Side by side
| Node lights (dots) | Continuous line | |
|---|---|---|
| Up close | A row of individual lights, about one per foot | One smooth line. The LEDs sit behind a diffuser, so you don't see them |
| From the street at night | A dotted outline, plus light washing down the wall below | A clean outline that traces the roof edge |
| In daylight | A slim track under the roof edge | A slim channel under the roof edge |
| Light on the walls | More. Each light throws a soft scallop down the wall | Less. The line is about the outline |
| Color effects | Chases and patterns read light by light | Color flows smoothly along the line |
| Price, installed | $32 a foot ($27 for our first 10 founding homes) | $100 a foot ($85 for founding homes) |
| Best for | Washing the whole house, holidays, game days | Architecture, a quiet expensive look, code-restricted areas |
When dots are the better choice
- You want the walls lit. Node lights under the eave wash light down the siding or brick, so the whole front glows. A line mostly draws the outline.
- You love effects. Chases, twinkles and team-color patterns read best light by light.
- You want the most house for the money. Nodes cost about a third as much per foot.
When a continuous line is the better choice
- The house has strong lines. Stone, brick, steep gables and modern horizontals look drawn, not decorated.
- You want warm white most nights. A line reads as part of the architecture, which is what makes a house look expensive after dark.
- Your city restricts outdoor light. In Nichols Hills, warm, shielded light aimed down is the rule. A warm continuous line tucked under the roof edge is designed for that.
Why not both
The most common pairing is a continuous line across the front, the side the street sees, with node lights on the sides and back. Both run on one app and one schedule, so the holiday scene and the weeknight warm white change together.
Brightness depends on the strip
Every continuous strip looks continuous, but they are not equally bright. Cheaper strip gives the same smooth look with far less light. We use high-output strip and list its rated output, in lumens per foot, on your quote so you can compare.
Who sells which
Every major permanent-light brand sold in the OKC metro, including Trimlight, JellyFish, Oelo and Gemstone, sells individual lights. See how those four brands compare. We install node lights and a continuous line, so we can design either, or both, for your house.
Next: see continuous-line lighting in depth, or get a free night mockup of your own house with both looks and a price for each.
