Exterior Wall Lights Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Outdoor wall lighting is a great way to add a welcoming glow to front porches, illuminate walkways and light up trees and plants in the yard. It’s also a smart safety measure to help family and guests find their way around at night.

You’ll find a variety of wall lights in a range of styles, from traditional lantern looks to inventive contemporary sconces. Some options feature dimmers so you can adjust the brightness to suit your needs.

Lighting the Entryway

A good entryway light illuminates the path to your front door and helps guests find their way. It also adds dramatic flair and elevates the curb appeal of your home. Exterior wall lights are a great option for lighting your entryway. They come in many different styles and finishes and can match the colors of your siding, roof, door and landscaping. They’re also available with a variety of glass types and are UL-listed for damp locations.

For a traditional look, try a pair of outdoor wall sconces like the Sea Gull Classico. These sconces feature a traditional coach lamp design and a solid brass finish. The clear beveled glass highlights the bulbs for a beautiful, bright appearance. The fixture is UL-listed for damp locations so you can place it by your front door or in any other area where you want to make a style statement.

If you want a more modern touch, consider a triple-light outdoor wall mount. These fixtures are versatile and a natural fit for any entryway with a double front door. Use them with a 23- to 40-watt LED bulb (100- to 125-watt equivalent).

When you choose a wall light for your LED Wall Light entryway, it’s important to ensure it’s proportional to the height of your front door. Our guide on how to choose the correct size outdoor lights will help you determine proportional dimensions based on your front door’s height.

Illuminating Pathways

Whether you’re looking for illumination on the way to your front door or want to highlight other natural and man-made features in your yard, pathway lighting offers both style and functionality. Path lights come in a range of designs, including modern ones that are cube-shaped and conceal the light bulbs to make them more minimalist. Some feature a black or white finish that stands out against the wall or blends in with its color to match your home’s siding.

If you’re using pathway lighting to illuminate a sidewalk or driveway, consider the size of the space and the length of the walkway before deciding how many fixtures to install. You’ll want to space them about three to six feet apart, so they provide even illumination without overpowering the path and posing a safety risk for passersby. You can also choose to use a narrower beam (beam spread) for a more concentrated effect that’s better for shrubbery or other taller features.

For a more unique look, you can opt for post or pier lights instead of pathway lights. These typically sit on top of posts, fences or columns and offer more coverage than other types of outdoor lighting. They work well for illuminating long walkways or other areas you want to make visible after dark. They’re also good for accenting large planters and other man-made features.

Illuminating the Yard

If you have unique outdoor features that add value to your home, like garden decorations, water or pool features, wall art, patio furniture or a deck canopy, they won’t shine in the dark without proper lighting. Exterior sconces and wall lights make it easy for guests to see these statements pieces, and they’re also an effective deterrent for criminal activity at night.

Outdoor sconces mount on top of flat vertical surfaces and come in several styles. You can find ones that are designed to look reminiscent of old-fashioned lanterns and others with sleek modern shapes. Many of these lights also offer a variety of finishes that work with your home’s siding, from rich reds and blues to soft greens and grays.

Depending on where you plan exterior wall lights to install your fixture, it’s important to consider ADA guidelines when choosing an outdoor light. This law regulates how much a fixture can protrude from a wall, and you’ll need to make sure the top of your light is no higher than 20% of the height of the door frame or molding.

Some outdoor lighting is programmable, which allows you to set your fixtures to turn on at dusk and off at dawn. This is an effective deterrent against crime, and it’s especially helpful if you have young children who play outside after dark.

Enhancing the Home’s Aesthetics

The right modern lights will enhance your home’s look, adding character and creating a warm ambiance. They also provide a safety benefit by helping family and friends find their way to your house after dark. If you have a patio or deck, illuminate it to make it more welcoming for guests and to create a cozy evening ambiance.

When selecting a light fixture, consider its size and design to ensure it complements your home’s architecture and landscaping. If your house has a rustic or traditional feel, lantern-style wall lights are a great option. For homes with a more contemporary look, sleek cylinder fixtures are available in finishes like brushed nickel or chrome and come in a range of color temperatures to suit your desired ambiance.

There are also a variety of lighting functions to choose from, including motion sensors and timers. These can help you save energy by reducing the amount of time your fixtures are on and will turn them off automatically when it’s not needed.

For even more energy-efficiency, opt for LED technology. These fixtures use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last longer, resulting in significant savings on your power bill. Additionally, you can choose fixtures with a built-in sensor to control the brightness of the light depending on whether it’s needed for safety or ambiance.