Outdoor Lighting - Tips for Illuminating Your Exterior Spaces

Maximize Your Outdoor Lighting for a Worry Free Vacation!

August 19, 2017August 19, 2017 Chris Johnson

August is the perfect time for a last-minute vacation before the busy school schedules begin. Vacations should be all about relaxing and not having a care in the world. So don’t let the worry about the safety of your home take that away from you. Lighting is an essential part of effective home security systems. Did you know that the most commonly mentioned intruder deterrent is a lack of hiding spots available on well-lit properties? Here are a few ideas to keep your home safe with exterior lighting.

Flood Lights

Outdoor floodlights are an easy way to light up the dark areas around a home or commercial building. Floodlight fixtures with motion sensors will turn lights on automatically when motion is detected, offering valuable safety and security lighting.

The best place to install motion sensor flood lights are on all sides of your home including entryways, corners, decks, porches, driveways, and backyards. Flood lights distribute a wide area of light making them ideal for illuminating large areas and discouraging thieves from targeting your home.

Outdoor Wall Lights

Mounting durable outdoor wall lighting fixtures not only provides safety and security around your home or business, but today’s modern exterior lanterns and sconces add curb appeal around your garage, front door or patio. Choose from rustic, traditional and contemporary LED outdoor wall light designs with features like integrated smart technology and energy-saving motion and dusk to dawn sensors. For a consistent look for your home, choose lights that will pair well with your existing outdoor light fixtures.

Smart Security Wall Lights

Now you can see who’s at your door from your phone whether you are home, work or relaxing on your vacation. Smart Security Wall Lights offer a security solution built into an outdoor lighting fixture you can access with the touch of your fingers. Many security lights feature a HD camera that detect movement at your door and sends an alert to your smartphone. It’s 2-way speaker and camera allow you to communicate with visitors from anywhere using an app on your phone. If it is an unwanted visitor simply sound the built-in alarm to scare them off.

Recessed Lighting

On covered porches, recessed lighting can be installed to provide direct overhead lighting, illuminating areas for excellent crime deterrent. As one of the most versatile sources of light for both residential and commercial buildings, outdoor recessed lighting fixtures, offer a layer of general lighting that seamlessly blends into any space. There many options of trims and housings, so you can customize the perfect lighting for your space.

Motion Sensory Path lights

Why pay an energy bill for your outdoor lighting when free energy shines down on your yard all day long? Path and post lights can be installed along your walkways and come in a variety of styles and finishes. Many have motion activated options that include a built-in photocell to ensure that the LEDs are only activated at night. So many options to keep your family and visitor’s safe.

Conclusion

So let’s get started on your outdoor DIY lighting projects so you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind. One of the most commonly mentioned deterrents is a lack of hiding spots available on well-lit properties. Security lights are quick and easy to install and are proven to be a highly effective crime deterrent. You certainly earned your vacation, so enjoy your time away, worry-free.

Step Lights – Tips from a Landscape Lighting Designer

February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 Renee Carlson

Step lights on deck, by Twilight Landscaping There are many design considerations when choosing a step light for your project. To help navigate through the many choices available, we turned to a professional landscape lighting designer.

Flush Mount vs. Surface Mounted Step Lights

According to David Bilik, owner of Twilight Designs in Las Vegas, flush mount (recessed) step lights are often the fixture of choice when used indoors. He credits this to how easy it is to cut into and run wiring through drywall, especially when installing step lights after construction is completed. “While planning ahead is helpful,” says Bilik, “there are many products available for running wires post-construction.” He recommends 110v wiring to fish through walls and attics or low voltage wiring when 110v is not an option.

For less penetrable surfaces like concrete and stone, surface mounted fixtures are ideal because they mount directly to a wall or flat surface. These step lights commonly have a profile of as little as 3/4-inch up to 3-inches and a trajectory that directs light at the wall or at the surface below.

Open-Faced, Louvered, Shrouded Step Lights

Regardless of whether you are using a flush or surface mounted step light, you must consider the type of cover (or faceplate) the fixture has. Bilik says that in his experience, most covers will fall in one of three categories, each with its own series of benefits:

An open-faced step light will offer the most amount of light with only a frosted glass lens to soften glare from the bulb. There is nothing to deflect or redirect the light with an open-faced step light, so proper placement is crucial as to whether or not the fixture will complement the design elements of the area, or overwhelm the space. Avoid this by mounting the fixture to the left or right of a staircase instead of on the face of a step.
Louvered fixtures have a cover that functions much the same way as an air vent in your home or car would. They have a grated cover that directs the light down. Although a louvered faceplate blocks the most amount of light, it is ideal for mounting on the front of a step as they mount flush with the surface and block all glare.
Shrouded fixtures capture the light coming out of the front of a fixture and redirect it down, focusing the light on the ground where you need it most. However, even with flush mounted fixtures, the shroud itself still sticks out making this fixture unsuitable for mounting on the front of a step.

Retrofitting Step Lights

Although LED fixtures are becoming more popular, a lot of step light fixtures are still outfitted for conventional light bulbs, but this does not mean that you are saddled with inefficient lighting. Retrofitting a conventional fixture with LEDs is sometimes as easy as changing a light bulb. “Look for LED bulbs that are direct replacements for their conventional counterparts, and use socket adapters when necessary,” says Bilik.

Many step lights are universal in size, meaning they are designed to fit within a single gang electrical box. For landscape lighting designers like Bilik, this makes the process of upgrading to LED step lights simpler and more cost-effective for the client.

48 foot outdoor string light kit by Bulbrite

Pegasus Lighting Featured on CBS’ The Talk!

July 20, 2015July 21, 2015 Renee Carlson 2 Comments

On July 17th at 2pm ET, you would’ve thought the first intergalactic space shuttle landing was being televised. Pegasus Lighting employees across the East Coast gathered around our televisions like gleeful school kids. What’s all the hubbub about? We’re famous!

For a few seconds, anyway. String lights quote from CBS' Chi Lan Lieu

Friday afternoon, five Pegasus Lighting products were featured on CBS The Talk’s “Must Have/Must Give” segment, showcasing the very best products to make outdoor dining easy, entertaining and exciting. We were proud to share the stage with five other amazing vendors — Plow & Hearth, Cuisinart, Juliska, RIV Audio and Zazzle.

Lifestyle expert Chi-Lan Lieu chatted with Sheryl Underwood about our 48 ft outdoor string light kit, commenting “I’ve always been charmed by these wonderful string lights. I just love these things.” But what really won her over were our solar lanterns. A day before the show aired, Lieu posted this sneak peek on her Instagram: Read More

10 Solar Deck and Patio Lights Under $10

July 8, 2015July 8, 2015 Renee Carlson

Creating a stunning deck or patio doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are 10 no-maintenance solar lighting options for use in and around your outdoor living space — all under $10.00.

1. Solar LED Mini Deck Light, $7.90

2. Solar LED Decorative Jar Light, $9.90

3. Solar LED Post Cap, $8.90

4. Remmington Solar LED Deck Light, $7.90

5. Solar LED Mini Deck Light, Round, $7.90

6. Solar LED Mini Postap for 4×4 Posts, $5.90

7. Saguaro Solar LED Deck Light, $8.90

8. Marion Solar LED Deck Light, $4.90

9. Solar Umbrella Clip Light, $6.90

10. Solar LED Color Changing Flame Light, $7.90

Note: Prices are subject to change. Visit our website for current pricing and to view all of our solar outdoor lighting products.

Surprising Ways to Get Rid of Bugs at your Next Outdoor Party

June 30, 2015June 7, 2017 Renee Carlson

Last week I tackled the question of whether or not yellow bug lights actually work to reduce the swarms of insects you usually see around a light. If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the cliff notes: Yes, they do. But you’re going to need more in your arsenal.

How to Deter Those Pesky Pests

I’m one of those lucky few that seem to attract every mosquito within a 5 mile radius (my Daddy used to say it was because I was ‘so sweet’ 🙂 ). There are a handful of methods that have always been my first plan of attack: Citronella candles, dousing myself with insect body spray, and even employing the use of wonderfully entertaining bug zappers. But I’ve recently learned that there are some highly effective, though less-common methods of bug-banishment that many people swear by:

Bring out the Big Guns

Unleash your inner Clint Eastwood with this salt-laden bug obliterator. The Bug-a-Salt fires a lethal grade of table salt to destroy its winged victims.

Bug-A-Salt 2.0 Lawn and Garden Edition — The Bug-A-Salt 2.0 Lawn & Garden Edition via Bug-A-Salt

Did You Know? Opt for LED light bulbs in your outdoor fixtures. Insects are attracted to high levels of ultraviolet light. Though any light will attract some bugs, LED’s emit almost no UV light, so they don’t attract as many insects as a regular bulb would. Incandescent & CFL ‘bug lights’ also attract less insects by using yellow bulbs to change the color temperature that bugs can see. (Read more in Bug Lights: Do They Work?)

Bug Lights – Do They Work?

June 26, 2015April 4, 2017 Renee Carlson 2 Comments

An outdoor barbecue is going to lure insects into your yard.

Aside from eating your hamburger in a dark void, there’s not much you can do that will totally eradicate all insects from your lawn, but will using bug lights help?

The smoky aromas, good music and friendly laughter from your outdoor BBQ may have drawn the neighbors in, but chances are good that it also drew in a few unwanted guests.

Mosquitos. Flies. Bees.

They love the sweet lure of barbecue sauce, along with one of the necessary ingredients for an evening party — Light.

You may have seen yellow “bug light bulbs” (like this one) and wondered if they actually worked or if they were just another marketing gimmick. Read More