Outdoor Lighting Design · Nashville & Middle TN

A plan you approve before we dig

Photorealistic renderings, fixture specifications, and zone layouts — the design work that separates a finished property from an installed one.

Licensed CE-D: 76580Low-voltage LED · Brass & copper
KPM
4.9★ · 100+ reviews★★★★★
Covered bridge by day before outdoor lighting design
Photorealistic outdoor lighting design rendering of a covered bridge at night by Light TN
Rendered Design Daylight Photo
Drag to see it lit
On-site assessment
Photorealistic rendering
Fixture specification
Zone layout
Design fee credited

What We Do

The design is decided
before any fixture goes in.

Outdoor lighting design is the planning of a complete exterior lighting system — renderings, fixture specifications, and zone layouts — independent of installation. Light TN creates outdoor lighting design plans for Middle Tennessee homeowners, builders, architects, and landscape architects, so the lighting is decided on screen and approved before any fixture goes in the ground.

Light TN is a family-owned landscape lighting designer in Burns, Tennessee, led by Principal Designer Daryl Bentfield, who personally walks each property. The studio has produced designs behind 500+ Middle Tennessee projects since 2020. The design fee is credited toward the project when Light TN installs the system, and design-only plans are available for owners and trade partners.

The Craft

A design problem,
not a parts list.

A design studio sells the judgment about where light belongs, how it's shielded, and how the property reads at night — not just fixtures and labor. A designed plan accounts for materials, grade, and how the landscape will grow, which a parts-list quote does not.

The studio designs for where the landscape is headed, not only where it is — a tree's canopy filling in, a bed maturing over five years — so the plan still reads right in the future and supports phased installation.

On-site design Layered light Photo-render
A Middle Tennessee estate at night with architectural uplighting, illuminated spa, and pool area designed by Light TN

What a Plan Includes

Decided on screen,
documented for the build.

On-site assessment — Daryl walks the property, reads the architecture, grade, and trees, and listens to how you use the grounds after dark.

Photorealistic rendering — you see your property lit at night before anything is installed, so the design is approved on screen rather than discovered in the yard.

Fixture specification — each fixture is specified for beam control, finish, and 2700K color temperature — chosen for the property, not pulled from a truck.

Zone and control layout — we map zones and scenes so the system can be balanced and, where wanted, put on smart control.

Master plan for phasing — where a project is staged, the plan keeps transformer sizing, wire runs, and color temperature consistent as it grows.

Design-only or build — take the plan to your own installer, or build it with Light TN and have the design fee credited toward the project.

Who It's For

Design judgment over
a parts-list quote.

Outdoor lighting design is ideal for homeowners who want to see the finished look before committing, for custom builders coordinating lighting with new construction, and for architects and landscape architects specifying lighting for their clients. Builders, architects, and landscape architects bring Light TN in to specify lighting and coordinate it with their plans, so it's built in rather than added on.

It also suits properties being phased, where a master plan guides each stage, and owners who value design judgment over a parts-list quote. The design is approved as a rendering first, so the result is decided before any digging, and the plan can grow without being rebuilt.

Warm step lights illuminating a stone patio and pool area at night, designed by Light TN

Our Process

From walkthrough
to approved rendering.

01

Walkthrough

An on-site assessment of the architecture, landscape, and how you live outside after dark.

02

Concept

We outline a lighting approach built from the property, not a template.

03

Rendering

A photorealistic night rendering you react to and approve.

04

Specification

Fixtures, zones, and a layout documented for installation.

05

Hand-off or Install

Build it with Light TN (design fee credited) or take the plan to your team.

Why Choose Light TN

Renderings,
not guesswork.

The Designer Walks Your Property

Daryl Bentfield does the assessment and the design himself, not a salesperson. You see a photorealistic version of the finished property at night before committing.

Trade-Trusted

Builders, architects, and landscape architects bring Light TN in to specify lighting for their clients. The lighting is coordinated with the build, not added on.

Licensed & Proven

Licensed contractor CE-D: 76580, BBB A+, and 4.9 stars across 100+ verified reviews.

FAQ

Outdoor lighting design,
answered.

What is outdoor lighting design?

Light TN defines outdoor lighting design as the planning of a complete exterior lighting system — photorealistic renderings, fixture specifications, and zone layouts — independent of installation. It lets a property owner or trade partner see and approve the finished look before any fixture is installed.

Can I get a lighting design without installation?

Light TN offers design-only plans for homeowners, builders, architects, and landscape architects. You receive renderings, fixture specifications, and a zone layout you can build with any installer, and the design fee is credited if Light TN installs the system.

What is a lighting rendering?

Light TN produces a photorealistic rendering — an image of your property lit at night — so you can approve the design before installation. It removes the guesswork of imagining the result and is the step that lets the system be decided on screen.

Why work with a lighting designer instead of an installer?

Light TN, as a design studio, sells the judgment about where light belongs, how it's shielded, and how the property reads at night — not just fixtures and labor. A designed plan accounts for materials, grade, and how the landscape will grow, which a parts-list quote does not.

Do builders and architects use Light TN?

Light TN regularly works with custom builders, architects, and landscape architects to specify outdoor lighting for their clients, coordinating the lighting design with new construction and landscape plans so it's built in rather than added on.

How much does outdoor lighting design cost?

Light TN sets a design fee based on the size and complexity of the property, quoted after a free on-site consultation, and credits that fee toward the project if Light TN installs the system. Final installation pricing follows the approved plan.

How long does the design process take?

Light TN's design process moves from on-site walkthrough to a photorealistic rendering for your approval, with timing depending on the size of the property. The consultation is free and there is no obligation to proceed to installation.

Will the design account for future landscape growth?

Light TN designs for where the landscape is headed, not only where it is — a tree's canopy filling in, a bed maturing over five years — so the plan still reads right in the future and supports phased installation.

Get Started

See the plan before you commit.

Book a free on-site consultation and Light TN will design your property's lighting and render it at night for your approval.

Start a design plan
(615) 808-8882
★★★★★
4.9
Average rating across 100+ Google reviews from homeowners in Belle Meade, Franklin, and Brentwood.