Follow These Steps to Enjoy High-Performance Audio Outdoors

Though the summer weather in Lafayette, LA is sweltering in August, the cool breeze of autumn is just a few weeks away. How are you preparing to spend more time outdoors once the temperatures start cooling down?

Outdoor activities don't have to involve day-long hikes or fishing trips—though we'd certainly recommend both. Usually, on a day-to-day basis, all it takes is the right drink and playlist as you sit by the pool or prepare some steaks on the grill. Let us help you embrace some added fresh air this fall with a comprehensive outdoor sound system.

Use your outdoor audio video to enjoy your favorite music in your pool, veranda, and patio. We outline five steps to get instant access to your go-to recordings without sacrificing quality or getting noise complaints from the neighbors.

SEE MORE: 3 of the Best Ways You Can Enjoy Your Outdoor Entertainment System

1. Set a Strong Foundation

Designing a successful outdoor sound installation will depend mainly on having the right foundation. Take your whole home audio outside with underground wiring that links your sources to all your outdoor speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers (if applicable). Do you like to stream music? Add wireless access points to ensure you have a strong network connection.

2. Choose the Right Equipment

The next step is adding the ideal equipment for the job. Never take indoor speakers or subwoofers outside as they will be promptly damaged and offer poor quality sound. Outdoor speakers from Coastal Source are designed to brave the elements and deliver powerful audio throughout large spaces. These speakers use airtight designs, rustproof materials, and directional amplification to offer optimal quality. Choose from landscape, bollard and rock models to find a speaker that best fits your landscaping or patio design.

3. Optimize Your Speaker Layout

Adding high-quality speakers is only the first step. The wrong layout will still result in uneven sound and angry neighbors. A professional outdoor audio video installation takes speaker layout into account to offer level sound that stays contained within your property. Line your space with speakers every few feet facing inwards, so sound doesn’t seep out. Doing this also has the added perk of bolstering the audio as it bounces off your home’s exterior.

4. Connect Your Favorite Sources

Your outdoor sound installation will be useless if you can’t listen to what you want! Linking it to the rest of your whole home audio system is vital. Each of your favorite music sources—digital libraries, streaming services, and more—is available for you to use without having to take any vulnerable equipment outside.

5. Control it the Way You Want

Integrating with your whole home audio has another benefit. All your music will be at your fingertips from the same user interface that you use to listen in the kitchen, bedroom, or media room. Now you can pull up the tracks you want, choose where you want it to play and adjust the volume from the one device. And you can even select which control method you want! In some cases, a mobile app is ideal while in others, you may prefer a waterproof remote.

 Start your journey to immersive outdoor audio today to be prepared when the cooler fall weather arrives. The first step to a custom-crafted outdoor audio video solution is setting up a one-on-one consultation with our team by calling 225.906.2589, filling out our contact form or chatting with us below.

Get the Most Out of Your Outdoor Lighting With Diverse Control Options

During our meetings with clients, we talk to them about how to use mobile apps, sensors, and dimmers to optimize their lighting. Usually, conversations focus on the indoors—where people spend up to 90 percent of their time. But it's important to know smart lighting control is vital for outdoor spaces as well. Even when you're not using them, the right lighting still leaves a significant mark.

With lighting conditions subject to change at any time and security paramount, you need a proactive and intuitive way to manage all your fixtures. How can you use some of those same tools you use indoors to optimize your outdoor spaces? Each of the sections below highlights an essential benefit of outdoor lighting and the ideal means to bring it into your Mandeville, LA home.

SEE MORE: 3 Smart Lighting Control Benefits that Will Surprise You

Stay Ahead of the Darkness

Sunlight does a great job of illuminating your outdoor spaces throughout the day, but do you have an efficient way to transition into nighttime without being left in the dark? A smart lighting control system lets you use timers linked to astronomical clocks. These automatically turn external fixtures on when the sun sets and turn them off again when the sun rises. You stay safe and comfortable without wasting energy.

Create an Inviting Atmosphere

Through dedicated scenes and motion sensors, design the ideal lighting to greet guests when they approach your home. Have a 'Welcome" scene that activates whenever someone pulls into your driveway. On command, all the fixtures lining your driveway turn on as do all path lights leading up to your front door. The main goal is safety here, but for new guests, it's also an ideal way to guide them to the entry you want them to use when they arrive.

Boost Your Outdoor Design

Showcase your favorite landscape decorations or your home's best architectural features with specialized fixtures from Coastal Source. A smart lighting control system makes it easy to use an app or on-wall keypad to alternate what you spotlight on a given day. Let us craft custom lighting scenes that each bring attention to fountains, gardens, or statues on your property.

Bolster Your Security

There are a lot of ways lighting also enhances your safety if used properly. Use path lighting linked to motion sensors to reduce tripping hazards. You should also integrate lighting with your security system. One thing intruders hate is being noticed. The second they set off motion sensors on your perimeters, drown them in bright lights to let them know you see them. These lights will also help you get better footage from your security cameras.

Enhance Your Comfort

Do you want to sit back and have a drink, host a pool party for the kids, or grill for friends on the patio? Efficiently transition your lighting for any situation through the use of smart scenes you pull up from a mobile app or keypad. Add in the rest of your smart home technology for optimal results! Take a "Grilling" scene, for example.  It switches on the patio’s overhead lighting and the light over the grill, turns on the fan to keep smoke from accumulating, and starts playing your favorite cooking playlist.

 
Are you ready to embrace the outdoors with a custom smart lighting control solution? Not only will you have more comfortable living spaces, but you’ll also boast the most beautiful house on the block. Our experts can help if you call us at 225.906.2589, fill out our contact form or chat with us below.