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Black outdoor lanterns are a surefire way to add modern charm, elegance and functionality to your outdoor living area or garden. This type of exterior wall lighting is versatile and easy to incorporate into any existing garden wall lighting you may have. In this article, we will explore porch lanterns and general outdoor lantern lights as well as their potential.
What Are Outdoor Lantern Wall Lights?
Among the many types of LED outdoor lighting are outdoor wall lights. Among them are modern outdoor lanterns. Lanterns are lights confined within a metal frame that often have glass sides to allow you to see the light more easily.
Modern lantern outdoor lights put a contemporary spin on this classic source of lighting. When used as a wall lamp, outdoor spaces are given instant charm. The main difference between outdoor wall lights and outdoor wall lantern comes down to style and aesthetics.
Why Use Black LED Outdoor Wall Lanterns?
When it comes to lantern wall lights, black is a common choice of finish. There are several reasons why black lantern outdoor fixtures are so popular:
- Afford a modern and sophisticated appearance
- The black hue effectively hides dirt that will inevitably appear on outdoor wall sconces
- There are a variety of outdoor porch lanterns , allowing you to get creative with their appearance
- The appearance of outdoor black lanterns offers a sleek, stylish and timeless look
Why Are Outdoor Wall Lights Good for Home Security?
A patio wall light or porch wall light does much more for the home than just beautify it; black outdoor wall lights can also add a measure of security to your home.
Having outdoor lantern lights can stop intruders with the goal of breaking in from getting near your house by giving them fewer shadows to sneak around in. With a well-lit exterior, even neighbors can notice when suspicious activity is occurring around your home.
These lights also serve as a deterrent by giving the appearance that someone is at home, even when the house is empty. All of these points combine to give homeowners something truly priceless: peace of mind.
What Is the Best LED Colour Temperature for Garden Wall Light Lanterns?
Colour temperature is important for lights both indoors and outdoors, meaning the same can be said for your black porch lights. Colour temperature refers to a light’s warmth or coolness, and different settings require different colour temperatures to look their best.
For porches an outdoor porch light lantern, it is recommended that you use lighting that is rated between 2500k and 4000k. This provides a nice, warm colour that is still clear enough to be able to easily see. It is also a colour temperature that is easy on the eyes. This range gives you the flexibility to choose warmer colour temperatures around your porch or garden seating area to make it more inviting for guests.
What Does CCT Mean in Lighting?
Correlated colour temperature, often abbreviated to just CCT, is a way to define the colour temperature of a light. It is just another way to talk about the above points and is measured in Kelvin units.
What Does Kelvin Mean in Lighting?
Kelvin is a measurement of colour temperature in lighting. The higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light will be. On the other hand, the lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light will be.
Colour temperatures below 5,000k are considered to be warm lights, including the 4,000k “daylight” colour temperature. This range is the most common in domestic settings, usually hovering between 3000k and 3300k. Anything above that is considered to be cool and is commonly used in commercial or retail settings.
Can You Install Exterior Wall Lighting Yourself?
It is possible to install outdoor wall lighting yourself, though it is recommended that you consult an electrician before completing the job, or hire one to handle the job for you.
If you want to do it yourself, consider the following safety points before proceeding:
- Be sure the power mains is switched off
- Do a socket test on each circuit to ensure they are safe before working with them
- Install the lighting in accordance with the codes and regulations that apply to your building
- Turn off the breaker
How To Install Outdoor Wall Lighting
- Drill a hole in the wall where you plan to install the fixture. Put a plastic conduit inside to feed the cable into.
- Ensure the cable cores are correctly connected to the appropriate terminals.
- Adhere the light to the outer wall, and then place silicone sealant to stop moisture from getting into the light.
- Run the light cable to where you can cut it into a main lighting circuit cable box.
- Install the switch(es) you intend to use to control the light indoors.
- Run a double core and earth cable back to the junction box.
- Use a voltage tester to be sure the power is off and then isolate the circuit before cutting through the main circuit cable to connect it where it needs to go.
Where Should You Position Porch Wall Lanterns?
A general rule of thumb for placing porch wall lanterns is to put them just above eye level. This tends to be somewhere around 67 inches above the floor of the porch or the ground. This will put them at the appropriate level where guests can approach the door without the light glaring in their eyes.
It will also ensure that the light is high enough to provide illumination to the porch as well as the steps near the door. Many professionals recommend having two lights and placing one on either side both for aesthetic purposes and to ensure an even wash of light.
Taller doors can have the lights positioned a bit higher, but in cases like these, it is generally recommended to simply use larger lights and attach them at the same height.
Do LED Outdoor Porch Lanterns Need Any Maintenance?
Outdoor wall lights of most kinds will require a bit of maintenance. Of them, porch lights are arguably the most low maintenance. Usually, they will collect cobwebs and dust. It is easy to clear them away using a small broom.
After this, you can wash the exterior by using mild soap, warm water and a soft brush. To protect the fixture from damage, you can clean and dry it and also apply a rust-resistant product.
Porch lights that use LED bulbs will also limit maintenance, as you will not have to change the bulbs with the same frequency that you would have to with traditional lightbulbs.
How To Use LED Lantern Wall Lights Around a Patio Area
Below are some tips on making the most of your patio area with lantern wall lights:
- Create a foundation of lights by installing them in various areas, such as on walls, fence posts, stairwells or a trellis. Place them approximately five feet from the ground so that the light is closer to the eyes without being blinding.
- Use different types of wall lanterns to create an atmosphere and enhance the overall appearance of the patio area.
- Highlight various points of interest by using uplighting to cast a soft glow onto the walls. This is ideal for illuminating archways, stone walls, statement plants or statues to create a focal point.
- May a corner cozy by adding wall lights in an area to section it off from the rest of the outdoor living space.
- Layer the lighting with ambient, task and accent lighting, just like you would in any other area in your home.
- Use wall lights on the walls beside stairs or along a driveway to provide illumination for walking, making it safer to traverse at night.
- If your patio is set up in a traditional way and attached to the back of your house, then adding wall lights to the back wall of the house is an easy way to light it up.
Do Outdoor Wall Lanterns Need To Be IP Rated?
Because wall lights will be exposed to the elements, it is generally recommended that you install an IP rated light capable of withstanding exposure. IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, indicate how well a light is protected from both solid objects and moisture. The first digit indicates the solids protection, while the second digit refers to protection against moisture. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to choose outdoor lights with a minimum IP44 rating.
First Digit – Solids
0  –  No protection.
1 –  Protection against objects that are bigger than 50 millimeters.
2  –  Protection against objects that are bigger than 12.5 millimeters.
3  –  Protection against objects that are bigger than 2.5 millimeters.
4  –  Protection against objects that are bigger than 1 millimeters.
5  –  Dust Protected rating will protect against entry of small amounts of dust.
6  –  Dust Tight ratings will protect against all entry of dust.
Second Digit – Moisture
0  –  No Protection.
1  –  Protects the fixture from water dripping vertically.
2  –  Protects the fixture from water dripping vertically at a 15 degree angle.
3  –  Protects the fixture from water spraying vertically at a 15 degree angle.
4  –  Protects the fixture from water splashes from any direction.
5  –  Protects the fixture from water jets.
6  –  Protects the fixture from water from strong jets in any direction.
7  –  Protects the fixture from complete immersion up to one meter.
8  –  Protects the fixture from complete immersion deeper than one meter.
Ideas for Black Outdoor Lanterns
To complement the appearance of your porch or patio while bringing plenty of illumination to the space, try the LWA367 3 Watt Black Outdoor LED Wall Light. This wall light features a unique spike design that features a triangular-shaped diffuser atop a black post. It outputs a total of 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light and is IP65 rated.
The LWA210 6 Watt LED Black Outdoor Wall Light is a subtler approach with its cylindrical shape, opal acrylic diffuser and black body. The light is good for placement on either side of doors and outputs a total of 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light. It has an IP65 rating.
The LWA381 3 Watt LED Black Finish Globe LED Outdoor Wall Light offers an overall softer look with its globe-shaped opal diffuser. It rests on a stark black cylindrical base. This eye-catching light delivers 300 lumens of light with a 3000k warm white colour temperature. It is protected by an IP65 rating.
Perfect for porches and modern patios, the LWA213 9 Watt LED Black Outdoor Wall Light is a stout and stylish wall light for any area. It shines its light from a cylindrical opal acrylic diffuser resting on a black base. This light shines a bright 800 lumens of 3000k warm white colour and is IP65 rated.
Add some visual flair to your porch or patio with the LWA397 20 Watt Square Black Outdoor Wall Light. This light is artistic with its up and down wall washing capability that shines illumination back on the wall above and below it. It features a modern cube-shaped design in black and shines a bright 2000 lumens of 3000k warm white colour. The light is protected by an IP65 rating.
