Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting in Austin, TX
Safer 12V systems, brass and copper LED fixtures, and smart controllers, designed and installed for Austin homes by a local team with 20+ years working Hill Country properties.
Low-voltage landscape lighting is the residential standard in Austin for a reason. A transformer steps standard 120V power down to a safe 12V, so the cable that runs to your fixtures can be shallow-buried at about six inches, worked around when you dig or trim, and extended later without tearing up the yard. We design every system around your property, lay out the path runs, accent placements, and load math, then install brass or copper LED fixtures that will outlast cheaper aluminum gear in the Texas climate. Pair it with a smart controller and the whole system runs on a dusk-to-dawn schedule you control from your phone. Detailed information on outdoor lighting energy use is published by the U.S. Department of Energy, and we follow DarkSky International guidance to keep glare and skyglow under control.
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- 500+ Projects Completed
- 19+ Years Experience
- 5/5 Average Rating
Complete Landscape Lighting Services
Landscape Lighting Installation
Full system installs with transformer, cable, and fixture placement designed for your property.
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Path Lighting
Safe, even illumination along walkways, steps, and driveways for nighttime use.
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Accent Lighting
Up-lights, down-lights, and feature lighting that highlight trees, stonework, and architecture.
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Landscape Lighting Designer
Browse our full landscape lighting service hub for design, installation, and add-ons.
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Our Process
Site Walk & Load Plan
We walk the property with you at dusk when possible, talk through what you want lit, count the trees, paths, steps, and architectural features that should glow, and put together a fixture count and total wattage load so we can size the right transformer for the job.
Transformer & Cable Design
We map cable runs, calculate voltage drop for each run, and choose 12/2 or 10/2 cable based on length and load. On Hill Country lots we often split the system into multiple feeds so every fixture, near or far, gets the voltage it needs for a consistent look.
Install & Connect
We mount the transformer, trench cable to a shallow six-inch depth, set brass or copper fixtures, and make watertight connections. The line-voltage side is handled by a licensed electrician if a new outlet or hardwire connection is needed.
Program & Test
We pair the system with a photocell, timer, or smart controller, then dial in each fixture at night so the beams hit the right targets. You get a quick walk-through on the app, the schedule, and how to add fixtures later if you want to expand.
Professional Lighting Services
Travis, Luis and the crew did an amazing job on our front yard landscaping. Travis had a vision that we could've never come up with on our own. They were communicative, hard working and had incredible attention to detail. We were really impressed with our experience and will… Read more
We’ve been very impressed with Travis and his team at Thrive Landscaping. From the initial design consultation through revisions and installation, the entire process was smooth, thorough, and high quality. We needed an HOA-compliant design that improved drainage and reduced… Read more
Travis was very responsive on the pricing . Luis and the crew did an amazing job and fixed a lot of problems that the prior firm had created. Very pleasant group and seem to want to please clients.
Great people providing outstanding service. Our yard has never looked better. And best of all, they stand behind their work. If something needs attention after the job is finished, they’re right on it.
After interviewing several companies, we chose Thrive Landscape to create some hardscaping for our back yard. They installed stone paving for our patio and pool area, a gravel area for our fire ring, and a raised gravel pad for a greenhouse. Everything looks great! We had a good… Read more
Thrive replaced some dying plants in a white rock bed and left it clean and beautiful. You would never know they had been in the rock bed at all - no dirt, no disruption - they left it better than they found it!
Our neighbor a few houses down had Thrive do his property and we liked how it looked, so we decided to contact them to see what it would cost to do our house. Wanted to get rid of the sand burrs and decided to do stone, rock and mulch for the whole yard in front of the house. I… Read more
We have used Thrive landscape for several projects over the past two years. They have delivered outstanding service, careful attention to detail, and impeccable service and care after the project was complete. Travis Odom is outstanding, and his vision helped us transform our… Read more
We were very pleased with Thrive from the initial bid to the completion of the project. We had our front yard and backyard landscaped. Communication was excellent and when a couple issues occurred they were quickly resolved. The onsite crew was great to work with and were… Read more
Excellent service and advice. Knowledgeable, on time, communicative owner, and crew. This is the place you want to call for your landscaping needs! We are extremely satisfied with the outcome and will use the service again. Thank you Travis and crew.
I was really pleased with Thrive. Travis arrived exactly on time for the quote, had a great design, and was able to start quickly once the plans were approved by my HOA. The crew was polite and worked quickly. They left the whole worksite very neat, and my front yard now looks… Read more
Had grass that was dead, Travis and his team transformed my backyard in a few days!
I am a repeat customer of Travis's. He recently transformed my front yard. The design was perfect for what we wanted to accomplish and the crew did high quality work which included clean-up. I will keep coming back to him in the future.
Thrive is a very professional and excellent business - they did a wonderful job on my project and I couldn't be more pleased with the end results. Will definitely use them again!
I had an outstanding experience with Thrive. Quality, honesty, value and customer service were phenomenal! Exceeded my expectations!
Swapped out black stone that were killing my plants with mulch. Added a bunch of plants and sod. Also got my irrigation and stone walkway complete. I say it is all looking great.
I don't know where to begin. Travis and his team provided an amazing landscape design, strategy, and results on our backyard for my 50th birthday celebration. Travis was patient and very detailed with his quote and made sure he covered every detail with me. Once we decided to… Read more
I’ve done two projects with these guys to include a landscaping project where I added sod, metal planters, and plants. The second was a fence repair and both turned out great. They were fairly priced, scheduled quickly, executed on time, and worked through my lunch list at the… Read more
We chose Thrive Landscaping after a friend of ours used them for their own backyard and we could not be happier with our decision. Travis and team were incredibly professional, thorough and communicative the entire time. They added new grass, flowers, gravel and lights to our… Read more
Travis with Thrive Landscape & Design did an amazing job redesigning our backyard! They were hard-working, timely, responsive and appreciated their craftsmanship they put into the project. The space looks better than we imagined — highly recommend!
Wow! Travis and his team did an amazing job refreshing our back yard! They were professional, prompt, respectful and above all had an eye for detail! It was an absolute pleasure working with them to create our dream back yard! I highly recommend Thrive Landscape and DESIGN… Read more
Our project was the tear-out, re-design and rebuild of a fairly substantial deck. Great experience with Travis Odom and Thrive Landscape. Travis is congenial, professional and great to work with. The guys on site did excellent work. We’re very happy with the finished product and… Read more
Mr Travis Odom made an excellent, unique, and original cedar fence design that we ended up using.
Great design and construction for my landscaping project. Travis and his crew were very attentive and detailed. They also took on board our feedback and we’re very willing to evolve their designs.
Travis did a great job fixing the drainage along the side of my house! Was very responsive, timely, and reasonably priced. Would reach out to again for any future landscaping needs.
Travis was very responsive and did an excellent job designing our difficult yard. We LOVE the end result and can’t wait to do phase two. Can’t say enough how happy we are with the design!
Signs Low-Voltage Is Right for You
Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
Most Austin homes are a fit for a 12V LED system. If any of the below apply, low-voltage is the safest, most flexible, and lowest-maintenance way to light your property.
Request A Quote12V cable buries at about six inches and threads through planted beds without tearing the yard apart. Ideal if your landscape is already mature.
Everything past the transformer runs at a safe 12V, so it does not require a permit or licensed electrician for the branch wiring in most Austin-area jurisdictions.
Pair a 12V LED system with a Wi-Fi or smart controller and you get dusk-to-dawn automation, app scheduling, and 30,000 to 50,000 hour bulb life.
Why Choose Thrive Landscape and Design?
Brass & Copper, Not Aluminum
We install fixtures that hold up to Texas sun, rain, and irrigation overspray for decades, not the cheap aluminum gear that fades in a few seasons.
Real Voltage-Drop Engineering
On Hill Country lots, cable length matters. We do the load math and use heavier gauge or multiple feeds so every fixture is consistent end to end.
Smart-Home Ready
We integrate with Wi-Fi controllers, Lutron, Hunter Hydrawise, and Alexa so your lighting runs alongside the rest of your smart-home stack.
Built to Grow
We size transformers and cable with headroom so you can add fixtures, relocate lights, or extend to a future patio or pool without redoing the system.
Austin’s Go-To For Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
We design and install low-voltage LED lighting systems across Austin and the surrounding Hill Country, from compact city lots to large acreage properties.
- Lakeway
- Driftwood
- Westlake Hills
- Round Rock
- Lake Point
- Bee Cave
- Shoal Creek
- River Place
- Cedar Park
- Steiner Ranch
- Pflugerville
- & more
Dripping Springs Hill Country Xeriscape
Spicewood Front Xeriscape
Smithville Ranch
Lakeway Trellis & Patio
Fayetteville Garden District Style
Driftwood Garden Estate
Bastrop Lost-Pines Courtyard Design
Westlake Hills Modern Terrace
Round Rock Turf Checkered Garden
Steiner Ranch Outdoor Kitchen & Pool Retreat
Shoal Creek Terrace Revival
Bee Cave Backyard Under the Oaks
Riverplace Shaded Garden Escape
Frequently Asked Questions
Low-voltage lighting runs at 12 volts instead of standard 120V household power. A transformer steps the voltage down, so the cable feeding your fixtures is safe to handle, shallow-bury, and work around when you dig or trim. It is the standard for residential landscape lighting in Austin because it is safer, easier to retrofit, and pairs with long-life LED bulbs that run cool in Texas heat.
For the 12V wiring after the transformer, no electrician or permit is required in most Austin-area jurisdictions. The transformer plugs into an existing exterior GFCI outlet or is hardwired by a licensed electrician on the line-voltage side. If your home does not have an exterior outlet near the planned transformer location, we coordinate with a licensed electrician to add one.
Quality outdoor-rated LED lamps are rated for 30,000 to 50,000 hours of use. At a typical dusk-to-dawn run of about 10 hours per night, that is roughly 8 to 14 years before replacement. We use sealed, gasketed LED fixtures that handle Austin summer heat, humidity, and the occasional ice storm without premature failure.
Yes. Larger properties just need careful load planning. We use heavier 10/2 cable for long runs, split the system into multiple feeds or hub points, and size transformers from 150W up to 600W or more. Voltage drop math drives every cable run, so each fixture gets the right voltage and looks consistent from the closest light to the farthest.
We install brass and copper fixtures on almost every job. They hold up to Texas sun, rain, and irrigation overspray for decades and develop a natural patina rather than failing. Aluminum fixtures fade, pit, and corrode within a few years in our climate. The upfront cost difference pays back the first time you would have replaced cheaper hardware.
Yes. Modern low-voltage transformers support Wi-Fi controllers, app scheduling, and voice control through Alexa or Google Home. We also integrate with Lutron, Hunter Hydrawise, and other major platforms so your lighting can run alongside your irrigation and shades. You can set schedules, scenes, and dusk-to-dawn automation from your phone.
That is one of the biggest advantages of low-voltage. As long as the transformer has spare wattage capacity and the cable run can support the added load, you can extend the system, relocate fixtures, or add a new zone for a future patio or pool area. We design every system with headroom in mind so it can grow with your landscape.
Call (512) 503-1935 or use our contact form. We will schedule a free on-site walk-through, talk through what you want lit, and put together a written design and itemized quote. Most quotes come back within a few business days of the walk-through.
