Award-winning lighting experts with 25+ years of experience lighting up homes across Virginia.
Award-Winning Landscape Lighting Design & Installation in Potomac, Great Falls, and Northern Virginia.
From our design studio in Aldie, Dayloom creates bespoke outdoor illumination for the DMV’s most distinguished estates.
At Dayloom, we believe that your home’s outdoor lighting should enhance its unique aesthetic by accentuating architectural features and incorporating an elegant design that’s customized to your taste.
Balancing aesthetic beauty with functional needs-safety, security, and entertainment-is what we do best. Our designs have earned multiple international awards.
Patrick Harders
Dayloom Founder & Principal Lighting Designer
Multiple Lighting Awards Winners:
2022 Winner
Feature-focused Lighting: Bench Swing in the Woods
2022 Award of Merit
Residential Large Lighting: Catharpin Estate
2023 Winner
Small Residential Lighting: Deep Run Residence
2023 Winner
Feature-focused Lighting: Idyllic Bench in Woods
2025 Winner
Commercial Lighting Project of the Year: The Barns at Wolf Trap
2018 Winner
Landscape Lighting
2020 Honorable Mention
Landscape Lighting: Bull Run Project
2021 Winner
Landscape Lighting: Catharpin Estate
2021 Winner
Landscape Lighting: Willing Warriors Retreat
Multiple Lighting Awards Winners:
2022 Award for feature-focused Lighting (Winner)
2022 Award for residential large lighting (Award of Merit)
2023 Award for small residential lighting (Winner)
2023 Award for feature-focused lighting (Winner)
2025 Award for commercial lighting project of the year
2018 Award for landscape lighting
2020 Honorable mention for landscape lighting (Bull Run Project)
2021 Award for landscape lighting (Catharpin Estate)
2021 Award for landscape lighting (Willing Warriors Retreat)
From Vision to Illumination: The Dayloom Method
- Step 1: Your Custom Lighting Concept. Get started with a professional design concept to visualize your property’s potential.
- Step 2: On-Site Walkthrough. We refine the plan on-site (often in Potomac or Great Falls) to ensure every architectural detail is captured.
- Step 3: Comprehensive Planning. Full-scale engineering plans and optional 3D renderings provide total clarity before installation.
- Step 4: Precision Installation. Our expert team brings the design to life using award-winning fixtures and meticulous craftsmanship.
Frequently Asked
What is the typical cost of a professional landscape lighting system in Northern Virginia?
Most professionally designed landscape lighting systems in Northern Virginia range from $9,000 to $45,000 depending on property size, landscape maturity, and the level of design detail required.
At Dayloom, every lighting system is custom designed and engineered to last decades, not just a few years. The final investment depends on several factors including:
Property size and layout
Landscape maturity and architectural features
Desired lighting effects and coverage
Backyard elements such as pools, patios, and outdoor living areas
To help homeowners plan, most projects fall into these common investment tiers:
$4,500 – $9,500
Lighting for front or rear areas of many standard homes.
$9,500 – $17,500
Lighting for both front and back on many homes in the DMV region.
$17,500 – $43,000
Larger projects with mature landscapes, developed backyards, patios, or pools.
$43,000+
Estate properties, large grounds, or full-property lighting designs.
Two common industry benchmarks homeowners use when budgeting:
Lighting often represents about 10% of a landscaping or hardscaping investment.
Landscape architects often recommend allocating around 1% of the home’s value toward outdoor lighting.
Many Dayloom project showcases include real investment ranges so homeowners can better understand what different scopes of work look like.
What landscape lighting fixtures and products does Dayloom use?
Dayloom installs professional landscape lighting fixtures from Sterling Lighting, a manufacturer founded by our team to produce lighting systems designed to last decades rather than the typical 5–10 year lifespan of most products.
After years of installing systems from major manufacturers, we noticed a common industry problem: many fixtures were expensive but not built to last long-term.
To solve that problem, our founder Patrick Harders helped establish Sterling Lighting in Danville, Virginia.
Sterling luminaires are:
Designed by lighting professionals with over 25 years of installation experience
Used in 10,000+ lighting systems across North America
Engineered for durability, optical precision, and long service life
In 2025, Sterling Lighting received multiple international LIT Design Awards, recognizing its performance, durability, and innovative optical design.
Because Dayloom works directly with the manufacturer, clients receive award-winning fixtures without traditional distribution markups.
Does professional landscape lighting increase home value?
Yes. Professionally designed landscape lighting can increase property value by up to 15% according to research from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
Outdoor lighting is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable features for homeowners because it improves:
Curb appeal
Nighttime usability of outdoor spaces
Perceived safety and security
Overall property presentation
However, not all lighting systems add value.
Low-quality fixtures, poor installation, or outdated systems can actually reduce resale appeal because buyers assume they will need to replace them.
Dayloom systems are designed differently.
Our lighting systems combine:
Award-winning Sterling Lighting luminaires
Installation practices refined over 10,000 projects
Design expertise developed over 25+ years
Another unique advantage: Dayloom warranties are transferable to the next homeowner after inspection, providing reassurance to buyers and protecting long-term property value.
A well-designed lighting system does more than illuminate a property — it enhances how people experience the home.
Does Dayloom provide lighting design drawings, documentation, or renderings?
Yes. Every Dayloom project includes detailed lighting design documentation before installation begins.
Professional lighting systems require the same level of planning as architectural projects, which is why Dayloom begins every project with a comprehensive design phase.
Typical project documentation includes:
Lighting layout drawings showing exact fixture placement
Photometric calculations ensuring proper light levels
Light trespass analysis to prevent glare or spillover
Low-voltage wiring diagrams for safe installation
Control system integration documentation
Final as-built drawings for future upgrades or renovations
This design-first approach ensures every system performs exactly as intended.
Whether you are working with a landscape architect, builder, or managing the project independently, this level of documentation ensures precision and long-term reliability.
What makes Dayloom different from other landscape lighting companies?
Dayloom is a specialized landscape lighting design firm that focuses exclusively on outdoor lighting, allowing us to deliver a level of expertise, engineering, and craftsmanship that general contractors or landscaping companies cannot match.
Unlike companies that offer lighting as a small add-on service, Dayloom focuses entirely on professional lighting design.
Our founder Patrick Harders is one of only five lighting designers in North America with Lighting Certified (LC) accreditation specializing in landscape lighting, the highest certification in the lighting industry.
Over the past decade Dayloom has received:
3 international lighting design awards
8 North American lighting design awards
In addition to designing systems, our team also developed the Sterling Lighting product line, used by lighting designers across North America.
Another distinction is our client satisfaction.
In the communities we serve, Dayloom has earned more 5-star reviews than all competing lighting firms combined.
Our reputation has been built one system at a time, with a focus on long-term performance, craftsmanship, and design excellence.
How can I speak with Dayloom about a landscape lighting project?
Homeowners interested in landscape lighting can schedule a free introductory consultation with the Dayloom team to discuss their property, goals, and potential lighting design options.
During the consultation we typically discuss:
Your property layout and landscape features
Lighting goals such as curb appeal, entertainment spaces, or security
Potential design approaches
Rough investment ranges for similar projects
This call is designed to help homeowners understand what is possible before moving forward with a full design process.
You can schedule a call here: BOOK HERE or contact us directly.
Patrick Harders tired of 'cookie-cutter' lighting. So he created two companies that do it all.
Award-winning designs that stand the test of time.
With Sterling, Harders designs and manufactures his own line of high-quality lighting fixtures at the company’s Danville, Virginia, manufacturing plant.
At Dayloom he has designed and installed over 5,000 lighting systems throughout his career and has won numerous awards for his work.
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Dayloom Wins Commercial Lighting Project of the Year!
Award-winning designs that stand the test of time.
We are honored to announce that The Barns at Wolf Trap has been awarded Commercial Lighting Project of the Year in North America by the AOLP! This stunning property also received Runner-Up for the Overall Landscape Lighting Project in North America for 2025!
Dayloom Presents at the Landscape Lighting Summit in Athens, Greece
Hosted by esteemed lighting designer Eleftheria Deko, this year’s Landscape Lighting Summit offered an inspiring look into her award-winning approach to lighting. Attendees had the opportunity to explore how she blends artistry, technology, and architectural sensitivity to transform iconic spaces—and to rethink the creative potential of light in the built environment.
Dayloom’s own Patrick Harders took the stage to deliver a presentation on the fundamentals of light and their practical application in landscape and architectural lighting. His talk covered key lighting properties, design principles, and real-world techniques for elevating outdoor spaces through thoughtful illumination.
For the stories told
Old world craftmanship
We highlight what makes your house a home.
We offer lighting features and systems to fit any taste and every budget.
Our lighting is subtle, but the results are remarkable. With professionally designed and installed light fixtures, your home can project a welcoming environment before guests even reach the front door.
View stunning transformations of outdoor spaces in Northern Virginia through expert lighting design collaboration.
