You don’t have to be Clark Griswold to appreciate the beauty that comes from illuminating your home. No matter where you live, adding some lighting to the front of your home can have instant effects on its look and feel.
If you are looking for the perfect way to accentuate the front of your home, spruce up the ambiance, or even increase your security, you may want to consider installing front of house lighting. With the right lights, you can transform the front of your home into a visual masterpiece to be appreciated.
However, it can be tough to know where to start or where to look for the right lights for your particular home. We’ve compiled some helpful tips and suggestions so that you can get started finding the right lights for your needs, and get some front of house lighting ideas.
What parts of my home should I light up?
If you’ve never installed exterior home lighting before, you may be wondering which parts of your home should even have lighting in the first place.
While it depends a bit on the size of your home and the exterior features you are working with, generally the following places are worth considering for front of house lighting positions:
- Front doors
- Trees/flowers/plants
- Water features
- Fireplace
- Porch
- Driveway
- Walkway path
Any place you decide to put lights on should be one you would like to draw attention to or highlight.
The planning process is a key element to ultimately finding the right design and look for your outdoor lighting. Think strategically about where you would like to place them, and how that might change the look you are going for.
Outdoor home lighting should not be done randomly, so take the time to do your due diligence beforehand. Take measurements of the areas where you’d like to install lights and don’t be afraid to adjust your plans if you realize some changes should be made along the way.
In your planning, consider the fixtures as well. Are there places to hide them? Decide if you are comfortable with the fixtures being visible or not in your final display, and consider different creative ways that you could install the lights so that they look visually appealing.
What types of lights should I use?
Once you have an overall plan in mind for where you would like to place the lights, you can move onto the next step in the process: choosing the lights.
Different lights have various energy uses, hues, wattages, and other factors to consider. Here we highlight a couple types of lighting you can consider using.
Solar
Increasing in popularity, solar lights can be a great option to consider for your home lighting project. Weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of this option.
Pros of solar lights:
- More environmentally friendly –– don’t use electricity
- Cost-effective in the long run
- Low maintenance
- Softer lighting for a nice ambiance
Cons of solar lights:
- Higher cost up front
- Climate dependent –– may lose charge in cloudy/dark weather
- Lower/less consistent brightness levels
Regular
Traditional landscape lighting systems have been around for a long time, and offer many pros and cons to think about as well.
Pros of regular lighting:
- Cheaper cost up front
- Consistent brightness
Cons of regular lighting:
- Lack of convenience –– not all homes equipped with many outdoor plugs
- Cost of electricity to run the lights
- More difficult to install
What color of lights should I use?
Now, for the last piece of the lighting puzzle: color. Here is where you can really let your creativity loose, and set up your outdoor lighting to your liking.
If you are going for a soft, elegant look, consider getting white lights. This color lighting is both classy and versatile, as it looks nice throughout all different seasons.
Similarly, another option to consider is LED lights. You can purchase LED lights in several different colors, including blue, red, green, and amber. To get a whiter light, LED lights can be covered in a phosphor material.
Or, you may consider opting for full out colored lights. You might like to illuminate your home with your personal favorite color, or perhaps the colors of your preferred sports team. If the holidays are nearby, you might consider illuminating your home to get into the festive spirit.
Ultimately, the color options available are wide, and up to your imagination to find the one that is right for you.
Let’s start illuminating
It is exciting to embark on a home decorating project –– especially one with such potential to totally transform the visual perspective of the front exterior of your home.
Start your project with some planning: decide where in the front of your home you would like to install lighting, take measurements, and make some style decisions about how you want it to look.
Then, pick a type of light to use. Both solar and regular lighting have pros and cons to consider.
Finally, get creative with your color scheme. White lights, LED lights, or festive lights can all offer brightness that change the overall ambiance of your home.
Check out the variety of options we have available for you here at Outdoor Solar Store, where you are sure to find the lighting options that will be perfect for you and your home.
