Introduction
When it comes to making your home look its best, the exterior is often overlooked. It’s easy to focus on the interior of your house and forget about the outside, but even a small improvement can make a big difference.
The good news is that adding attractive exterior lighting is easier than ever before! You don’t need to hire an electrician or spend thousands of dollars on fancy fixtures—you can do it all yourself with just a few tools and some elbow grease. Here are some tips for how you can improve your home’s exteriors with some simple DIY techniques that will have people oohing and ahhing when they walk up to your door:
Good lighting makes a home look better.
Good lighting makes a home look better. That’s why you should be sure to set up your exterior lights in a way that highlights the best features of your home and creates an inviting atmosphere.
Good lighting can improve the curb appeal of your home, making it appear more attractive to potential buyers or renters, as well as helping them see inside better when they are considering purchasing it. Good exterior lighting also helps you feel safer at night when walking around your property–and it can help deter criminals from targeting homes with bad security systems or poorly-lit exteriors.
Exterior lighting should be easy to use and reliable.
- The lamps should be easy to turn on and off.
- The lamps should be easy to replace.
- The lamps should be easy to move around.
- The lamps should be easy to clean, since they will likely get dirty over time from being in the elements and exposed to dirt and dust in the air (and possibly rain).
Choose the right fixture for your home.
When you’re considering exterior lighting for your home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider the style and architecture of your home. Is it modern? Traditional? Do you like bright colors or neutrals? A small fixture with lots of bulbs might be great for an ornate Victorian but not so much for an artsy bungalow with minimal decorating needs.
Secondly, consider where the light will be placed on the house: near windows or doorways; over steps leading up from the garage; etcetera. This will help determine what kind of fixture works best–and whether it needs to be brighter than others nearby (so as not to cause glare).
Thirdly ly , think about size when choosing fixtures that hang outside–especially if they’re going above windows where people will look out through them often during daytime hours when sunlight shines directly down into those areas anyway! If possible try finding ones that aren’t too large so as not draw attention away from other features inside instead (like artwork).
Consider color temperature.
When you’re choosing exterior lighting, it’s important to consider the color temperature of your bulbs. This measurement is a way of describing the color of light that comes out of a bulb, and it’s measured in Kelvins (K). The lower the number, the warmer (more yellow) your bulbs will be; higher numbers mean cooler whites.
You’ll want to choose bulbs with a daylight-like glow–between 5000 K and 6500 K–which will make outdoor spaces feel inviting and comfortable at night without being harsh or glaringly bright during daylight hours. Fluorescent lights have an average Kelvin rating around 4200 K; warm white LEDs are 2700-3000 K; cool white LEDs fall between 4000-5500K on average
Consider how the light works with your home style and architecture.
Consider how the light works with your home style and architecture.
Lighting should be consistent with the style of your house. If you have a traditional-style house, then consider using traditional exterior lights such as lanterns or sconces that look like they could have been used on an old estate or plantation house. If you live in an ultra modern home, opt for sleek modern fixtures that complement its clean lines and sharp edges.
Don’t overdo it on the exterior lights! A few well placed spotlights will do more than several dozen that are poorly placed around your property because they can create shadows on other parts of it (like windows) and make them appear smaller than they actually are — not exactly what you want when trying to impress potential buyers!
Light fixtures need to be maintained, too.
Light fixtures need to be maintained, too.
- Change the bulbs regularly. The life of a bulb is around 1,000 hours, so if you’re changing your light fixtures every three years or so, then you should be fine. But if you’re not doing so yet (or if you have an older fixture), now would be a good time to start doing that! Changing out the bulbs in your exterior lights will make them last longer and look better overall.
- Clean them regularly. You should also clean any glass on your exterior lights once per year with window cleaner or vinegar–just make sure that it’s dry before turning them back on again!
- Don’t leave them on when no one is home and remember to turn off when leaving or coming back home after dark
Good exterior lighting on your home can help it look amazing and last longer
Good exterior lighting on your home can help it look amazing and last longer.
Good exterior lighting will make it easier for you to see, which means that you can avoid tripping over things like rocks or tree roots. It also makes it easier for others to see what’s going on at your house, which could help prevent break-ins or other crime.
A well-lit home can also make a huge difference in how safe your family feels at night–especially if they live in an area where crime rates are high. If someone tries to break into a house with bright lights shining outside, he might think twice about doing so because he knows that there’s likely someone awake inside who will notice him coming around back!
Finally, good exterior lighting has several benefits related to energy efficiency:
Conclusion
Good exterior lighting can make a home look amazing and last longer. The best way to achieve this is by choosing the right fixture for your home, taking into account its style and architecture as well as how much maintenance it will require. We hope our tips have helped you find some inspiration in designing your own exterior lighting!