Whether it’s to extend outdoor seating and dining areas, illuminate stairs or paths, highlight garden features or create a more welcoming entryway, proper lighting is key to making your home’s exterior come alive after dark. But not all lights are created equal, which is why it’s important to choose fixtures that are both energy efficient and long-lasting.
When choosing an outdoor light, look for one with a color that compliments your property’s architecture and materials. Earth tones like slate, brick or red brick work best with lights that have a bronze, brass or copper finish. If you’re using the lights to add accents around a water feature, consider frosted glass for more subtle lighting.
The light’s color temperature is also a crucial factor in determining your space’s overall ambiance. The lower the Kelvin number, the warmer and yellower the light; the higher the Kelvin, the more blue and cool the light is. For warm, cozy spaces, a range of 2700K to 3000K is recommended. Alternatively, if you’re illuminating plants and trees, cooler temperatures such as 4000K to 5000K are more appropriate.
Finally, ensure the fixture is properly sized to avoid electrical and physical damage. A light that is too big can look unbalanced and may not be able to provide enough light for the desired area. For safety, it’s also important to select lights that have passed a corrosion test to protect against weather elements. This is typically indicated by an IP (ingress protection) rating of at least 67, which shows how resistant the casing is to dust and water particles.