Outdoor Lights

There are lots of different types of lighting that can dramatically change the way a house looks and feels, although many people only consider lighting for the interior of their house. Having outdoor lights, especially outside houses with a lot of outside space, can make simple landscaping seem drastically different.

In this brief article, we’ll take a look at some of the simple ways you can boost your front walk, back yard, or patio with outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting generally comes in one of two forms – pendants or wall lanterns, although there are several other types.

The primary, and possibly most popular form of outdoor lights, are pendant lights. Pendants can either be standing or hanging and can lend a genuinely exotic appearance to an otherwise bland patio or front walk. Standing pendants are generally used relatively low to the ground, to light a walk for visitors or to cast illumination on bushes, flowers, and other parts of your garden.

They can be either directional or general. Hanging pendants are most often used on front porches or patios, and can provide light for cooking, partying, or simple conversation. Certain types of hanging pendants can have different levels of illumination for reading, social interactions, or general outdoor lighting to best suit what you are looking for.

Wall lanterns are generally used near the building itself, but can be used to light entire yards or walks. Having just a few wall lanterns on a back patio can make the place a relaxing site for reading at night, enjoying a nightcap, or simply listening to nature from the comfort of a hammock.

Wall lanterns also tend to lend a somewhat eastern vibe to many areas, though one of the most popular ways to do this is with standing torches. Standing torches are some of the most popular outdoor lights for parties and get-togethers, and give a distinctly Pacific flair to what can otherwise be a bland yard.

Whichever type of outdoor lights you eventually choose you must be sure that they are suited to the size and shape of your yard, front walk, or patio. Different types of bulbs have different levels of illumination and power usage, and choosing between halogen, fluorescent, and fire lighting can be tough to balance between fuel usage and light emission.

Soft lighting tends to look better outdoors, though having a few, simple, high-powered bulbs can make a walk safer and more beautiful.

You will find many sources of outdoor lights on this page.