At 13 years of age, Chris Pierson discovered his passion for landscaping. An avid golfer and enterprising caddy, Pierson often wondered who made the decisions regarding the landscaping of the courses. Some years later, while studying landscape architecture at Clemson University, the Chicago native found himself in a class called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. He recalls this as the first time he ever heard lighting being mentioned in regards to landscaping. His interest was sparked.
After working a few jobs, including a run at a landscaping design installation firm, Pierson and his wife, Megan, who has a background in finance, moved from Chicago to Greenville and opened Exterra Exterior Design, a company focused on creating luxury outdoor living spaces.
He encourages homeowners not to limit themselves to interior decorating and discusses creative ways lighting can help create an outdoor oasis. Lighting, however, comes in many forms, and Pierson is the perfect person to discuss the latest tips and trends in the industry.
Although the company works to achieve customer goals, Pierson recommends using warmer lighting on the home and cooler lighting on landscaping to create more depth. He explains that warmer light tends to spread more, while cooler light is more focused. If done creatively, the mixing of different light temperatures and techniques can come together and play off of each other, melding like the sounds of an incredible orchestra.
Different types of lighting include:
- Facade lighting, which is uplighting on homes. This is used to create depth and warmth.
- Focal point lighting, which is lighting that highlights a particular object.
- Task lighting, which is a utilitarian form of lighting that is not used to create ambiance but is useful for outdoor kitchen spaces and steps.
- Moonlighting, which is lighting that is usually installed about 30-40 feet up in a tree and is used to illuminate but not spotlight. This type of lighting is more subtle and creates a soft glow to the atmosphere.
- Artistic lighting, which includes firefly lighting that is usually spread throughout trees or is suspended in some way above the outdoor space. Exterra is the only company in South Carolina that installs this type of lighting.
Light up your Life
Once lighting choices are set, homeowners are faced with more technical decisions.
Of course, we are living in a digital age where smartwatches and devices help us gather information on a daily basis and can complete certain tasks using voice commands or just by touching and swiping.
Timers and apps are features that assist in streamlining lighting to the homeowners’ specific needs. This includes tasks as simple as having the lights turn on at sunset and off at sunrise. Pierson admits that he is not a fan of the old-school “Christmas tree” timers, noting that they are not as reliable as some of the more modern techniques. Smart home technology and the use of lighting apps provide more consistency and can even be controlled remotely by the homeowner or by Exterra, allowing them to troubleshoot any issues without having to travel to the home. The company can be of more immediate assistance when lighting is Wi-Fi-enabled.
Outdoor lighting saw an increase in popularity during COVID, when so many people were looking to make their homes their “destination location.” One of the latest trends in lighting that Pierson talks about is color-changing lights–and not just for the holidays. Wi-Fi-enabled lights allow homeowners to change the color of their lighting right from their phones to fit different occasions. These lighting choices can be saved as “scenes” in the lighting apps and used creatively by homeowners for game days, birthdays, holidays, etc. The colors can also be sorted by shade.
Bistro or cafe lighting is another trend that has seen a rise due to the popularity of outdoor at-home dining. This type of lighting is often seen on patios, around pool areas, and within other outdoor living and recreational areas. This type of lighting saw a huge surge during the pandemic.
Plans can range from the simplistic to the extravagant, but when considering your home’s lighting plan, don’t forget to consider all of the ways you can maximize your outdoor spaces for maximum visual appeal and year-round enjoyment.
Photography by Bain Stewart/Ridge Media.
