How to Get Your Backyard Summer-Ready in North Carolina: Home Integration Ideas

Summer in North Carolina hits different. The days are long, the sweet tea is cold, and your backyard suddenly becomes the most important room of the house. Your outdoor space deserves a little upgrade before it takes center stage for your pool parties, weekend cookouts, bonfires, and those miscellaneous summer nights that turn into core memories. 

At Connected Home Inc., we help homeowners in Leland and surrounding areas make their indoor and outdoor living smarter, more functional, and way more fun. Here’s how to get your backyard summer-ready without overthinking it (and without blowing your entire vacation budget on one fancy speaker). 

Light It Up: Outdoor Lighting That Works Overtime 

You know that moment when the sun sets just as the party gets good? Let’s not do that this year. 

Landscape Lighting That Works Hard Behind the Scenes

Outdoor lighting isn't just about ambiance (though it absolutely sets the vibe)—it’s also about safety and peace of mind. We install landscape lighting that does double duty: 

• Illuminate walkways, garden paths, and pool decks to help prevent trips and slips 

• Create a warm, inviting glow for hangouts and extend the life of your space well beyond daylight hours 

• Highlight steps, stairs, and changes in elevation for safer movement at night 

• Add security with motion-sensor lights that automatically turn on when someone approaches 

• Use fixtures designed to withstand North Carolina’s weather—rain, humidity, even those wild summer storms 

• Deter unwanted visitors (human or otherwise) with well-lit entryways and backyards 

  
  

Smart Lighting Control 

Because flipping switches is so last season: 

• Schedule lights to turn on automatically as the sun sets 

• Create lighting "scenes" right from your phone—Movie Night, Pool Party, Grill Master Mode, you name it 

• Use energy-efficient LED fixtures that shine bright and save you money

  
  

Bonus: Lighting that turns on just as the mosquitoes start getting bold? Yes, please. 

Summer Soundtrack: Outdoor Audio That Blends In 

A solid playlist is the heart of any summer gathering. But blasting a Bluetooth speaker from the kitchen window isn’t the best move. 

High-Quality, Weather-Resistant Speakers 

• Hidden discreetly in your landscape (but powerful enough to feel like a concert) 

• Built to handle NC humidity, rainstorms, and even pollen season without skipping a beat 

Zoned Audio Control 

• Adjust volume in different areas: soft background music on the deck, louder vibes near the pool 

• Control everything from your phone. No more "Who's got the aux?" 

  
  

Big Screen Energy: Outdoor Entertainment 

Want to watch the game, binge your favorite series, or host an outdoor movie night with the neighbors? We’ve got you covered. 

Outdoor TVs & Projector Setups 

• Bright, anti-glare screens that stay visible even in full sun (we love SunBriteTV for this) 

• Weatherproof, durable, and made for permanent outdoor use (so no more dragging the TV inside when clouds roll in) 

  
  

Add-on Features 

• Integrated outdoor speakers and subwoofers to bring theater-quality sound outside 

• Lighting control for that true movie-theater ambiance 

  
  

Pro Tip: Pair this with comfy seating and a popcorn machine, and you might never go back inside. 

Smarter Yard = Easier Summer 

If your dream summer doesn’t include running around flipping switches and checking timers, we’re right there with you. 

Smart Irrigation & Lighting Automation 

• Water your lawn based on weather forecasts (not guesswork) 

• Automate lighting to match sunset times (which, fun fact, shift more than you think throughout the summer!) 

  
  

Outdoor Wi-Fi That Actually Works 

• Extend your home's network to patios, pools, and fire pits with a reliable WAP (wireless access point) device 

• Perfect for Zoom calls from the lounge chair, or streaming Spotify by the grill 

  
  

Pool & Spa Control 

• Adjust temperature, jets, and lighting from your phone—without leaving your lounge chair 

• Set pre-programmed modes (like "Relax" or "Party") and let the system do the rest

Small Changes, Big Impact 

You don’t have to overhaul your entire backyard to make it feel like a resort. Even just adding landscape lighting, a couple of built-in speakers, and a smart irrigation system can take things from "eh" to "can we just stay home this weekend?" 

Ready to Create the Backyard You've Been Dreaming Of? 

At Connected Home Inc., we help homeowners across North Carolina design and install custom home integration systems, inside and out. If you're ready to make your summer smarter, easier, and a whole lot more fun, we’d love to help you get started. 

Contact us today to chat about your backyard goals or visit our Services page to learn more about what we do!