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With well positioned outside wall lights, outdoor spaces can undergo quite a transformation. Contemporary outdoor wall lights can elevate not only the aesthetic of a space, but also brighten it and make it safer to navigate as well.
In this article, we’ll explore some top tips to consider as you plan your wall garden lights.
Exterior Wall Lighting Can Increase the Value of Your Home
Using thoughtful outdoor wall lighting design can make your home even more attractive to prospective buyers. Decorative exterior wall lights enhance the garden area and improve upon its visual appeal, which makes a great first impression.
This is especially important for buyers interested in kerb appeal. One of the best exterior wall lighting tips anyone can give you is to use the lights to display the home’s best features. A well-lit space shows off all that your home has to offer in terms of outdoor living. This could attract buyers who prioritize outdoor living spaces.
Home outdoor wall lighting gives your home a more inviting, polished look that may attract higher price points. Since buyers won’t have to go through the trouble of planning outside lighting themselves, they may be willing to pay more for that convenience.
Outside wall light placement also plays a key role in the perceived safety and security of the outdoor space. Home buyers will see the well-lit area and have peace of mind that it would be difficult for intruders to sneak onto the property.
Outdoor Wall Lighting Increases the Use of Entertaining Areas
Incorporating stylish garden wall lighting ideas will not only enhance the aesthetics of the space; it also extends how many hours of the day you can use that space. The best garden wall lights will depend on your specific garden needs, but you can maximise the potential of the area, regardless of what you choose.
Outdoor wall lights around the patio and dining areas allow you to enjoy the areas well after sundown. Whether you are adding in simple accent lighting or enhancing it with focused task lighting, these spaces become usable in the dark.
Furthermore, such lighting can be used to define the various zones in your outdoor space. Wall lights can visually organise areas like the patio, dining space, flower garden, outdoor cooking areas and beyond. This makes it easier to move between different zones for different activities.
A well-lit outdoor space is also safer to navigate at night. Path lights, wall lights and other such fixtures will provide you with ample illumination to see by when traversing the outdoor space at night. This may help prevent risks such as trips and falls.
Decide on The Purpose and Function of Your Outdoor Wall Lighting
Exterior wall lights can serve a number of purposes in your outdoor living space. Figuring out what areas of your garden need illumination can help you determine what lights to purchase, and precisely where to place them.
Begin by surveying the outdoor space, making a note of what areas need the light.
Entryways
Doorways, gates and other points of access require lighting mostly for practical, functional purposes. Installing fixtures such as front door lights on either side of the entryways will not only allow for you to better see when using the space, but it can turn the areas into focal points as well.
Pathways and Steps
Placing wall lights along paths near walls, driveways and around staircases will provide necessary illumination for proper visibility. These areas are particularly important, because they are high-traffic spaces and pose a higher risk for falls or other accidents if not well lit.
Patio and Entertainment Areas
Using porch wall lights on the walls surrounding your porch, veranda or other entertainment area can provide soft, indirect light. This is perfect for entertaining a guest at night, providing warm, ambient light that is gentle on the eyes.
Accent Lighting
Your garden may have sculptures or other features that you want to draw attention to. External wall lights are a great way to do that. Using accent lighting, you can highlight any element of your garden that you’d like to turn into a focal point.
Security Lighting
For security efforts to be effective, the area needs to be thoroughly lit. By pairing outdoor wall sconces with spotlights and other fixtures, you can create effective outdoor security lighting with ease.
Get The Positioning of Your Exterior Wall Lights Right
Once you understand where and what you want to illuminate, you can then work on properly positioning them. Above all, go for a consistent height when possible. This will keep the aesthetic nice and clean while providing a balanced look.
Entryways
On either side of your entryways, position the lights about six to 12 inches from the door frame. Make sure the center of the fixture is only about 66 to 72 inches from the ground as well.
Pathways
Install LED outdoor wall lights at regular intervals along the wall lining the path. It is recommended that you place lights between six and eight feet apart, depending on how long the pathway is.
For staircases, you can place the wall lights exterior fixtures on the walls flanking the steps themselves. Install them around 12 to 18 inches above the ground, providing proper illumination without glares or shadows.
Patios and Verandas
On a patio, install the light around 60 to 72 inches from the floor. This will provide ample ambient lighting while not being right at eye-level, avoiding glare and discomfort.
Security Lighting
External wall lighting placed on the walls of any dark corners that need to be illuminated. This will help deter intruders, especially if you have them set on a motion sensor.
Focal Points
Mount up and down outdoor light fixtures at such a height that it easily shows off architectural details. This will typically be around 60 to 72 inches from the ground.
How to Use Garden Wall Lights for Accent Lighting
There are many outdoor wall lighting ideas you can incorporate into your garden area to make it one of a kind. Accent lighting and other such decorative garden wall lights can be used to improve upon both the function and the aesthetics of the space. You can do so in several ways.
- HIGHLIGHT THE ARCHITECTURE. Using wall mounted fixtures that have adjustable angles, you can shine illumination onto certain features you want to show off. This could be texture walls, arches, columns, alcoves or brickwork.
- LIGHT UP PLANT LIFE. Accent lighting can be used to illuminate your favorite shrubs and bushes, drawing attention to climbing plants, vertical gardens or bushes.
- ACCENT THE PATHWAYS. Layering stylish garden wall lights with low level footpath lighting can illuminate the pathways in a stylish way.
- SHOW OFF ART. If you have garden art, like sculptures and water features, you can strategically place wall lights to shine on them. Uplighters are particularly good for this.
Creative Ways to Use Garden Wall Downlights Around Your Home
Decorative outdoor wall lighting can be used in a number of ways to enhance the appearance of your garden. One of the most common ways to use them is to highlight architectural features. If you have any accent walls, columns or other unique architectural details, downlights can show them off.
Other garden and landscape fixtures can also be accentuated with wall lights. Statues, sculptures, decorative plants and any other visual focal points can be enhanced with lights drawing attention to them. Placing downlights on vertical spaces such as living walls can showcase the plants beautifully.
For outdoor dining areas, these lights can also be used. Installing patio wall downlights where you intend to sit and dine will do wonders for the space. Not only does it provide more light for better visibility; it can also set a nice mood by which to dine with guests.
By using downlights on garages and near driveways, you can make the area stand out from the others as a functional space. Plenty of lighting makes it easy to see where to drive at night. It can also provide a sense of symmetry to enhance the overall appeal of that part of your home.
How Bright Do Your External Wall Lights Need To Be?
When determining how bright your lights for outside wall areas should be, you will first need to understand lumens. Lumens are to LED lights what watts are to traditional halogen bulbs; they measure how bright a light bulb shines.
The main difference between the two is that watts are an indicator of power and heat that a light consumes–not the illumination. Since LED bulbs don’t require heat to output light, lumen counts refer solely to illumination.
When it comes to lighting your outdoor space, you are going to want brighter lights for most areas. This will mean lights that have a higher lumen count. Different areas of your outdoor space will require varying outdoor lantern lumen counts.
- Entryways need 500 to 1000 lumens per fixture
- Pathway lights need 100 to 200 lumens per fixture
- Patio wall lights benefit from having 300 to 500 lumens per fixture
- Security lights will require between 700 and 1300 lumens of light
- Accent lighting should have between 200 and 400 lumens per fixture
- Driveway lights need between 1000 and 2000 lumens per fixture
Think About Energy Efficiency of Your Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor wall mount lighting will be run for most hours of the night. Because of their heavier use, you should make sure you are using energy efficient LED outdoor wall downlights.
LED lights consume significantly less energy than their traditional counterparts. Less energy consumption means less electricity used, resulting in lower energy bills. This is especially important for lights that will be on as often as your outside up and down lights
The energy efficient nature of LED lights also help lengthen their lifespans. LEDs are already rated to last for tens of thousands of hours. With them, you won’t have to replace them for several years—decades, in some cases.
Of course, energy efficient bulbs are also better for the environment. Using LEDs in your decorative outdoor lighting can help lower your carbon footprint, helping contribute to a greener world.
How to Use Garden Wall Lighting for Illuminating Pathways
Garden wall light trends have shifted from being solely about lighting walls, to being used for other things as well. Pathway lighting is an increasingly common way to do so. A well-lit pathway improves the safety of navigating the garden by enhancing visibility.
You can place wall lights at higher angles to shine down from above, creating general lighting while illuminating the footpath as well. This method could reduce the need for too many additional fixtures as it provides more general lighting for the area.
Achieve high level path lights by positioning fixtures about 6 to 8 feet from the ground. Fixtures that have a downward facing beam are preferable, so you can shine the light precisely where you want it to go.
Low level path lighting is the most common method. They sit closer to the ground and shine light more directly onto the paths. This creates a cosier atmosphere while limiting light spill, since the illumination remains so local.
Achieve this effect by placing lights 12 to 18 inches above the ground. Recessed outdoor wall lights or covered fixtures will prevent glare, making it even more comfortable to navigate the garden at night.
Outdoor Wall Lights Ideas for Entryways
Whether you are highlighting a path through an archway or accenting the door leading out into the garden, there are quite a few garden room lighting ideas you can choose from.
One of the most popular ways to light this area is to have a lamp on either side of the door. This will not only make it clear where the entry and exit are but also keep it well lit to make it easier to walk into and out of the space.
You can also use outdoor lighting above the door, such as in the form of a statement light in larger areas of space that need to be filled. If you only have a small bit of space, you can instead use track lights that will take up less room there while still providing ample illumination.
If there are any windows in the wall connecting your indoor space to your outdoor space, mounting lights beside the windows may also benefit the area. This will improve visibility while enhancing the look of the wall and bringing some balance to the area.
Outside Wall Lighting Ideas to Warm Up an Area
If you have an outdoor seating area, you want it to be inviting for your guests. One of the most important ways to accomplish this has nothing to do with the furnishings; instead, having the right kind of lighting is crucial.
Using outside lights ideas such as layered lighting can tie together your outdoor living space. Wall lamps serving as accent or task lighting paired with an overarching ambient light can make it feel well lit and easy to see throughout the area.
When considering wall light ideas for such spaces, keep in mind the colour temperature. In this area of the garden, you should be using warm lights that are easy on the eyes but still make it easy to see.
Wall Lighting Ideas for Aesthetics
There are many ways to make your outdoor living space stand out using light. Installing statement wall lights made from bold materials or in colourful designs can add an artistic flair to this space, all while providing ample lighting.
You can opt for traditional-looking lanterns to give the area a more classic look, or add spotlights to go more contemporary. Festoon and fairy lights can give the area a whimsical look, while low level wall lighting can add an air of mystique to the space.
Using brass and other metal fittings, you can add some glamour to your outdoor space while also making it feel more opulent and regal. Choosing lights with exposed bulbs can bring with them some industrial modern charm.
If you have a fireplace built into the garden wall, you can supplement the firelight using wall lights in the brick. This will also serve to provide illumination when the fire is not roaring.
Make Sure You Buy The Correct Weather Resistant Outside Lighting
Due to the constant exposure of the light fixtures to the elements, waterproof wall lights are a must. Keep a look-out for IP rated outdoor wall lights that are capable of withstanding exposure to sun, rain and wind.
IP ratings are a way to indicate how well protected a fixture is against debris and moisture alike. The first number measures resistance to debris, while the second indicates resistance to moisture.
First Digit – Solids
0 – No protection from debris
1 – Protection from debris that are larger than 50 millimeters.
2 – Protection from debris that are larger than 12.5 millimeters.
3 – Protection from debris that are larger than 2.5 millimeters.
4 – Protection from debris that are larger than one millimeter.
5 – Dust Protected
6 – Dust Tight
Second Digit – Moisture
0 – No protection from moisture.
1 – Provides protection against water that drips vertically.
2 – Provides protection against water that drips vertically when at a 15-degree angle.
3 – Provides protection against water that drips vertically when at a 60-degree angle.
4 – Provides protection against splashing in any direction.
5 – Provides protection against light jets of water in any direction.
6 – Provides protection against strong jets of water in any direction.
7 – Protects against temporary immersion up to one metre deep.
8 – Protects against complete immersion deeper than one metre.
For outdoor lights, aim for fixtures with an IP65 rating or higher.
Use Your Outdoor Lighting For Security And Safety Around Your Home
Outdoor up and down lights and other wall mounted lighting can be used for more than just decorating your outdoor space. They can also be a helpful tool to keep your home safer.
When your outdoor space is well-lit, you have a better chance of deterring intruders. Potential intruders are less likely to try to sneak onto a property that is bright and visible. Similarly, you will have better visibility of the garden to notice any suspicious activity going on.
If you have any security cameras, you will want the area they monitor to be well lit. Using wall lights alongside other outdoor lights such as spotlights can provide bright, even light. This will allow the cameras to clearly pick up on any movement.
Consider The Colour Temperature You Want Your Lighting to Be
Colour temperature is another important thing to consider when shopping for your outdoor lighting. Colour temperature, or CCT, is a way to measure the warmth or coolness of a light.
These temperatures exist on a spectrum of units measured in Kelvin. They range from 1,000K to 10000K. The higher the number, the cooler the light. The lower the number, the warmer the light.
For outdoor applications, warm white light tends to be best. This is a range between 3000K and 3300K. Front porch lights, patio lights, walkways and staircases benefit from the glow of warm light. Security lights, on the other hand, should be cool and crisp. Aim for 4000K to 6000K lights.
Summary of Common Mistakes You Can Make When Designing Garden Wall Lighting
Not Understanding the Purpose of Your Garden Wall Lighting
Perhaps the biggest garden lighting design errors you can make come from not preparing for the design itself. Before you even begin to shop for your fixtures, it is important that you get familiar with the outdoor space itself.
Take a walk around the garden and consider the purpose of the outdoor space. What areas do you want to prioritise? Do you want to emphasise any accent pieces, or are you more concerned with lighting up seating and entertainment areas? It may even benefit you to make a little sketch of what you have in mind before beginning.
By having clear goals in mind, you’ll be able to shop for your light fixtures from a more informed standpoint.
Installing Too Few or Too Many Lights
Amateur lighting designers might think that more lights will always equal a better-lit outdoor space. The truth is, there is such a thing as too much light. One of the most crucial errors to avoid with garden wall lighting is over-lighting–or even under-lighting–the space.
Be sure to strike a balance between the two. One way to do this is to layer your lighting. Layering lighting consists of adding ambient, task and accent lighting instead of just relying on one type of light alone.
Ambient light in a garden can consist of many things, from flood lights to bright wall lights. Task lighting works well in patio areas or other entertainment or outdoor cooking areas. Use accent lights to moonlight trees, accentuate garden wall textures or to show off garden sculptures.
Failing to Consider Weather Conditions
Failing to consider something as crucial as the weather is one of the garden lighting design common pitfalls you may run into. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to not waterproof your lights.
Since your outdoor fixtures will be exposed to elements such as sun, wind and precipitation, it is critical your lights are up for the challenge. Choose IP rated lights that are IP65 or higher to ensure that they are weatherproof. This will prevent rust and corrosion, which can extend the life of your garden lights.
Overlooking Regular Maintenance of Garden Lights
In a similar vein, neglecting to care for your lights once they are installed can leave you with subpar results. Since lights are exposed to dirt and debris alongside weather, they tend to cake up after long periods without cleaning.
Occasionally step around the garden and look for any debris stuck on the fixture. If you see any, you can remove it with a gentle brush or a slightly dampened cloth. Avoid harsh cleaning solutions so as not to damage the fixture itself.
During these times, you can also look for any burned out bulbs, cracks in the fixtures or loose wiring. Remedying these issues right away will save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
Improper Placement of Garden Wall Lights
Wall light placement mistakes can cost you a lot in terms of aesthetics. Garden walls provide a great opportunity for you to add accent lighting to your outdoors. Choosing wall washer lights or wall grazing lights can turn the walls into a focal point in and of themselves.
Wall grazing lights show the texture of the wall, making good use of intentional shadow. Wall washers, on the other hand, cast a nice, indirect glow along the wall itself.
If you place wall grazers too far from the wall, they will not catch the texture and will not cast shadows. Furthermore, installing the wall grazers in awkward positions will have the illumination shining in imbalanced ways across the surface.
Ignoring Energy Efficiency in Outdoor Lighting
Your outdoor lights will be on constantly throughout the night. Because of this, it is wise to have energy efficient lighting. Using LED bulbs, you will consume far less power than you would with halogen or incandescent lights. Not only will this be easier on the environment, but it will also lower the cost of your energy bills.
Other benefits of LED lights, such as their versatility and their long lasting life, will help you make the most out of your outdoor lighting.
Neglecting Safety Precautions During Installation
One of the best pieces of garden wall lighting installation advice anyone can give you is to have a professional handle the installation for you. Working with wires and electricity can be dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.
By enlisting the help of a trained professional, you can avoid any dangerous accidents. You can also be sure that your lights are up to code, as they will have the knowledge you might not where that is concerned.
Not Testing Lighting Angles Before Final Installation
One of the best outdoor lighting design tips anyone can offer is that you test out your setup before you commit. After you have placed the lights where you want them to go, wire them up. Then, turn them on and make sure that the lights shine in the direction and the manner in which you want them to.
This way, you can correct any wall lighting design problems before they become a permanent part of your outdoor living space.
Neglecting Proper Controls
Once you have your lights installed, you’re going to need a way to control them. Many people tend to overlook this vital step, which can further complicate things down the line. It is a good idea to have your lights set on various controls, so you can be specific about which lights turn on when.
For many people, having lights on a timer is the way to go. This will automatically turn your lights on and off at set times of the day. Similarly, many people enjoy setting them on daylight sensors. With this, lights will turn on and off according to the presence or absence of the sun.
More popular still is the use of smart lighting. Smart lights will allow you to set the lights on a routine, but they will also allow you to control the lights remotely from an app. This is especially beneficial if you plan to be away from home and want to give the illusion of occupancy for security reasons.
Key Tips for Designing Effective Garden Wall Lighting
In order to design wall lighting you’ll be proud of, follow these tips below:
- SPACE THEM EVENLY. If you have more than one wall light, be sure you balance the spacing. You want to ensure they are symmetrical and evenly placed in order to avoid shadows or awkward aesthetics. You should be mindful to include symmetry and even spacing when planning your outdoor lighting ideas.
- RULE OF THREE. In design, repeating a given element three times is thought to promote balance and symmetry. At the very least, be sure you are installing your lights in odd numbers; five wall lights may look better on a larger wall, for example.
- LAYER WITH OTHER GARDEN LIGHTS. Be sure that your wall lights aren’t the only fixtures in your design scheme. Combine it with soffit lights, architectural lights, spotlights and floodlights to ensure a nice balance of light throughout.
- CONSIDER THE BEST BEAM ANGLES. The finished look of your exterior lighting design can be heavily influenced by the beam angle of the light. Narrower beams between 10 and 25 degrees work best for highlighting certain elements, while wider beams between 60 and 120 are better suited for providing general illumination.
- AVOID LIGHT POLLUTION. Light pollution occurs when you have too much illumination bleeding into the surrounding areas. Choose directional modern exterior lighting or use shades to stay in control of where the light shines, and how much of it spreads.
- BE MINDFUL OF THE FUTURE. By choosing appropriately IP rated garden wall lights made of durable materials, you can future-proof your lights and enjoy them for many years to come.
Outdoor Wall Lights Ideas
Modernise your outdoor space with the LWA386 12 Watt Round Black Outdoor LED Wall Light. This elegant wall light has a sleek circular design, including a black base and an opal acrylic diffuser. This diffuser softens the 1,200 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shine from it. It features a 150-millimetre diameter, making it ideal for use in most areas. The durable aluminium fixture is IP65 rated to protect it from the elements.
Perfect for porch and patio lighting, the LWA383 Round 6 Watt Outdoor LED Wall Light provides elegant, decorative and bright lighting. It shines 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light through an opal acrylic diffuser that softens it. Durably designed, it is fashioned out of high quality aluminium and given an IP65 waterproof rating to protect it from the elements. Overall, it measures 150 millimeters in diameter.
Go for some classic charm in your outdoor living space with the LWA370 6 Watt Brass Up and Down Outdoor Wall Light. This wall light is ideal for entryways and garages with its 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light. It features a cylindrical shape fashioned out of durable aluminium and given a sleek brass finish. It boasts a waterproof IP65 rating and measures a total height of 130 millimeters.
Light up the night with the LWA214 9 Watt LED Black Outdoor Wall Light. This wall mounted light features a bright bulb that generates 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light. It shines from behind an opal acrylic diffuser that further softens the illumination, capped off by black aluminium to match the base. This durable light features an IP65 waterproof rating and measures 140 millimeters in height.
