by Bridget Kulla
4/25/2018
It’s important to have a well-lit home, after all you want to show off all the hard work you’ve put into your home’s exterior. Lighting choices can create the atmosphere you’re hoping to achieve—whether you’re designing the perfect space for reclining on the front porch, looking to showcase the prize Japanese maple in your front yard, or boosting your home’s security. Your lighting selections can even boost your spirits—when it comes to healthy buildings, good lighting design can contribute to a more positive mood, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
We’ve rounded up a few moody lighting tips so passers-by will “ooh and aah” at your outdoor ambience. Here are four outdoor and patio lighting ideas to incorporate into your design:
Entryway Radiance
When it comes to your home’s walkup, you’ll likely want to craft a warm and welcoming atmosphere. One that says, “C’mon in.” Adding in a warm, glowing pendant light on the porch ceiling can cast a pleasing light on your front door. Mounted outdoor sconces, flanking one or both sides of the door, is another simple way to show your guests the front door focal point.
Safe and Secure
Security lighting is important to add to any outdoor design. Sensor, flood, or time-switch lights on your garage or backdoor can boost security and a feeling of protection. Lights on staircases can add a layer of safety that’s important when trekking stairs in the dark of night. And if you’re worried about the combination of cool, bright lights mixed with warmer ones, according to design experts, it’s perfectly fine to mix temperatures of lighting in your exterior design.
Illuminate with Highlights
A simple spotlight is an ideal way to highlight a special feature around your home, whether it’s your favorite landscape element, your interesting address numbers, or the pathway up to your front door. You decide what’s important to your home’s exterior and if there’s anything you’d like to showcase. A spotlight is a way to say, “Hey, this is important to us.
Ambient Glow
Incorporating warm, interesting fixtures intensifies the interest and character of your environment. When it comes to porch lighting, a fan with a light can give off a glow, along with a breeze, so you can accomplish the exact tone you were seeking. Hanging lanterns your backyard trees, or bistro lights above an outdoor table can create a merrymaking mood, best for a soiree.
A light-drenched home, whether warm or cool or a combination of both, is the perfect way to set the mood, one that you can watch shift throughout the day and night. With cool sensor lights, warm pendants, sconces and simple spotlights, your lighting design is sure to be a sight to see.
