Alliance Field Notes from Adam Alfaro
First published in Alliance Field Notes. Your regional reps, your real-world lighting experts.
Southern California isn’t one lighting market — it’s three.
Desert, Coastal, Inland.
Each one has its own look, climate, and expectations, which is why SoCal landscape lighting trends vary so much from one zip code to the next.
Contractors in this region need lighting that can shift with the job.
Color temp changes, dimming, modern fixtures, corrosion resistance, hardscape options — SoCal demands all of it.
And that’s exactly where the Alliance bt system shines.
Desert: 3000K, Modern Lines, and Higher Output
The Desert submarket includes: Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Coachella, Indio, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City
Desert landscapes are naturally warm. A default 2700K fixture tends to disappear into the “sepia-tone” environment.
That’s why the trend here leans heavily toward:
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3000K or brighter whites that stand out
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Sharp, modern-angled fixtures
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Black finishes that match contemporary architecture
With the bt system, you can dial in those higher color temps instantly. No guessing. No swapping lamps. If the homeowner wants the cozy sepia tone one day and the modern desert look another day, they can do it all in the app.
Coastal: Mixed Architecture and Color-Friendly Installs
The Coastal submarket includes: San Diego, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Del Mar, La Jolla, Coronado, San Clemente, Dana Point
Coastal SoCal is all over the map — Spanish one home, ultra-modern the next. You’ll see uplights, downlights, hanging fixtures, in-grounds… sometimes all on one street.
Trends here include:
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RGBW color use for entertainment and seasonal lighting
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Adaptable control (phone-based + dimming)
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Fixtures that hold up to salt air
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Flexible beam angles and outputs
The bt fixtures hit all of these needs.
Color when they want it. Warm white when they don’t.
And solid brass that actually survives the coastal environment.
inland: Resort-Style Backyards and Hardscape Everything
The Inland submarket includes: Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Winchester, Riverside
Inland homeowners pull influence from both the desert and the coast. You get:
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Desert-style planting
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Coastal palms
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Larger backyards
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More hosting and entertaining
So the lighting trends reflect that:
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Hardscape fixtures in retaining walls and BBQ islands
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Tape lighting under caps and seating
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bt for mood lighting, dimming, and holiday scenes
As Adam puts it:
“RV parking in the driveway is usually my sign it’s a host home — they’re ready to set a vibe with their bt fixtures.”
Inland installs are often where bt really flexes.
Dimming for ambiance.
Color scenes for entertaining.
Control from anywhere on the property.
So What’s the Best Fit Across All Three Markets?
Every region has its own style, but the trend across all of SoCal is the same:
Contractors want one system that can adapt to any job.
That’s why the Alliance bt system is the go-to choice here:
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Tunable whites for Desert jobs
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RGBW flexibility for Coastal installs
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Hardscape-friendly options for Inland
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Dimming and scene control for entertaining
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Solid brass durability in harsh climates
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Easy retrofits with bt-ALLY
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Competitive price point
Three markets.
Three completely different styles.
One system that handles all of them without changing your process.
Adam Alfaro has represented Alliance in Southern California since 2019, covering territories from the desert to Southwest Riverside County and San Diego. When he’s not working with contractors, he’s usually doing something sports-related with his wife, two sons, and young daughter — or working out, playing basketball, soccer, or getting in a round of golf.
Alliance Field Notes is a regular series we publish, featuring insights from our regional lighting experts.
Not in Adam's territory? Find your local rep here and we'll get you connected.
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