Matt Romero didn’t plan to go into the outdoor lighting business, but when he wanted lights for his own house, he couldn’t find anything he liked. So he founded the company he was looking for. Since March 2021, his company, Lux Lights, has installed permanent, app-controlled lighting that’s nearly invisible by day and changes with a tap for any holiday. “No need to ever climb a ladder again,” he says.
What brought you back to Utah?
My wife and I are from here, but we spent eight years away while she went through medical school, internships, and residency. She’s a pediatrician, and when she got a job at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, we were excited to come home.
Why did you decide to start a business?
After years in apartments, we bought a house, and permanent lights were going to be our housewarming gift to ourselves. I love lights, but nothing I saw made me happy. One company’s demo was clunky; another’s lights looked awful. I knew what I wanted, so I decided to make it available for everyone. I started sourcing components, testing different lighting systems and figuring out how to build the experience I wanted for my own home. I got a business loan, placed my first order, and Lux Lights grew from there.
Was there a learning curve?
Absolutely. Installation isn’t easy, and when I started, I honestly hoped my neighbors wouldn’t ask me to do their homes! Now we take on everything—from the simple to the most complicated projects.
What sets Lux Lights apart?
It starts with the light. Many systems only use RGB (red, green, and blue) lights, which can create all sorts of colors, but the white is artificial. Our RGBW lights add a dedicated warm-white chip. Warm white is what many homeowners prefer for everyday architectural lighting, and having a dedicated white chip makes a huge difference. We also manufacture our own aluminum track and customize the profile and color to each home, so the system looks like it was built into the house rather than added afterward.
Then there’s service. Our lights are rated for 100,000 hours, but if something goes wrong, we don’t disappear once we’ve been paid. Service is a top priority for us.
What do you enjoy most?
I love being part of something fun. This isn’t like selling solar or pest control. People want the festive, fun look that outdoor lighting brings. And I love that our team genuinely cares about the people we serve.
What’s next for Lux Lights?
Innovation is in our DNA. We’re developing our own app based on our experience and customer feedback. We want everyone from a 90-year-old to a five-year-old to be able to use the Lux Lights app. We want to be a leader, and we’re in this for the long haul. I see our future as a technology company that happens to install lights.
Lux Lights installs permanent, app-controlled lighting that’s nearly invisible by day and changes with a tap for any holiday.