Outdoor lighting is an easy way to add curb appeal, increase security, and make it easier for guests to navigate your home. However, determining which light best suits your home’s exterior design can be challenging. First, consider the style of your home. Lights should complement the overall architecture, not clash with it.

Contemporary

Whether moving in or updating your home, a well-planned exterior lighting system can enhance curb appeal and showcase landscaping. When done correctly, it may transform your house into a welcoming place for visitors.

Contemporary outdoor lighting promotes streamlined and minimalist aesthetics. These fixtures have geometric touches to improve consistency and avoid a cluttered look.

These fixtures are commonly found on front entryways but can be used in large areas like porches and gazebos. They’re also “wet-rated” to withstand exposure to rain and snow. They’re typically mounted on walls or in a ceiling. They’re a popular choice for modern homes.

Traditional

The right exterior lighting can deliver a cohesive visual appeal to your home. Picking the right fixture can be almost as important as selecting the right house style.

For example, traditional sconce lighting can accentuate artisans’ and colonial homes. Similarly, classic onion lights can work well over garage doors on Cape Cod and farmhouse homes.

Flush mounts also work for many different styles of houses. Use the shape of your home as a guide when selecting the right flush mount to match your front door.

Lanterns

One of the best prep items you can own is a high-quality lantern as a room-filling backup in a power outage. The exterior lighting Winter Park is ultralight and compact, has a wide range of lighting modes, and features carabiners at the top and bottom for suspending it. Candle and kerosene lanterns require regular refills, present a fire risk, and can produce carbon monoxide in some cases. LED lanterns are rechargeable (with solar or batteries), bright, and safer than candles and kerosene. Crank emergency lanterns are also a good option, but get a reliable model that won’t break easily.

Security

While it may seem obvious to illuminate entryways, it’s also important to light areas where people walk around your property. Well-lit areas give residents and guests a clear view of the grounds, making them less likely to trip over curbs or stairs. This functional lighting can also prevent trespassers from sneaking onto your property undetected.

Security lights are typically positioned to resemble decorative porch lights or lanterns to deliver a coordinated visual appeal to your home. However, function trumps fashion in these lights, as their primary purpose is to scare off trespassers. This means they will often be brighter than other exterior lighting options.

Landscape

Adding landscape lighting to your home creates a welcoming ambiance and expresses your style. Illuminating regions that would otherwise be impossible to notice, it’s wonderful for increasing security.

You should choose more than one fixture, depending on the size of your walkway and the style you prefer.

 For example, traditional path lights evenly distribute light around their circumference, while contemporary or direct path lights illuminate specific points of interest. Bollard path lights are a popular option for larger pathways.

There are numerous additional choices, such as spot and floodlights. Add these between bushes, highlight your brick front entryway or illuminate a garden or firepit area to create a layered look.

Light Posts

When done right, exterior lighting is a great way to direct visitors where they need to go and adds major curb appeal. But walking down the lighting aisle at your local home store is overwhelming with countless options, styles, finishes, bells, and whistles. Whether you want sconces by your front door or a thin wall mount by your garage, the style you choose should complement the architecture of your house. Look for wet-rated fixtures to ensure they can withstand exposure to the elements. Also, pay attention to the post diameter you’ll need based on your chosen institution.