ShareYour outdoor space should feel like your home: comfortable, cozy, and stylish—whatever the time of day. During the day, you want it to be beautiful so you can enjoy your landscaping, patio, or pool. After sunset, you want a cozy, welcoming atmosphere to relax with your family or entertain guests. And what better way to achieve this than with some pretty lights? With the right outdoor lighting, you can create an inviting atmosphere that you can enjoy long after the sun has set.
Where should outdoor lights be placed to create a welcoming atmosphere? Read this article for our best outdoor lighting placement ideas for illuminating your home.
Table of Contents
Outdoor Lighting Placement Ideas
Create a Welcoming Porch
The front porch is the first thing people see before they walk through your door. Front porch lighting, therefore, has two functions: it helps you feel safe at night and makes your home welcoming for guests.
You can achieve both by removing any clutter from the porch (leaving just a few potted plants, a bench, and a doormat) and by adding a ceiling light or wall-mounted sconces to both sides of the door. The sconces should be bright enough so you can still perform tasks like opening the door, but keep them above shoulder height so no direct light comes into your field of vision.
Show the Way with Post Lights
Pathway lighting is used to illuminate driveways, fences, stone paths, and grass verges to help you find your way around your outdoor space. However, they can also help create a magical scene, illuminating your plant beds as you head toward the patio. There are many styles of lights you can use for this purpose but solar-powered post lights are the most practical, as they are easy to install and can be placed evenly along the path or driveway. You can make your pathways pretty but functional with fixtures that are bright enough to see where you step, but also add a touch of intrigue, such as post lights with colored or textured glass.
Make Your Garage Safer with Lights
The garage is one of those areas of your home where function comes before aesthetics, as you want your family members to arrive home safely. Floodlights and motion-sensor outdoor lights can help illuminate this area. Motion sensors are also a great idea if you want to save money, as they only light up when someone comes home. However, you can also install outdoor sconces or barn lights above the garage door to make your garage lighting not only functional but also beautiful!
Add Patio Lights for Style and Flair
Whether alone or with guests, the patio is the space you use most in the evening, so you can get creative with lights to make it more inviting. At the same time, try to avoid unnecessary glare or clashing with your indoor lights. Therefore, it’s best to choose dim lights such as pendant lights, fairy lights, or chandeliers to make your patio cozy. Don’t be afraid of lights with color and character; after all, the patio is where the magic happens! However, to reduce your environmental impact and save energy, try installing modern lighting fixtures, such as LED lights or those with timer functions.
Illuminate Your Landscaping for Some Magic
The most fun part of landscape lighting is playing with accents. Whether you want to highlight the unique architectural features of your building or draw attention to your greenery, there are so many interesting lights to choose from to make your outdoor space truly spectacular! From creating a fairytale feel with lanterns to enhancing your plants, or illuminating your pond, your home’s exterior offers many fantastic focal points to draw attention to.
This step requires some planning, as you need to see how the different lights will work together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you are new to outdoor lighting, you can also hire a landscape lighting contractor to help with the design and give you further outdoor lighting placement tips for illuminating your home.
Summing Up
To make sure that your home is comfortable at any time of the day, the exterior needs as much attention as the interior. Outdoor lights help make your home secure and welcoming long after sunset. With a few well-placed lighting fixtures, you can create a cozy atmosphere outside when you want to relax or entertain guests. If you don’t have experience in installing landscape lighting, consider hiring an outdoor lighting contractor with experience in landscape lighting installation, to make your space inviting, even at night.
Need more advice on landscape lighting? Call Hevi Lite at 818-341-8091 to book a free consultation with our outdoor lighting experts. We look forward to helping you illuminate your home with our advanced lighting solutions!
