space – as not one overarching space with uniform lighting needs but as a series of subdivided spaces each with their own unique needs and requirements – not dissimilar to indoor environments.

For a large sum of homeowners, integrators, and designers, outdoor living – and lighting in particular – hasn’t always been top-of-mind. While indoor environments have received careful attention and have been meticulously maintained, outdoor spaces were commonly brushed aside as an afterthought when it came to lifestyle considerations. There may have been some lights on the patio for dining purposes or flood lights to brighten up the driveway at night, but these solutions were always utilized in a two-dimensional way without much consideration.

However, the consistent warm weather of coastal destinations have profoundly begun to alter our understanding of the relationship between indoor and outdoor living, and how homeowners, integrators, and designers should prioritize going about enhancing the outdoor living experience. Outdoor living in these environments is just as important as that of indoors, and should be treated with the same amount of care.

Times have changed, and it is no longer enough to simply string a few lights here and there and call it a day. Nowadays, the focus lies on the integration of outdoor lighting into various “microclimates” within the landscape that enhance functionality, create a unique atmosphere, and highlight the best features of the space.

Our family has a deep-rooted history when it comes to the enhancement of outdoor living, and through our work in the outdoor lighting and design industry, we know exactly what it takes to utilize outdoor lighting in a meaningful way, to create purposefully designed outdoor spaces that bring the same luxury and warmth that is sought after indoors, outdoors. We’re able to help lighting designers create transformative outdoor living spaces that have the same level of thought and care as indoor spaces through proper design and execution.

Assessing Outdoor Lifestyle Needs

Just as you would for the inside of a client’s home, the first step in outdoor lighting design is determining the functionality of each specific area of the yard. Asking questions like, what sort of activities will the clients engage in? How often? Are there portions of the yard that are more important than others? How will each member of the family be using these outdoor areas? A thorough lifestyle consultation will reveal volumes about your client’s needs and expectations.

From there, determine how lighting can fit in. Also use this initial consultation to uncover potential future plans for the yard. Just like the interior of a home, the landscape, outbuildings, and topology will go through many transformations as the family dynamic changes, and just as you would run cabling to future-ready a home’s interior, you can do the same outdoors.

For example, our family used to spend time primarily at our back patio and swimming pool. That soon grew to include the boat dock, firepit, playground, sand volleyball court, and tiki hut. With each new addition we found our family wasn’t just spending more time outdoors; we were spending more time in different areas of the yard. This is true of other families, as well, so be sure to explore and identify the use of each space while creating an outdoor lighting design of your clients’ dreams.

Navigating Landscape Design

Investigate the outdoor areas thoroughly, paying close attention to not just the size or the structures within, but the vegetation. As growing, changing elements, trees, shrubs and other foliage will have a direct impact on lighting design. Your objective is to specify light fixtures that look and function well within each natural habitat, can adapt to changes, and will enhance the key features of each different environment.

The placement of light fixtures will play a large part in enhancing the overall experience, with some aimed upwards to highlight the texture of a tree, or a specific feature, like a BBQ grill for task lighting and among shrubbery to define a portion of the yard, like the swimming pool. By creating layers of lighting solutions, each distinct area of the yard is covered.

In our backyard, for example, lighting lives among more than 300 species of palms and tropical plants. As we expanded the outdoor living space, so did the surrounding landscape and the lights. We’ve physically moved trees from one spot to another, planted new gardens and watched in awe as trees grew from saplings to mature and prominent features in the yard. With each growth spurt, the lighting systems adapted. We relocated, replaced, and rearranged each light to suit its surroundings. Modularity, scalability, and interchangeability are invaluable when choosing outdoor lighting solutions.

Evaluating Each Application

One wouldn’t dare plant a sun-loving tree in the shade – nor should you install lighting without first considering the use cases. Basing your selection of products on the varied outdoor applications is imperative. Similarly, install them in a way that delivers the best lighting experience for the specific activities and landscape within each environment.

For instance, a 350-foot-long dock can be adorned with niche lights that elegantly illuminate its base, providing both safety and ambiance for evening gatherings. In contrast, uplights are thoughtfully positioned to accentuate the textures of native trees, casting captivating shadows that add depth and character to the landscape.

Enabling Seamless Transitions

Creating safe, convenient pathways between the various distinctive living spaces in an outdoor environment is imperative. Outdoor lighting can make the journey all the more enjoyable, and when positioned properly ensures there are no visual dead spots. We wouldn’t use the backyard as much as we do if it was hard to find the way from one area to the next. It’s important to provide seamless experiences in all outdoor designs.

Personalizing the Outdoor Experience

Creating an unparalleled, luxurious outdoor experience that’s uniquely tailored to each client’s needs, not the individual products are what truly sells outdoor lighting. Describe not the performance specs but how lights can truly transform every inch of a backyard into elegant, functional living spaces that last for generations to come. Suggest lighting as transformative to the underutilized portions of the property. Express how great lighting has the ability to bring the family together to experience the yard in a whole new way.

About The Authors:

Franco D’Ascanio is the CEO and Founder of Coastal and D’Asign Source. Nick D’Ascanio is a licensed landscape architect specializing in luxury outdoor spaces and pools for D’Asign Source, and Franco D’Ascanio Jr. is a licensed architect and the Vice President of Construction at D’Asign Source. More information on Coastal Source can be found here.

All images: Coastal Source

Guest Authors

See Full Bio