Top Trends in Landscape Lighting

The art of illuminating outdoor spaces is undergoing a brilliant transformation. Gone are the days of purely functional, often hidden lighting. Today, it’s about creating atmosphere, enhancing beauty and integrating smart technology seamlessly.

During a recent WAC Lighting webinar, industry veterans Conrad Montero of Moonstruck Lighting and Joel Mayor of Texas Outdoor Lighting joined WAC’s own Sales Director, Todd Goers, for an insightful discussion on the latest trends and product innovations in landscape lighting.

The conversation, expertly guided by Todd Goers, soon turned to the exciting shifts shaping how we see our gardens, pathways and architectural features after dusk. Some of the trends discussed included:

Smaller, Less Noticeable Fixtures

Joel Mayor, drawing from his experiences with Texas Outdoor Lighting, spoke about a move towards miniaturization and minimalism. “Builders and landscape architects are really enjoying just how compact it is, how versatile it is,” Joel Mayor noted about smaller fixtures, allowing for “more of a minimalist look on walkways” that lets the landscape itself to shine.

On-Fixture Adjustability & Smart Control

The experts highlighted how clients now expect the ability to fine-tune their lighting, from onboard dimmers that allow for precise brightness levels to intuitive app-based controls for orchestrating color, setting schedules and creating enchanting scenes.

The Rise of Color and Tunable White

Perhaps one of the most dynamic shifts is the embrace of color and tunable white light. While the classic warm glow remains a beloved choice, the ability to introduce vibrant hues for holidays, game days, or special events, or to adjust white light from a cozy 2700K to a crisp 6500K, is revolutionizing outdoor ambiance. WAC’s Colorscaping line, as Todd explained, is at the heart of this colorful revolution.

WAC Offers New “Legacy Line” Landscape Products for 2025

With these trends as a backdrop, Todd Goers then took center stage to unveil some exciting updates to WAC Lighting’s established landscape lighting collections for 2025.

First up was the upgraded 12V AC Tape Lighting, now boasting a smoother, less obtrusive connector for cleaner transitions. Its COB technology ensures a seamless line of light without visible dots, offering a crisp, dimmable output in various lengths and color temperatures, perfect for those subtle accent applications.

Next, the popular Linear Path Light (Model 6401) received a luxurious makeover. Now available in brass, its most significant upgrade is an onboard dimmer, allowing for precise adjustments from a subtle 65 lumens up to a brighter 195. Conrad saw its potential for illuminating walls of varying heights, while Joel praised its compact, minimalist charm for walkway illumination.

For those tricky narrow posts, like on pool cages or deck spindles, WAC introduced the ingenious Trapezoic Deck Light (Model 3041). Designed to be less than two inches wide, it sits flush without unsightly overhang, providing a neat 45 lumens in various finishes. Joel lauded its miniaturized versatility, and Conrad reiterated the importance of its daytime appeal.

Power users weren’t forgotten, with the Grand Inground Fixture (Model 5033) now available in a 120V version (Model 5034). This 2000-lumen powerhouse is perfect for retrofitting older, larger halogen systems to energy-efficient LED. Joel even recounted how his installations withstood the rigors of the Texas landscape, including curious cattle! Todd reminded everyone that the integrity of any well light, against challenges like water intrusion, often comes down to careful reassembly after adjustment.

But the innovations didn’t stop there. The conversation then sparkled with enthusiasm for WAC’s Colorscaping line, a system designed to bring the full spectrum of tunable white and 16 million colors to outdoor spaces. Conrad Montero was particularly impressed by its straightforward setup, recalling how he followed a few videos and had it running in minutes using a simple 12V-two wire system – no complex RGB wiring was needed.

Joel Mayor shared a compelling story of a larger residential project where Colorscaping was integrated with a Control4 system. This allowed for synchronized color changes across the property, app-controlled scheduling for holidays, and even considerate dimming in dark-sky communities. He also let slip a fun feature: the WAC app allows users to input hex codes for precise color matching, perfect for showcasing team spirit on game day!

The Colorscaping family itself is expanding for 2025, welcoming Conrad’s favorite 4011 Step Light, the versatile 6401 Linear Path Light, and the entire Two-Inch Core Drilled Indicator family into its color-tunable fold. Todd also mentioned that while 150W and 300W Colorscaping transformers are available, a 600W version is on the horizon. On this note, Joel, having learned from a ‘shocking’ experience, wisely urged everyone to always use the built-in surge protector when daisy-chaining multiple transformers.

Rounding out the legacy updates, the much-loved Surface Mountable Indicator Lights now offer a square design (Model 1051) alternative to the existing round options, providing architects and designers with more aesthetic flexibility to match various architectural styles.

Explore the Future of Landscape Lighting

Ultimately, the discussion reveals a clear direction for modern landscape lighting, one defined by a compelling ‘less is more’ philosophy in fixture design, yet a ‘more is more’ approach to control and functionality. The trend is moving away from bulky, noticeable hardware and toward elegant, miniaturized fixtures that blend seamlessly into the landscape. In its place is a powerful demand for hyper-personalization—the ability to dim, adjust, schedule, and paint with a full spectrum of tunable white light and vibrant color, all from the palm of one’s hand. This shift transforms lighting from a static utility into a dynamic, interactive element of the home, one that is as smart and versatile as it is beautiful.

The WAC Landscape Lighting Webinar painted a vibrant picture of a landscape lighting future that is more subtle in its design, yet more powerful in its control and expression. It’s a future where homeowners and businesses can effortlessly sculpt their nocturnal environments with light, creating spaces that are not only safe and functional but also deeply personal and breathtakingly beautiful.

Watch the Webinar Here