3 Tips for Design-First Outdoor Living

Of course, you want an outdoor TV and speakers, but they don’t need to be obtrusive. Building a backyard free of bulky tech distractions requires intentional design, and that’s what Encore excels at.

For homeowners in the Portland and Vancouver areas, a luxury outdoor space should feel like a natural extension of the home’s interior, where technology blends seamlessly, practically being invisible until the moment you want to press the Play button on a song or movie.

Below, we dive into how to curate an al fresco space that prioritizes aesthetics, comfort, and high-performance entertainment. We’ll also take a closer look at our manufacturer partner, SunBrite TV, so keep reading to learn more!

1. The Foundation: Discreet Integration

The hallmark of a professionally designed backyard entertainment area is the removal of visual clutter. Properly integrated technology keeps your focus on the architecture and landscaped areas, and can include:

• Camouflaged Audio: Use rock, planter, or bullet speakers that discreetly hide in your garden areas, mimicking the textures of light fixtures or blending thoroughly. These allow you to blanket the yard in sound without a single black box or wire in sight.
• Ultra-Bright TVs: Whether you install a TV under the shady porch cover or in full sun by the pool, it should withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at it while still delivering a crisp picture.
• Sunken Structures: Consider built-in seating or conversation pits that use low-profile retaining walls. These walls can double as housing for subwoofers or ambient lighting strips, keeping the hardware out of the sightline.
• Invisible Infrastructure: A distraction-free yard requires a rock-solid technology foundation. We recommend burial-grade cabling and outdoor-rated access points for property-wide Wi-Fi. This will ensure your "Summer Gala" playlist never stutters.

2. Architectural Upgrades & Structures

Outdoor structures define zones of entertainment, whether you’re alone, with the family, or you've invited guests over for a hangout. Providing shade and a mounting point for technology is key.

• The Modern Pergola: Aluminum or cedar pergolas serve as the perfect media hub. You can integrate motorized sun- and bug-blocking shades and mount your outdoor TV at the perfect viewing height.
• Multi-Zone Backyards: By creating distinct spaces for dining, lounging, and swimming, you easily create audio zones that you can manage via remote or smartphone. You can play upbeat music by the pool while keeping the volume quiet and conversation-friendly under the patio cover.
• Discreet Power & Control: Replace the pile of remotes or banks of wall switches with a Control4 keypad mounted near the door. One tap activates the "Evening Movie" scene: the lights dim, the pool feature turns on, and the TV powers on.

3. The Centerpiece: SunBrite Outdoor TVs

You should never use an indoor TV outside. Indoor sets lack the brightness to fight glare, aren't sealed against the Pacific Northwest’s humidity, and have their warranties voided the moment they come into contact with the great outdoors.

We partner with SunBrite because their specialized TVs are perfect for outdoor use and work well in practically every lighting condition.

Top Selection Criteria for Selecting Your SunBrite Outdoor TV

1. Brightness (The "Nit" Count):
   • Full Shade (Veranda Series): Ideal for covered porches or sunrooms. These range from 400 nits to 1,000 nits, which is upwards of 50% brighter than indoor TVs and optimized for areas where the sun never hits the screen directly. 
   • Full Sun (Solis and Pro Series): For poolside or open decks. These range from 1,000 - 1,500 nits, up to 4x brighter than indoor TVs and include Extended Solar Tolerance (EST) technology to prevent the black spots that can occur when a screen gets too hot from direct sunlight.
2. Weatherproofing & Safety:
   • Look for an IP55 or IP56 rating, which indicates the enclosure is sealed against rain, snow, dust, and even insects.
   • Temperature Resilience: SunBrite sets are designed to live outside year-round, operating in temperatures from -24°F to 122°F, depending on the model.
3. Safety & Durability:
   • High-end outdoor TVs feature powder-coated aluminum exteriors to prevent rust.
   • For active areas (near a pool or fire pit), select a model with a tempered glass shield to protect the screen from stray frisbees or splashes.

Experience a Resort-Worthy Backyard with Encore

The difference between DIY patio entertainment and a professionally curated atmosphere is something you have to feel to understand. We invite you to visit our showroom to see some of these solutions for yourself—contact our team here to get started!