Whether installing lanterns to increase safety outside or making walkways and garden paths come alive, post top lanterns, deck lighting and step lighting is essential to enhancing the beauty of a home’s exterior.
As outdoor “rooms” become increasingly popular as a way to extend living space, the lines are being blurred between indoor and outdoor furniture and lighting styles. Outdoor dining spaces are more popular than ever, while outdoor fireplaces and gas heaters extend the use of outdoor settings year round. Because of this, exterior fixtures are being designed to complement their interior counterparts, to seamlessly transition to outdoor areas.
Outdoor Trend – Clean lines, Simplification
As a general trend, cleaner lines are being seen across all styles—not just in contemporary collections. For example, Progress Lighting introduced Prestwick outdoor lanterns this year, which offers traditional style with classic lines.
Prestwick’s stately traditional lanterns use classic roof lines and unique cast yolk straps that capture the water glass urn shades. Finished in Oil Rubbed Bronze.
Outdoor fixtures will tend to have less fluting and detail – and highlight more of a simplified style. Simplification can also be found in Meadowlark, a 2010 outdoor collection from Progress Lighting that features a casual European style.
Meadowlark’s traditionally rooted casual European style features a unique arched roof that creates a window effect on this rectangular lantern, with vertical panels of water-seeded glass and top ribbon scrolled loops. Finished in Oil Rubbed Bronze.
Companies are also starting to offer versatile fixtures that can be used indoors and outdoors. Progress Lighting recently introduced Parker, which can be used with end caps for an outdoor application—but the top and bottom can be removed for indoor use as a wall sconce.
In addition to offering a stronger sense of security in one’s home, lighting can make a real difference in aesthetics and function for outdoor living. To view a variety of outdoor lighting collections for all homes and styles, visit www.progresslighting.com.
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