We checked in with Bob Gurkin, 32-year lighting veteran and certified designer, to hear his insights on the top outdoor lighting trends shaping 2026.
From Bob:
1. Smart-Fully Integrated Entire-Property Systems & AI-Driven Control
The most significant shift is the move away from piecemeal lighting. Homeowners are now opting for integrated systems where landscape beds, hardscape walls, steps, and decks all operate on a single, cohesive network. Lighting systems are no longer just on timers; they are becoming fully integrated into the smart home ecosystem. In 2026, expect systems that sync with sunrise and sunset automatically and use AI to adapt to your behavior. These systems are more energy-efficient while allowing for unified control through a single app.
- Zoned Control: Independently manage different areas like the pools, outdoor kitchens, and living areas from a single app.
- Predictive Lighting: Systems that “anticipate” your arrival or adjust based on real-time weather patterns.
2. Wellness-Focused & Circadian Lighting
Lighting is increasingly used as a therapeutic tool. Circadian lighting—which automatically adjusts color, temperature and intensity throughout the evening—mimics natural biological rhythms. This helps regulate the body’s internal clock and promotes relaxation. High-end designs also use biophilic principles, incorporating fixtures that mimic organic shapes like leaves or stones to foster a sense of tranquility.
3. “Tunable White” and Dynamic Color-Changing “Scenes”
The “warm white” standard is being upgraded to tunable white technology, allowing you to shift color temperatures from a warm amber (2700K) to a crisp, cool white (4000K) depending on the mood or season.
RGBW Systems: Beyond basic colors, saturated color-changing LEDs are becoming a primary design feature for “game day” themes or holiday displays, all controlled via smartphone. Static, one-tone lighting is being replaced by color-changing fixtures that can be customized for different moods or events. Using an app, homeowners can instantly switch from warm white for a family dinner to bold, saturated colors for a party or team colors for a game night. These fixtures provide a layered, dynamic environment that can be tailored to any occasion.
4. Lighting as Sculptural Art
Fixtures are no longer just sources of light; they are becoming stand-alone works of art. Trends for 2026 feature biomorphic silhouettes, custom-made shapes, and mixed materials like raw stone paired with polished metal. These sculptural pieces act as focal points in the garden even during the daylight hours.
5. Architectural & Invisible “In-Grade” Linear Hardscape Lighting Integration
Lighting is going vertical and becoming more discreet. Instead of bulky path lights, designers are using slim wall sconces and integrated lighting on structures like pergolas and pavilions. There is also a major rise in concrete-embedded lighting, where “glow lines” or small fixtures are set directly into driveways, steps, or outdoor bars for a seamless, modern look. Big, bulky fixtures are being replaced by minimalist, “invisible” lighting. The goal is to see the light, not the source.
- Linear Strips: LED strips are being embedded into concrete steps, under-cap retaining walls, and along the edges of driveways to create “glow lines.”
- Recessed Fixtures: Small, low-profile in-ground up lights that vanish into garden beds and pathways are a hallmark of high-end 2026 designs.
- Structure Lighting: Using slim wall sconces and wedge lights to define pavilions, pergolas, and privacy fences.
- Moonlighting: Placing fixtures high in large trees like oaks or maples to cast soft, natural shadows downward, mimicking the glow of a full moon.
Finally,
We can help train your team on everything you need to know for increasing your lighting sales; the basics of selling lighting, teach new installation and design techniques, help you expand your product arsenal, win more jobs, and design service contracts for an annual/repeat income stream. Reach out to your local Central rep to get started or learn more about how the right choices on lighting jobs can boost your business!