A cautionary tale for Cincinnati homeowners considering DIY smart lighting kits. 

If you’re interested in whole-home lighting control, the DIY route can be tempting. The price tags look lower. The packaging promises ease. And maybe you think, “How hard can it really be?” 

But after working with countless homeowners across Cincinnati, OH, we’ve seen a pattern: DIY lighting control systems almost always fall short of expectations. Here’s why—and a better route you can take instead. 

Customization & Programming: The Key to the Ideal Lighting for Every Outdoor Activity

One of our most rewarding moments at Beacon Audio Video Systems is seeing our clients’ expressions when they view their outdoor area transformed by light and darkness. They may see us integrating the fixtures and controls, sometimes adding a high-fidelity outdoor audio system to the mix. But it’s not until nightfall that they realize the significant difference it will make in their lives. 

The best smart lighting for patios and decks breathtakingly illuminates spaces, reminding homeowners of their trips abroad, such as dining in an outdoor French bistro, or enjoying the evening trade winds at a beautifully illuminated tropical resort.

At Beacon, every project is customized, unique to our client’s vision. This personalization includes intelligent lighting control, making it effortless to create the ideal setting for the various activities they enjoy in their outdoor space. 

Let’s see how it’s done.

Experience Outdoor Dining, Entertaining, and Relaxing in Style

Summer in Dayton, OH, is nothing if not unpredictable. One day, we’re faced with high heat and humidity. The next day, heavy rain and thunderstorms are passing through. Through it all, the beauty of the summer season is undeniable. So, how do we make the most of this changeable and breathtakingly beautiful time of year? 

The answer is outdoor shades. 

Thanks to today’s technology, these shades create outdoor spaces protected from heat, UV rays, insects, rain, and even hurricanes. At Beacon Audio Video Systems, we partner with Progressive Screens to provide our clients with the best solution on the market. 

Here, we’ll explore how to stay cool this summer while creating a comfortable outdoor space protected from the elements. 

A Guide to Integrated Outdoor Entertainment 

Is this your ideal setup? You’re hosting friends on a warm Cincinnati evening. You tap your phone once, and your backyard springs to life: outdoor speakers fill the air with crystal-clear sound, landscape lights set the mood, your outdoor TV fires up for the game, and motorized shades adjust as the sun sets. This is backyard audio-video automation at work.

Most people throw together some basic outdoor gear and call it good. But when you properly integrate smart technology throughout your outdoor space, your Cincinnati backyard becomes the place everyone wants to be.

Home Entertainment at Its Finest

There was a time when you could travel to the local big-box store, pick out a TV or two and a home audio system, and your home entertainment was complete. Times have changed. 

Today, technology is evolving at one of the fastest rates in our history. One minute, you’ve selected the top-of-the-line 4K LED TV, only to find that, a few months later, the premier TVs are now 4K OLED. No, we take that back; now it’s 8K QLED technology. Or is it? 

And that’s where an AV installation company from Cincinnati, OH, comes in. Here, we’ll explore how we help you determine the best AV solutions for your home, ones that you won’t regret a year later.