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If you’ve ever seen a well-lit porch, patio, or another backyard area in the wintertime, then you know these spaces have a gorgeous glow to them in the darkness of the season. With the right furniture, heating elements, and lighting, they’re also festive settings for holiday gatherings and other events.
But even if you plan on hunkering down for the winter, there’s no better time to upgrade your outdoor lighting plan. That way, you’ll be good to go when spring finally arrives.
Here’s a closer look at four tips for elevating your home’s outdoor lighting.
1. Make sure to include three lighting types
You may be aware of the three main types of lighting that add up to a successful indoor lighting scheme: ambient, task, and accent. However, you may not know that the same concept applies to your porch or exterior area.
Also known as general lighting, ambient lighting refers to the type of light used to ensure light distribution within a space for overall illumination. Common types of exterior ambient lighting include pendant lights, chandeliers, hanging lanterns, sconces, outdoor wall lanterns, and other outdoor wall lighting and post-lantern lights.
Task lighting refers to lighting that supports a particular goal. This may be necessary for poorly lit areas or locations where additional light is required for a task or function. It’s also useful in exterior areas with outdoor kitchens. Sconces, path lights and other landscape lighting, spotlights, and table lamps are common examples of task lighting.
The third type is accent lighting, which draws attention to elements or objects within a room, such as water features, architectural details, or seasonal decorations. Examples of outdoor accent lights include wall sconces, floodlights, and recessed lights.
(Tip: There is some overlap between types of lighting, depending on the specifics of your space and your lighting design.)
2. Start with a plan
Shopping without a plan can not only be overwhelming, but it can lead to a disjointed end result. While perusing lighting types can help you better understand your personal style and taste, spend time considering your space requirements (size and layout), functions and goals, and desired ambiance.
One rule of thumb for determining how much light is necessary? Multiply the square footage of your porch or backyard by 1.5. The resulting number is an estimate of the optimal wattage. For example, if your patio is 200 square feet, you’ll need 300 watts.
Be sure to consider the scale of your space, too. If your deck has a low ceiling, a flush mount or semi-mount fixture will offer more clearance than hanging fixtures like pendants, chandeliers, and hanging lanterns when it comes to porch ceiling lights.
Know your style as well. There are many types of lighting in styles ranging from traditional to modern. Selecting light fixtures that speak to your personal preferences will create a space that reflects your taste. Not to mention that the more enjoyable your space is, the more time you’ll want to spend there.
3. Consider the view
While your primary goal when designing a lighting plan for your outdoor space is ensuring ample illumination to see by, make sure to factor in aesthetics, too.
And not just what your lighting looks like from the outside. Before shopping, consider your views from inside your home, as well. The proper lighting can expand and enhance your evening outlook. On the other hand, poor lighting can lead to harsh glares and unsightly views.
4. Factor in all functions
Outdoor spaces have many functions. Taking the time to consider how you plan to use your outdoor space can help ensure that your lighting addresses all of these needs.
For example, if you’re going to do a lot of entertaining with outdoor dining, you’ll need lighting that provides illumination by which your guests can see, socialize, and dine. However, your lighting also needs to set the mood — and the soft glow of subtle lighting is infinitely preferable to the look or feel of a bright spotlight. This is one of the reasons dimmers are so popular: They allow homeowners to adjust lighting on-the-fly.
Safety and security are other vital functions of outdoor lighting. Ensure all entry and exit points are clearly lit, including doors, side doors, windows, paths, and shadowed areas.
The right outdoor lighting can not only brighten and beautify your outdoor space, but it can also increase the livable square footage of your home while making it a more comfortable, functional, and safer space.
Speaking of the right outdoor lighting, all lighting is different. At Fashion Light Center, we partner with leading lighting brands to offer our clients the most elegant and innovative lighting. Whether you have the exact outdoor porch lights or hanging lanterns in mind, or you’re looking for exterior lighting ideas and porch light fixtures inspiration, the FLC team is eager to help.
For a consultation for your outdoor lighting or other lighting question or need, contact Fashion Light Center today.
