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Apr 30, 2026

When undertaking a landscape lighting installation or remodel in Atlanta, GA, familiarizing yourself with the different styles is key to transforming your property. At Abulous Lighting, we believe that the right fixtures shape the mood, enhance architecture, and elevate your outdoor spaces. Our lighting technicians understand the complexities of different styles, guiding property owners through a wide range of options to improve the finished look and create opportunities for building long-term value. The most common outdoor lighting styles in residential and commercial properties include modern and classic, each suited for different layouts.

Classic Lighting: Timeless and Elegant

As the name suggests, classic outdoor lighting refers to fixtures that maintain a timeless and elegant appeal. This can include lantern-style wall lights, dome path lights, and materials like copper, brass, and bronze that develop a rich staining over time. A classic lighting style pairs perfectly with traditional homes, cottage gardens, and Tuscan landscapes.

Classic outdoor lighting also tends to be warm, typically 2700-3000K, and diffused. If you are looking to give your landscape a soft, inviting glow, classic style may be the best option for your needs. Additionally, classic outdoor lighting is ideal for homeowners who are looking for a fresh look that blends seamlessly into the target spaces.

Modern Lighting: Sleek and Architectural

On the other hand, modern landscape lighting emphasizes geometric shapes, clean lines, and minimalist finishes such as stainless steel or matte black. Outdoor lighting fixtures like integrated step lights, bollards, and in-ground well lights create crisp beams that reach up to 4000K to create dramatic effects.

If you have a landscape lighting installation planned, this style fits perfectly for contemporary architecture, minimalist yards, and mid-century modern homes. Property owners often prefer modern outdoor lighting when they want to create a “wow factor” that highlights architectural design and other key features.

Choosing a Landscape Lighting Installation Style: Key Considerations

Now that you know what modern and classic outdoor lighting styles entail, choosing the right one for your needs can make a big difference. Let’s delve into the factors to consider when choosing a lighting style for your landscape.

Architectural Style of the Home

The primary purpose of outdoor lighting is to enhance exterior spaces. If you install lighting fixtures that clash with your home’s design, it may be time to consider a more suitable style. Modern landscape lighting is best for contemporary, mid-century modern, minimalist, or industrial architecture. Common modern style fixtures include matte black finishes, cylinder sconces, and simple geometric shapes.

Classic lighting is ideal for rustic, vintage, colonial, or traditional homes. If your building is not from this era or combines classic and modern design, choose fixtures that feature bronze, brass, or detailed glass, adding to your home’s historical charm.

Purpose and Functionality

Modern lighting often focuses on highlighting architectural details and creating dramatic effects. With classic outdoor lighting, the focus is more on overall visibility and providing a traditional, comfortable brightness. With this in mind, modern fixtures are ideal for better accent, while classic lighting is more suited for enhanced visibility.

If security is your main concern, the technician may suggest motion sensor lights, which come in both styles. However, modern options often allow for better integration into smart home systems. Purpose and functionality play a crucial role in choosing the perfect outdoor lighting style, and working with a licensed technician can make a big difference.

Call a Professional Outdoor Lighting Technician

Whether you are leaning toward classic, modern, or a thoughtful mix of both, choosing the right technician can ensure professional guidance and satisfactory results that light. Contact Abulous Lighting to book an appointment with our experts and invest in premium light fixtures for your needs.

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Kimberly Buckland

Absolute Lighting installed my outdoor flood lights 2 years ago and they are beautiful! They did such a great job that I used them to setup and take down the Christmas lights for the past 2 years. I would highly recommend them. Frank always responds to questions and automatically puts me on the schedule for set up and take down of the Christmas Lights.

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Graham Antin

We love Abulous lighting and have been using them for years  They are very responsive and professional and  will come back no questions asked for any follow up work  Good pricing and highly trustworthy  Frank, the owner, is a true  stand up guy.  I recommend without reservation

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Allan Conlan

Frank and the team at Abulous were great to work with. They came out and retro-upgraded some previous lighting that we had done a few years back and made it look as seamless and continuous as possible. They also worked with us on the best (& most economical) way to light up a hard to reach area of our yard. They also followed up with us after we had another group of workers "disturb" some of the lighting wires and came back out and fixed everything back up again. Very friendly, dependable local resource who do great work. Highly recommend.

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Mike Thomas

After reviewing multiple companies we contracted with Abilous Lighting to create outside accent lighting for our home, backyard patio, walkways, & fire pit.  Their ideas and design were the best!   It was a pleasure working with Frank Hasty, who did  the design, and his crew of Brandon & Rusty who performed the work.  All were excellent to work with.   We are very happy with Abulous Lighting.