Features of Smart Outdoor Lighting (Gemstone Lights)

Permanently installed Smart Lighting can provide you with Christmas Lights that you never have to put up or take down again, they can provide excellent ambience to outdoor spaces and draw attention to the various features of your home to improve its curb appeal. However, they are capable of so much more than that, here are some of the features available when you use Smart Outdoor Lighting.

Northern Lights is a certified dealer of Gemstone Lights, allowing us to provide some of the best Smart Outdoor Lights on the market. Gemstone lights are waterproof, long lasting, tested in extreme weather conditions and have built in UV and Surge Protection.

Gemstone Lights are also exceptionally long lasting, in addition to their physical durability they have a life expectancy of around 23 years, based on an average usage of 6 hours per day. With our customizable tracks, Gemstone Lights can be fitted to nearly any sort of exterior and come with a 5-year warranty for replacement should anything go wrong.

With our easy-to-use app you can strategically program individual lights allowing you to set up a variety of animated patterns and program up to 16 million different colors to fit your needs. With this precise control you can set up patterned Christmas lights, moody Halloween lighting, celebrational colors for special events or flashing patterns in support of your favorite sports team.

Our lights also include a specialized LED bulb dedicated to producing warm white light, allowing you to create a warm ambience for your home at any time of year. The lights are also cloud enabled so they can be programmed from anywhere you have an internet connection and can even be accessed using your Google Home or Amazon Alexa.

We hope that we have illustrated some of the exciting features that our Smart Outdoor lights offer and hope you will choose Northern Lights and Gemstone Lights for your permanent outdoor lighting needs.

If you are interested in special event lighting, give Northern Lights a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 357-4781. This is our area of expertise, and we arrange special event lighting all the time.

How to Incorporate Outdoor Lighting to Create an Outdoor Oasis in the Fraser Valley

Good lighting can elevate the appearance of any location. Even simple strings of lights draped over a deck can make it a more sophisticated and exciting place to be. Some people might be satisfied with that, however there is so much more that lighting can do to make your yard more exciting. Here are some tips on how to use lighting to transform your yard into an outdoor oasis here in the Fraser Valley.

Dynamic lighting can be used to draw attention to the various features in your yard. You could use specifically arranged lighting to highlight a statue, water feature, tree, or notable plant life in your yard. Path lighting can be used to delineate your walkways which also has the additional advantage of increasing safety, allowing gatherings and events late into the evening without worrying about the footing of your guests.

Many of these lighting options can also be made more exciting and dynamic through the use of different bulb types, color or by making them flash or cycle through various patterns. You can even “lead” guests to various parts of your yard by strategically including this type of lighting.

Most of our lighting options can be easily controlled through our intuitive smartphone app, you can even adjust the lighting from inside giving an impressive view from inside as well as out. Many of these lighting options are available as temporary installations for special events or as permanent fixtures to create the perfect inviting hangout space for our beautiful Fraser Valley spring and summers.

When it comes to beautifying a space there is nothing quite like lighting. It draws the eye and dazzles the senses, transforming any location with beauty and elegance. With these tips and suggestions, we hope we have demonstrated how you can integrate outdoor lighting to transform your yard into one of the most beautiful places in the Fraser Valley.

Tips for Maintaining Your Langley Outdoor Lighting Systems

Any outdoor lighting system needs regular maintenance. This is particularly true in Langley and throughout the Lower Mainland, where we have a challenging oceanic climate. In today’s blog article, we are going to give you some tips on how to maintain your outdoor lighting system.

Lights

The most obvious parts to check are the actual lights or lamps. At least a couple of time per year, turn on all the outside lights and check that they all illuminate. Even the best LED bulbs will need replacing from time to time.

Connections

If you have a light that is not illuminating, that does not necessarily mean that the bulb or lamp is the problem. Sometimes it is a problem with the connection. This is especially important in Langley and the Greater Vancouver area where we regularly have big windstorms that can damage electrical connections.

When there is more than one bulb not illuminating, there is a good chance it is a wiring issue. Take a look at the wiring and connections that are visible to you (not buried) and see if anything looks damaged or not connected.

Dirt

Dirt is another issue. Bulbs or glass around bulbs will get dirty, and cleaning with a damp rag is necessary on a regular basis. In Langley and on the Lower Mainland, because of our heavy rains and rainy season, lights will get dirtier than in a dry climate.

If you are not sure what maintenance is needed for your lighting system, or if something is not working properly, and you do not know how to fix it easily, then, by all means, ask professionals—like us. We maintain lighting systems that we install and can help you get your lighting systems working like they should.

Types of Lighting Available to Enhance Lower Mainland Events

The Lower Mainland is filled with exciting events that we plan and execute or at least attend. Often these events like weddings or birthdays take place outside because it is easier to accommodate large numbers of people outside than inside. You may not be aware that it is possible to arrange for special event lighting that will greatly enhance your special occasions. In today’s blog article, we want to talk about the different types of lighting available to enhance your Lower Mainland special events.

Table Lighting

Depending on where the venue is in the Lower Mainland, sometimes special lighting for each table would significantly improve the eating experience. Most people would like to see what they are eating. Lighting can be organized for each table and/or a bar area and food serving tables.

Dance Floor

If you have a special area designated for dancing, there can also be lighting over the dance floor and/or at ground level.

Ambiance Lighting

Perhaps you would like ambiance lighting for different areas, such as where people congregate for conversation or where guests line up to shake hands and greet others.

Walkway Lighting

Another possibility is walkway lighting to increase the safety of guests moving throughout the venue. You can highlight steps or uneven ground, or just light up the paths of where guests should be navigating.

Special event lighting in the Lower Mainland will not only make all the guests happier and more comfortable, but your venue will look spectacular. The extra lighting will also improve photographs of the event.

You can have as much creative input as you like in your special event lighting. Just choose experts who are experienced at this type of lighting. The lighting can be set up and taken down at your convenience.

If you are interested in permanent exterior lights, give Northern Lights a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 357-4781. This is our area of expertise, and we are an Authorized Dealer for Gemstone Lights.

Outdoor Lighting to Give Your Yard an Elegant Look

Outdoor lighting is an often-overlooked design feature available to any home or even commercial building. The lighting outside not only enhances what is outside, but it also adds to the view from inside the home or building. You may not be aware that it is possible to have all kinds of permanent outside lighting that is easily controlled from the inside.

Where to Put It

You can have outdoor lighting in obvious places like along paths or stairs, but the lighting can have more of an impact in less obvious places. The lighting can be available where people sit outside or highlighting something of special interest like an outdoor kitchen or fireplace. Lighting can be aimed up at specimen tree or in the branches, and it can even sculpt the shapes of different plantings.

What Can the Lighting Consist of?

What is really interesting is the lighting can be different colours, it can blink, and it can even appear to “run”. That’s the beauty of a permanent professional lighting installation. The lights are always there for when you want them. You can modify colours with the seasons or holidays. There is a tremendous flexibility available when you install professional outdoor lighting. The lighting does not have to be just on your eaves or roof like Christmas lights.

Permanent outdoor lighting is beautiful, elegant, and flexible. It is available whenever you want to turn it on with the flick of a switch. Everything is controlled indoors. This kind of lighting can highlight hardscape or softscape, and we highly recommend that you consider it to add something special to your patio and outdoor living spaces.

Christmas Light Storage Tips

Once Christmas is over, then sooner or later, one has to put away all the Christmas lights and other decorations. In today’s blog article, we would like to give you some tips to make it easier.

Lights

Take lights down carefully. They can be rolled or wrapped and hung over pegs in the garage or in the basement. Like lights should be stored together. If you hang them, then cover with plastic so they do not get dusty during the year.

Other people roll the lights and place them in boxes or Rubbermaid bins. Take a few extra minutes to label your boxes and bins with what type of light or lights are inside, either by color or size or LED or flashing. If you have any remote controls for the lights, then keep them with the lights, taping it to a strand if needed.

Trees

Artificial trees can be boxed up or covered in plastic and put away in a closet or basement. Live trees can typically be discarded per your local bylaws. Sometimes, wild animal rescues will take the live trees to furnish different habitats for their animals. If a live tree is potted, then you can continue to enjoy it into the next year.

Ornaments

Aside from the tree and lights, there will be lots of ornaments to put away. Be careful as many of these are made of glass and they are fragile. Go slowly and wrap each ornament carefully. Again, these can be boxed together in plastic bins or cardboard moving boxes.

Be sure to label everything as detailed as possible which will make your lives much easier next year. Way too many of us have to go through several boxes in order to find what we want.

And keep in mind, that it is possible to have Christmas lights permanently mounted on your house by professionals. These are lights that you can control inside the house, all year round. Having permanent outside lights eliminates the need for all this packing and unpacking.

If you are interested in permanent exterior holiday lights, give Northern Lights a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 357-4781. This is our area of expertise, and we are an Authorized Dealer for Gemstone Lights.

Benefits of Outdoor LED Landscape Lighting

In today’s blog article we are going to discuss the benefits of permanent outdoor LED landscape lighting. This time of year, many people are preoccupied with Christmas lighting, but you can have landscape lighting all year round.

And lighting can be interesting. The lights can be small or large or any size in between. They can be down low in the yard or up high in your plantings or along a fence. There are no rules for you can or cannot have.

Design

Whatever you have going on in your garden, outdoor LED landscape lighting is beautiful any time of the year. There is something magical about looking outside and seeing lights in the yard, whether you are lighting up a green area, a particular specimen tree, or just providing ambient lighting for those sitting on your deck or patio.

Safety

Permanent outdoor LED landscape lighting can be used for utilitarian purposes, such as lighting walking paths, stairs, or an area of the yard where you walk your dog late at night. This type of lighting is much more effective and provides more safety for those outside than a floodlight attached to your house.

LED

The benefits of LED lights are that they run cool, they use very little electricity, they are very bright, and the bulbs last a very long time, much longer than other types of bulbs. If you are going to put in outdoor landscape lighting, LED is the smartest choice.

Keep in mind that with permanent exterior landscape lighting, you can still be creative and have flexibility with the colours of your lights or blinking lights. Exterior LED lighting can be as fun and creative as you are.

If you are interested in permanent exterior LED landscape lights, give Northern Lights a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 357-4781.

A Brief History of Christmas Lights on Homes

Today, in our blog article, we are going to take a brief look at the history of Christmas lights on homes. In order to examine lights on homes, we have to first look at lights on Christmas trees, and the history of having Christmas trees, at all.

The Christmas Tree

The ancient Egyptians decorated their homes in the winter with palm fronds. Romans transitioned to decorating with evergreen boughs during the shortest days of the year, the winter solstice, which occurs toward the end of December.

German Origin

It is believed that devout Christians in Germany began bringing trees into their homes for Christmas in mid-1500s. For those without easy access to or space for trees, they used wood structures decorated with evergreen branches.

The Lighted Tree

Next came the tradition of adding lights to trees. Martin Luther is typically credited with adding candles (lights) to Christmas trees, again, in the 16^th century.

Electricity

Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. Not long after, the use of electricity spread despite a common fear and distrust of it. By 1890, strings of Christmas lights were available to buy for the general public. Initially these lights were used on trees.

In early 1900, the United States, people were starting to decorate rooms and buildings with Christmas tree lights. In 1903, General Electric had strings of lights available for rent. The first strings of electric lights were not terribly safe—they were almost as much of a fire hazard as candles had been--but they improved over the next 20 years.

So, it is now over 120 years that we are using lights to decorate with for the Christmas holidays.

Benefits of Permanent Holiday Lighting Systems

A permanent, exterior, holiday lighting system for your home or office is a great idea whose time has come. There are several advantages to having a permanent lighting system, and that is what we are going to talk about today in our blog.

Time

The first benefit of this type of system is how time is saved. It no longer becomes necessary to put up and take down lights every year. You do not have to wait for the right window in the weather.

These lights are permanently installed and ready to go at any time.

Safety

It is safer to have lights permanently installed. Homeowners do not have to risk themselves up on a ladder in the snow and ice to put their lights up or take them down every year. These lights are installed by professionals once, and that makes it safer for you.

Versatility

This type of lighting system gives you the ability to change the colours and patterns of your lights. You can have them on solid or have them flashing or a host of other possibilities. You can have some colours on for Halloween and different colours on for Christmas or Easter. A permanently installed lighting system gives you freedom and versatility.

Convenience

Since this type of lighting system remains plugged in all the time, you can turn it on whenever you like. The switch and controls will be inside the house (or building). This is a much more convenient solution than the lights plugged in outside that you have to turn on and off outside.

As the holiday season approaches, we wholeheartedly recommend a permanent holiday lighting system for your home or building. Let us help you and contact us at the phone number below.

Top 5 Benefits of Permanent Exterior Holiday Lighting for Your Home

Not everyone is aware that it is possible to have permanent exterior holiday lighting for your home. This is lighting that can be turned on and off easily, whenever the mood strikes you. In today’s blog article, we would like to offer five benefits of permanent exterior holiday lighting.

Ready When You Are

For most people, installing holiday lighting is something they do in the fall and take down sometime in January. Not only is this dangerous, and usually performed by the homeowner, but you must wait for the right weather conditions to install you lights. In other words, you do not want to install or uninstall lighting in the driving rain, blowing snow, or heavy winds. When lights are installed permanently, all of these issues go away, and the lights are ready whenever you want to turn them on.

Quality

Permanently installed lights are a better quality than what you buy at the local big box store. These are lights that are designed to withstand the weather and remain in place all year round. In addition, this kind of lighting is always ready to go. There is no tangle of strings of lights, daisy-chained together, which you have to figure out every year how to install.

Safety

Consider the safety factor, of permanently installed lights versus flimsy strings of lights and extension cords. You have professionals installing lights once, not amateurs installing and uninstalling lights every year. Most homeowners are not safe teetering on a ladder or on their roofs.

Convenience

When lights are permanently installed, you can turn them on for any holidays you want. You can even have a choice of what colors or what type of display you want, for example, solid or blinking. This is much more convenient than addressing your lights on a yearly basis. Permanently installed lights go on with the flick of a permanently mounted switch.

Economics

Permanently installed lights are economic. These lights last longer, are more energy efficient, and deter crime because you can light up your exterior anytime you want with the flick of a switch. Install of constantly replacing your strings of big-box store lights, get some permanent ones that never need to be replaced other than a bulb or two, which is covered under warranty for years.

We love the idea of permanent exterior holiday lights because they make sense. If you are interested in permanent exterior holiday lights, give Northern Lights a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 357-4781. This is our area of expertise.