Choosing Timeless Exterior Lighting (A Designer Guide)
I hope you had a great weekend! The weather here was so amazing, and I’ve been in outdoor project mode… power washing, pulling out our patio furniture, readying the garden, and getting our exterior and outdoor living to-do list in order. One priority I have for this season is to clean and update some of our exterior lighting. Click through for my top timeless exterior light fixture picks (sconces, lanterns, pendants, and landscaping lighting)– as well as for my best selection tips! Click through for my designer guide…
If you’re interested in touring all of my outdoor living spaces, be sure to click the link for the complete tour. We’re still pulling things out for the season ahead, but they’ll look the same as last year once I’m all finished. Ready to chat outdoor lighting?
Exterior Lighting Selection Tips
I felt like a check list or comprehensive questions to ponder was the best way to convey which light fixtures will work best for your exterior space…
- First, is the fixture wet or damp rated? Wet means it can be exposed to any element (rain, snow, etc). Damp rated means it can exist outside in a protected area (like a covered porch). Dry rated fixtures are not a suitable choice for outdoor spaces.
- Is the light fixture decorative, functional, or both? In other words, how bright do you need the light to be? Is it simply to add a warm glow, or does it need to illuminate a walkway?
- Are there are other light fixtures within the vignette? For example, perhaps a covered porch contains sconces on each side of the entry door, as well as a pendant hanging from the portico… while different types of fixtures, they should feel cohesive or complementary.
- Does your exterior lighting plan feel layered? Just like an interior lighting plan, the objective is to mix & match different fixture types (sconces, pendants, lanterns, post lights, landscaping lights, etc) for a well-rounded and well-designed exterior. Check out this post on tips for layering lighting like a designer!
- Is the finish or color suitable for your home? Not only should the fixture finish be durable, but it should have enough contrast with your home exterior. I prefer black or bronze exterior lights because they look good against my brick home, as well as against my white painted brick, and white storage shed. Contrast is key!
- Is the fixture scale appropriate? Just like accounting for furniture size when creating a floor plan, the light fixture should be sized for the vignette in which it exists. Here’s an example: if your front door is oversized (like my double french doors), the vignette will require sconces or porch lights that are larger or oversized to feel balanced. Check out this post on tips for getting scale right!
My Top Picks
The following options vary in size, price, and aesthetic… but all are classic picks that won’t go out of style. Black and bronze look best with my home and aesthetic, so for the sake of simplicity- that’s what I selected for these collages… but the majority of these fixtures come in multiple finishes, so be sure to click through to find the finish most appropriate for your own home!
Click directly on each light fixture below to be redirected.
Exterior Sconces
These are ideal for porch lights, flanking garage doors, alongside entry doors, on exterior buildings- like a shed or pool house, and are optimal for patios.
Exterior Lanterns
Lanterns are charming for any aesthetic! You could also install these as porch lights, flanking garage doors, alongside an entry door, on any exterior billing, shed, or pool house.
Exterior Pendants
Where might you install a pendant outside? Beneath a covered porch, patio, portico, balcony, pergola, or any type of exterior structural overhang. Does anyone remember my carport makeover?
Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting is something we’ve yet to tackle at our house, but it’s high on our priority list this spring & summer. These intentionally placed lights are perfect for illuminating walkways, highlighting architectural elements, and light washing general outdoor areas.
FAQ
Of course! You can find my front porch lanterns here. They’re an amazing budget-friendly option with a great sense of scale. Highly recommend!
No- they need to be specific to exterior installation, or wet-rated. Outdoor lights are weather resistant and more durable than interior fixtures. Sometimes you can get away with certain indoor rated fixtures in a very protected area, but it’s always best to search for exterior rated (damp and wet) fixtures for that specific application.
They’re still working perfectly, and I love them! We don’t even have the solar panels attached to the roof of the shed… they’re simply sitting inside the window and they illuminate as soon as it darkens. These solar sconces are under $100 and are another great budget find!
Related
Looking for more exterior, curb appeal, or lighting related posts? I’ll link some helpful ones for you below…
- 10 Ideas for Enhancing Curb Appeal
- Grandeur vs Emtek Exterior Door Hardware
- My Outdoor Living Tour
- Our New Tiled Roof
- Our Shed Build, Supply List, and Budget
- A-Frame Cabin Deck Makeover
- Transforming Our Side Yard
- How to Install Window Flower Boxes
- Easy DIY Globe Lights
- Porch Lights Under $150
- Custom Outdoor Seating DIY
- How to Install a Privacy Fence
- How to Choose House Numbers
I hope you liked this one! Feel free to leave any lighting (interior or exterior) questions you may have for me below. I’m always happy to help! Lighting is one of those things that drastically improves the look of a vignette. It’s an easy way to make a statement, change the overall aesthetic, or improve functionality. What’s on your outdoor project list this spring and summer? Be sure to check back on Wednesday for my big Basement Media Room reveal!