Color trend: Warm shades take over

Maybe it’s the hint of summer that teases us in the spring, but we’re ready for warmth. Homeowners are taking the cue and choosing hues that add a deep, comfortable feel to the landscape. Think earthy sage green, soft oranges, or rich charcoal gray. Is black still the fashionable color for home? Perhaps. But we’re also hearing about darker brown for those who are looking for something bold and dramatic. If you’re not a risk taker – and there’s no shame in playing it safe – warm whites and neutrals can still create a cozy and inviting exterior.

Hardware trend: Aesthetics and sustainability

Exterior hardware is emerging as a popular way to personalize your home exterior and add a layer of boldness to the design. We’re looking at bold color accents in black, deep greens and rich browns to create a striking contrast to the home’s presentation. Warm metallic finishes like matte brass can give your home timeless beauty as the finishes develop their natural patina over time. We’re also seeing homeowners moving towards sustainable materials like stainless steel and recycled materials.

Material trend: Mixed textures

Different exterior materials give homes an updated, modern look, and this trend isn’t going away anytime soon. Stone skirting can be paired with vertical wood siding. Stone siding creates an earthy feel, while sleek metal brings an updated touch to the overall exterior. Mixed masonry combines brick and stone and creates and aesthetically pleasing contrast. Paint them in similar hues, and you create a subtle but dramatic statement.

Fun trend: Backyard spaces

Five years after the Covid epidemic sent everyone inside, homeowners are back to gathering with their friends and enjoying time together. Sure, we’re still seeing the ponds, water fixtures and pools. But expect homeowners to recreate their indoor ambiance outdoors, with extensive outdoor kitchens and functional furniture that can withstand the elements without losing their beauty and sophistication.  Indiana’s pervasive basketball hoops are being joined by backyard pickleball courts and putting greens. As far as pools go, the cold plunge feature isn’t going anywhere. These icy escapes are showing up more and more as people seek their restorative properties.

Tiptop trend: Going up to the roof

Is anyone old enough to remember when the biggest roofing decision was choosing between three shingle colors? Today’s roofing materials incorporate energy-efficiency and sustainability with elegant architectural features to top homes with a distinctive feature. Metal roofs, which can be an upfront expense, are paying homeowners back in longevity. What about green roofs? No, we’re not talking about the forest shades from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Instead, homeowners are seeking roofs made of recycled materials or solar reflective shingles.

Shining a light on Indiana’s finest homes

Here at Luminocity, we continue to work on some of central Indiana’s most beautiful homes, creating a lighting design that highlights their beauty and takes advantage of the latest lighting technology. Outdoor living spaces become evening gathering spots with functional lighting that does more than flood the area with light. A home’s entryway can be warm and inviting without compromising the privacy of the people who live inside.  Specific architectural details become captivating nighttime spectacles with the right lighting design and placement.

Luminocity understands the importance of incorporating the latest home design trends without sacrificing a home’s beauty and elegance. Our trained lighting designers have invested years understanding what makes light work – and what can go wrong – when you add an outdoor lighting design to your home. Don’t make the mistake of letting a mediocre lighting design ruin your carefully planned home exterior. Trust your home to the lighting experts at Luminocity. Call us now at 317-537-8055 for a consultation, and let’s talk about putting your home in a new light in 2025.

1. How do LEDS generate light?

A. LEDs generate light through a process of intense friction, causing the material to heat up and glow.

B. LEDs generate light through electroluminescence, where electrons recombine with holes in a semiconductor material, releasing energy in the form of photons.  

C. LEDs use small, internal mirrors to reflect and amplify ambient light, creating a brighter glow.

D. LEDs contain tiny, pressurized gas chambers that emit light when electricity passes through them.

Answer: B. LEDs convert electrical energy directly into light energy through the interaction of electrons and holes within a semiconductor material.

2. What is the most energy-efficient type of lighting?            

A. Incandescent bulbs are the most energy-efficient because they produce the most light.

B. Halogen bulbs are more energy-efficient because they are brighter than LEDs.

C. LED lighting is generally considered the most energy-efficient type, often lasting 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

D. Florescent bulbs, the first energy-saving bulbs, remain the most energy efficient.

Answer: C. LEDs lead the way in energy efficiency, longevity, durability and versatility.

3. How is lightbulb brightness measured?

A. Lightbulb brightness is measured in lumens.

B. Brightness is measured by the weight of the filament.

C. Brightness is measured by the volume of light produced.

D. Brightness is measured by the amount of electricity it consumes.

Answer: A. Many people think that lightbulb brightness is measured in watts. So, a 60-watt bulb will be brighter than a 40-watt bulb, right? Not really. A watt is a measurement of how much energy is being used. A lumen, on the other hand, measures how much light comes from the bulb.

4. What is the name of the phenomenon where light is redirected by a surface?

A. Diffraction.

B. Refraction.

C. Absorption

D. Reflection

Answer: D. Reflection is the phenomenon where light is redirected by a surface. The talented lighting designers at Luminocity will use reflection judiciously during installation, to create light and shadow the emphasizes your home’s unique beauty.

5. What does illumination refer to?

A. The amount of light emitted by a source in a specific direction.

B. The amount of light falling on a surface.

C. The color appearance of a light source.

D. The intensity of the light source.

Answer: A. Illumination in lighting refers to the amount of light falling on a surface. It’s a measure of how much luminous flux (the total amount of light emitted by a source) is spread over a given area. Proper illumination is crucial for visibility, aesthetics, energy efficiency and safety.

6. What is the name of the phenomenon where light waves interfere with each other?

A. Refraction

B. Diffraction

C. Reflection

D. Absorption

Answer: B. Diffraction refers to the bending or spreading of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening.

7. Who invented the incandescent light bulb?

A. Thomas Edison

B. Nikola Tesla

C. Benjamin Franklin

D. Albert Einstein

Answer: A. While others contributed to the development of the light bulb, Thomas Edison is widely credited with inventing the commercially viable incandescent light bulb.

8. What is the name of the phenomenon where an object appears to be a different color when viewed under different light sources?

A. Color rendering

B. Color temperature

C. Color shift

D. Color distortion

Answer: C. Color shift describes how the perceived color of an object can change depending on the color temperature and spectrum of the light source.

9. What is the best way to prevent glare from outdoor lighting?

A. Use dimmer bulbs.

B. Direct the light downward.

C. Install lights closer to the ground.

D. Use multiple lights

Answer: B. Shielding fixtures and directing light downwards towards the intended area minimize glare and reduce light trespass onto neighboring properties.

10. Who should you rely on for the best outdoor lighting?

A. You can handle it yourself with a few Youtube videos and some lighting from the internet.

B. Your local neighborhood handyman can install outdoor lighting.

C. Your landscape company will handle the lighting design.

D. A certified lighting designer like Luminocity.

Answer: D. Put your home in its best light with a custom outdoor lighting design by Luminocity. Luminocity is home to two of only five Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technicians (CLVLT) in Indiana, as well as the only Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer (COLD.) Luminocity treats lighting like the science it is, using only high-quality lighting fixtures and offering custom maintenance. You wouldn’t take your car to a bicycle mechanic, would you? Trust your home to the people who are solely dedicated to outdoor landscape lighting.

Are you ready to explore ways to highlight your home and increase its value? Reach out to Luminocity at 317-537-8055 for a consultation.

Indianapolis winters receive an average of about 25.5 inches of snow

More than two feet of snow feels like a substantial amount, especially if we get hit by a couple of good storms that leave six inches of snow or more. Remember, though – this is just an average number. You’ll have to look back 11 years to find a winter where we surpassed that number.

Our greatest cumulative snowfall was almost 30 years ago

What were you doing in 1996? If the answer is shoveling snow, then you were probably living in central Indiana. During that calendar year, we saw 54.8 inches of the white stuff.

Central Indiana saw its earliest snowstorm in October

Back in 1989, when the kids were still deciding if they were going to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or the Little Mermaid for Halloween, the skies opened and delivered a total of 9.3 inches of snow between October 18-20. That’s the earliest measurable snow on record for Central Indiana.

Everyone remembers the Blizzard of 1978

You might not have been around in 1978, but we can almost guarantee that your parents remember the Blizzard of 1978 if they were living in Central Indiana at the time. Wind chills fell to -51°F. Indianapolis saw 30.6 inches of snowfall. The wind created snowdrifts that were more than 10 feet tall.

We like to load up on bread, milk and eggs before a snowstorm

Stop in any grocery store the day before a predicted storm and you’ll find it swarming with people who are stockpiling groceries. The experts claim there’s a psychological reason for this action: People are afraid of being stuck in their homes without food. Personally, we’ll take any excuse to make French toast.  

Snow isn’t always the culprit in central Indiana winters

Freezing rain can bring traffic to a standstill and send Central Indiana residents to the emergency rooms with its slippery sidewalks and deceptive appearance. Freezing rain happens when cold precipitation falls through a pocket of warm air before it hits a freezing surface. If the pocket of warm air is high enough, you’ll see sleet, rather than freezing rain, because the precipitation has a chance to refreeze on its way down. Without the pocket of warm air, it’s all snow.

Our coldest temperature hit -27°F

Cold air can take your breath away, and that -27°F in 1994 felt even colder with a wind chill of -43°F. When it’s that cold, your windshield washer fluid probably won’t work and frostbite can happen within five minutes. Stay inside if we see another record-breaking cold this year.

Our past winters have included thundersnow

Central Indiana is no stranger to thunderstorms, but thundersnow is a bit different. Summer thunderstorms tend to see rapid upward drafts that create lightning and thunder. But occasionally we’ll hear some rumbles of thunder with our snow. Remember, lightning is lightning whether it’s happening in July or January. Take the necessary precautions if you’re heading outside.

Most of us can’t remember the warmest central Indiana winter on record

Snow lovers may be grumbling about a lack of white stuff during the past few winters, but you have to look back almost a century to discover our warmest winter. That happened in 1931-32, when the average winter temperature was 37.4°F.

Outdoor lighting can keep you safe on those slippery snow days

When visitors arrive at your home, are they navigating a dark walkway that hides patches of snow or ice? The right outdoor lighting can make a difference in safety and security. If your property looks dark and uninviting, Luminocity can paint it with light that gives you safety and aesthetic beauty throughout the year.

Old Man Winter can leave a mark on your outdoor lighting system

Luminocity uses durable, weatherproof fixtures designed to stand up to any weather. But extreme temperatures and variable forecasts can cause underground wires to shift and become exposed to the elements. That’s one of the many reasons why we recommend that our customers take advantage of the Luminocity Maintenance Plan. We’ll periodically come out and give your system a thorough inspection, burying those exposed wires and replacing your burnt-out bulbs with new ones.

Winter is upon us in Central Indiana, but Luminocity works throughout the year to bring inspired landscape lighting to some of the finest homes in Central Indiana. Don’t settle for a dark and dreary winter when you can light it up with Luminocity. Call us now at 317-537-8055 for a free consultation!

Install & maintain lights correctly in the snow

Thankfully, most modern outdoor lights are designed specifically to be weatherproof in order to stay outside during any time of year. However, we still recommend that you try to have them installed in areas that will be cool and dry most of the time, in order to help them last longer against the elements. 

We also recommend checking on the wires and bulbs about once a year to see if they are sustaining any weather damage. With an Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) from Luminocity, we will come out to inspect and clean each fixture, bury any exposed wire and trim bushes as needed to achieve optimal lighting effect. Investing in the AMP is also your best value because it means that you will not have to pay for any burnt-out bulbs or minor service repairs (such as a cut wire) for the next 12 months. 

Decide between LED & quartz halogen

If you grew up in a place that gets a lot of snow, like here in Indiana, you may remember a tube effect in the snow caused by the heat from frequently used quartz halogen lights. It was a rare occurrence to have a dark home in the snow because the extreme heat generated by these bulbs would quickly melt the snow. In fact, some homeowners were reluctant to switch from older quartz halogen as the more efficient LED lights became more popular because they don’t want to risk having a dark house.

However, LED outdoor lights do still generate heat and will melt snow – just not as fast. If you have LED fixtures and don’t get too much snow they will do fine. However, if you get dumped on with lots of snow, your house may be dark for a little bit until the fixture can melt the show or it is cleared away. LEDs last a lot longer than traditional halogen bulbs, making them a great way to promote efficiency and save money on your utility bills, so you shouldn’t let the fear of a dark home in the snow keep you from switching to them. But if you do choose quartz halogen bulbs, note that our AMP visit also covers the replacement of all your bulbs with fresh ones.

Check the Ingress Protection Rating

If you want the most use out of your outdoor light bulbs, you can check the Ingress Protection Rating when you go to purchase them. The IP code is a system for sharing with consumers how protected your lighting, electrical enclosures and even cell phones are against dust or water. The first part of the code is the letters IP, followed by two numbers. The first number, ranging from 0-6 tells you the protection against solid particles (dust). The second number, ranging from 0-8, tells you the protection against liquid/water. 

If you are concerned about snow or ice in your outdoor lighting, be sure to look for fixtures with a high IP rating against water. At Luminocity, we only use durable fixtures and quality bulbs. We know what type of fixture is best suited for each task, what lighting effect is desired, where the fixture should be placed to achieve the desired effect. We always make sure that the installation (including proper voltage) is done professionally, intending for our lighting systems to work for a long time. If you would like to learn more about how we can keep your home shining bright all year round, contact the Luminocity experts today at (317) 537-8055 or with our online form. We can’t wait to beautify your home with our custom-designed landscape lighting systems.