Outdoor security lights can make your property feel safer both for you and for your visitors. By having reliable security lighting systems, you can support your peace of mind while also improving the perceived value of your home.
In this home security lighting guide, we discuss different security lighting types and help you choose the best security lighting solutions for you.
Why Is Home Security Lighting Important?
Home security lighting is crucial in protecting your property and deterring criminal activity. Intruders tend to seek out unmonitored, dark areas to be able to move through without being seen.
If you have outside lights for house security, you are lighting up more areas of space and limiting pockets of shadows for them to sneak in. This is especially true if you use outdoor motion sensor lights.
Well placed outside wall lantern fixtures or floodlights can also illuminate the zones where your CCTV is pointing. Poor lighting makes it difficult to review footage in the event of a property breach. Having enough lighting can improve image clarity on the footage and make it actually usable at night.
Beyond that, security lighting for home exteriors makes it safer for visitors to approach the property. It makes pathways, steps and driveways more visible while reducing the risk of trips and falls. This is especially important late at night or when there are wintry conditions outdoors.
What Are the Benefits of Security Lighting?
There are many perks to having garden security lights that go beyond the actual security that they can provide. Garden wall light fixtures, LED walkway lights and other types of security lighting can increase the kerb appeal and perceived value of your home.
This could also positively influence the property value if you intend to sell your home at some point. Potential homebuyers may see the existing exterior security lighting and consider it a convenient perk in buying the home.
Lighting for home security can also be energy efficient. Whether you choose lighting set on a timer or motion sensor, or simply are using LED lights, you can save money on your bills by using up less energy.
LED lights use 80 percent less energy than their traditional counterparts. Beyond lower energy bills, this also means they will last a lot longer and need to be replaced less often.
What Types of Security Lighting Can You Buy?
There are a number of different ways to incorporate security lighting into your home's exterior. It comes in a range of different formats for you to choose from, no matter what your exterior layout looks like.
Motion Sensor Lights
Motion sensing lights will turn on when they detect movement, and turn back off when there has been no movement in the area for some time. They are great for entryways, side paths and garages that don't need constant light.
This type of light conserves energy by only turning on when they are needed. Having a sudden bright light come on may startle intruders as well.
Solar Powered Lighting
Solar security lights get their energy from the sun and don't require electricity or batteries. They are self-contained units that are best installed in remote areas, near sheds or around garden paths. They are easy to install and won't need any wiring.
Floodlights
LED floodlights are great for larger driveway security lighting and back gardens. They shine a larger area of illumination across the space, providing even and uniform visibility. Floodlights offer powerful brightness and are especially good in areas with CCTV systems.
Wall Mounted Lighting
Outside lights for porch areas, garden wall lights and beyond are good examples of wall mounted security lights. These fixtures are installed right onto the exterior wall and are available in a number of styles. Their versatility helps create a more visually appealing outdoor space.
Pathway Lighting
Pathway lights range from outdoor garden bollard lights to recessed low level outdoor wall light fixtures and everything in between. These mark and illuminate the various footpaths that a person can take, improving upon visibility and safety,
Smart Light Systems
Smart lights allow you to control the exterior lights in a number of different ways. You can set them on a timer, turn them on with voice activation or control various aspects of them with a smartphone app.
Pros and Cons of Wired Versus Solar
When trying to determine the best security lights for home exteriors, you may be wondering whether wired or solar lights are better. Get familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of both to help you make an informed decision.
Wired Security Lighting
Wired security lights connect right to the mains power. They get their energy from the same electricity source as the rest of the fixtures in or outside of your home.
Pros:
- reliable power supply that will operate no matter what the weather conditions are
- higher lumen output due to the direct connection to the electricity source
- advanced features like adjustable beam angles and smart integration
Cons:
- oftentimes requires professional installation which can add to upfront costs
- not as flexible in terms of placement, since they need to be able to connect to the power source
- higher energy costs
Solar Security Lights
Solar lighting charges during the day under the rays of the sun. At night, they shine light from the power that was collected.
Pros:
- simple to install, since there is no need for wiring, especially in hard to reach areas
- no running costs since they get all of their power from the sun
- environmentally friendly
Cons:
- operation is dependent upon the weather conditions; cloudy days may not generate enough solar power
- lower brightness output than wired options
- limited smart features available
In short, wired options are better for those who need high-performance, highly customisable lighting and access to smart features. Those who want quick installation and easy lighting in difficult areas may better benefit from solar lights.
What to Look for When Buying Security Lights
As you begin shopping for your new security lights, consider the following:
- LED TYPE. Look for LEDs with the sort of parameters you are interested in. Things such as colour temperature, lumen output and CRI rating should all be taken into account.
- LIFESPAN AND WARRANTY. Opt for longer lasting LED lights that you can use for tens of thousands of hours as opposed to more traditional options. Products that have a warranty should also be prioritised.
- QUALITY OF THE FIXTURE. Since security lights are exposed to the elements, having premium fixtures is a must. Choose durable materials like aluminium and stainless steel, as well as waterproof IP ratings.
- SMART FEATURES. If you want to control finer aspects of your lights, look for fixtures that are compatible with smart systems. App controls to adjust brightness and scheduling are just two of the ways smart systems can benefit you.
Advice on How to Position Security Lights
Security light positioning is as important as the fixtures themselves. Poorly placed lights can leave pockets of shadows and fail to illuminate important areas.
Front Entrance
Illuminate access points for visibility and safe entry with lights mounted 1.8 to 2.5 metres high. Angle them slightly downward to illuminate the approach path and the doorstep below.
Driveway and Garage
Place lights above the garage door or even on an adjacent wall to illuminate the drive area. Longer driveways may benefit from bollard lights running their length.
Side Paths
Make it easier to navigate footpaths with bollard lights or wall-mounted lighting on either side of the path. Space any wall lights evenly and at eye level when possible.
Ground Floor Windows
To light up vulnerable entry points, such as windows, install intruder deterrent lighting in the form of mini floodlights or soffit downlights. Install above or beside the window frame and angle it to wash the windowsill and surrounding wall with illumination.
Perimeter and Back Garden
Use wide beam LED floodlights near the real wall of the house. You can also place them on fences or sheds facing inward toward the garden.
Why Light Pollution Should Be a Consideration When Installing
Security lighting can often be bright and obvious. While this is good for helping make the property safer, it can also cause spillover onto other properties. This is called light pollution.
The misdirected light can not only get onto neighboring properties, but it can obscure the stars as well. Unnatural lighting everywhere may also be detrimental to wildlife in the area. This is especially true of nocturnal animals that rely on the day-night cycle to regulate their lives and sleep.
Minimising light pollution comes down to choosing directional features whose beam angles you can control. You should also choose brightness levels that are appropriate for your needs and not over-light the space.
By choosing motion sensing lights, you can also be sure they are only running when they are needed instead of constantly bleeding light out into the night.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
With security lighting, homeowners make a few common mistakes that can lead to having to redo the setup later. Get familiar with these mistakes so you know what to avoid.
- STYLE OVER FUNCTION. By only opting for LED wall lights for security that have a nice look and disregarding everything else, you may get poor coverage. Look for lights that have the necessary brightness level and other specifications, and then choose a light you like in that range.
- BLOCKING LIGHT. One of the biggest issues with exterior ground lighting, obstructing light can be easy to do on accident. Brush, bushes and other foliage can get in the way and make the illumination impossible to see.
- NEGLECTING IP RATINGS. Since your lights are outdoors, it is important that you have weatherproof lighting that can withstand exposure to the elements.
- USING INCONSISTENT COLOUR TEMPERATURES. Be sure that you are using only cool or warm lights and not mixing them both. Mixing them can cause unappealing clashing.
Which LED Colour Temperature Works Best with Security Cameras?
Colour temperature, also sometimes called CCT, is how the warmth or coolness of a light is determined. It exists on a spectrum of Kelvin units between 1,000K and 10,000K. Warmer colours sit at the bottom of the spectrum, while cooler lights are at the top.
When it comes to the sort of clarity needed for security lights, cool colour temperatures tend to be preferred. These provide bright, crisp illumination and enhanced image clarity with accurate colour rendering. Opt for lights between 4000K and 6000K for best results.
Conclusion
Security lighting can provide invaluable peace of mind while also enhancing the atmosphere and property value of a home. Above, we have examined different security light types, as well as how best to incorporate them into your space. Keep this article close as you begin to plan your lighting design scheme to make the most out of your efforts.
