7 Different Types of Modern Outdoor Wall Light

Guide to Exterior Wall Lighting

Exterior lighting can make the outside of your home as appealing and welcoming as the interior. There are many types of modern outside wall lighting on the market, such as garden wall lights, porch lights, brick lights and step lighting for you to work with. Below, we will examine these types of lights and give you an idea of just what you can do with them.

 

What Are Wall Washer Outdoor Wall Lights? 

Wall washer lights are exactly what the title means: wall lights that “wash” the walls they are placed on with illumination. In this category of outdoor wall lights, there are many varieties to choose from. These include outdoor wall uplighters and up and down outside lights among others.

Outdoor wall washer lights can be used to create a variety of visual effects. Primarily, they serve their purpose of washing walls with illumination to create stunning visual effects. Some lights shine straight up or down in a thin beam, while others fan out to cover a larger area on the ground or a wall. Others shine either in one direction or go up and down, offering a varied approach to LED Garden wall lights.

The LWA288 6 Watt LED Up And Down Outdoor Wall Light is a good example of the latter. These lights project a triangular-shaped beam of light that shines up and down from its centre. These up and down wall washer lights stem from cube-shaped modern lights that conceal the light bulbs, giving them a super minimalist and modern look. Black and white colour finish options allow them to stand out or blend into wall colours depending on what you have.

LWA288 6 Watt LED Up And Down Outdoor Wall Light

LWA288 6 watt square outside LED wall light -up and down exterior wall washer

This type of lighting looks pleasing when used on either side of an entrance door, providing some balance and symmetry while also keeping the entrance well lit. The LWA370 6 Watt Brass Up And Down Outdoor Wall Light is a great choice for this. The light fixture itself is rather compact with a cylindrical shape that allows it to fit easily on either side of a doorway. It is also an up and down wall washer, so it shines the illumination above and below. The light is particularly well suited for elegant buildings, such as the front of a five-star hotel.

LWA370 6 Watt Brass Up And Down Outdoor Wall Light

LWA370 6 watt brass up and down hotel exterior lighting

Another good choice of up and down wall washers is the LWA218 24 Watt LED Black Outdoor Up And Down Wall Light. It boasts similar visual styles as the above light but has a black finish, which makes it better suited for use outside the home and as patio wall lights. Not only can it be used on either side of a door, but it can be spaced evenly on exterior walls to give a nice sense of symmetry around the perimeter.

LWA218 24 Watt LED Black Outdoor Up And Down Wall Light

LWA218 24 watt black up and down outside wall lights

Outdoor wall lights for outside can also be used across the front of a home or other building, such as a hotel, to make it stand out by creating a modern lighting effect. If you have any architectural features on your home or building that you are particularly proud of, outdoor wall uplighters are a good way to show them off.

Using outside wall lamps with either a wide or narrow beam of light can help you customise just how you like them to look. Regardless of the amount of light you need to light the space, you can get up and down outdoor wall lights with different lumen counts to see to the job.

 

What Are Lantern Style Outdoor Wall Lights and Where To Use Them? 

Generally speaking, lantern lights are lights that fit onto a wall and give a minimum of 180 degrees of illumination. When you think of lanterns, you likely envision traditional style lanterns with metallic bodies, a hood and a base, but you can also purchase modern designs to suit the aesthetic of your home.

The LWA371 3 Watt Brass Finish Outdoor LED Wall Light is a modern lantern-style light. It features a metallic base with a gold-toned finish and a diffuser at the top to shine warm white light through. The minimalist style makes it suitable for placement anywhere mentioned above without taking up too much space or being distracting.

LWA371 3 Watt Brass Finish Outdoor LED Wall Light

LWA371 3 Watt polished brass garden wall light

For an even more dramatic modern porch wall light fitting, you can choose the LWA310 5 Watt 300mm Tall Black Outdoor LED Wall Light. This wall light features a one-of-a-kind shape with a tall, diffused light shade in the centre where it protrudes to resemble a candle. This light captures the appearance of an old-fashioned lantern in a contemporary way and shines light back onto the wall behind it.

LWA310 5 Watt 300mm Tall Black Outdoor LED Wall Light

LWA310 5 watt black outdoor wall lights

Lantern lights can be used along a wall in a row to create a mystical effect or in a porch entrance area to welcome guests to the door. For other practical uses, you can place them at the ends of a garage to shine light down onto the driveway or to stylishly light an entertainment area in the garden.

 

How To Use Low Level Outdoor Wall Lighting? 

Low level lighting is particularly useful when it comes to lighting steps or installed low along the exterior of a house to light a walkway. As you can see with the ODL701 3 Watt Round Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light, you can shine light right down onto the ground, washing it with illumination that spreads out to light a walkway or steps. This can increase the visibility and therefore the safety of the walking area. At the same time, it adds a unique style.

ODL701 3 Watt Round Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light

ODL701 3 watt black recessed outdoor step light

The ODL041 1 Watt Square Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light works similarly. It shines light slightly further out from the wall, making it better suited for larger steps or landings. It has a square shape that allows it to fit in well with any colour exterior without clashing.

ODL041 1 Watt Square Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light

ODL041 1 watt black outside step lights

Both of the above lights and any other low level lighting can be used to light a walkway as well, one that is flat and either paved or with stepping stones. Recessing them into outdoor steps or placing them at the side can also create beautiful ambient lighting in the area.

Installing them in seating areas will give you ambient lighting without any glare or being uncomfortable to look at like some hanging lights can be when it is late at night. They are one of many ways you can use outdoor garden wall lights to your advantage when entertaining.

 

Are Solar Outdoor Wall Lights Worth It?

Solar lights have been at the centre of lighting discussions for the past few decades. Many are attracted to the idea of them because of the idea that they get their energy from the sun and not the mains. This will save you money in the long run, but generally speaking, outdoor solar wall lights don’t tend to be beneficial enough to make them worth it.

 

Here are a few reasons to reconsider solar lighting for your exterior wall lights:

  • In the winter, they may not work as well or at all due to the lower level of sunlight emitted that is needed to charge them during the day.
  • They can be bulky if you have to install separate solar panels on the walls near the lights to power them.
  • The quality of the light is diminished since they are not getting the power of the mains system.
  • They tend to be of poor quality because of the cheap import products that are used.
  • The initial cost may seem appealing, but they need to be replaced and updated regularly, which can add up over time.

 

Reasons To Use Good Quality Outdoor Wall Lighting

Quality is quite important for all lights–not just solar ones. Foregoing high-quality lighting to save money on upfront costs can end up costing you more in the future. Quality doesn’t just stop with the integrity of the product. A good quality light can add something visually to the space.

 

Below, we will explore a few benefits of using premium quality LED Outdoor wall lighting:

  • DURABLE AND STRONG. Because the lights are outside and exposed to the elements, they run the risk of taking on damage from wind, rain and sun. Higher quality-constructed lights ensure that your purchases will be able to withstand that exposure particularly if they are used as front door outside light fittings.
  • INCREASES THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME. With gorgeous lighting comes gorgeous curb appeal. Curb appeal is important when selling a home, as it is something that potential buyers often look for when pulling up to a home.
  • LONG-LASTING LIFE. The fixtures themselves aren’t the only thing that needs to survive. Choosing LED bulbs will yield you lighting that lasts far longer than other traditional bulbs. LED lights are known to last an average minimum of 20,000 hours, as opposed to the 1,000 hours or so of halogen lights. This will eliminate the need for constant replacements.
  • MAKES YOUR HOME THE ENVY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. With a beautiful exterior, your house will stand out among the others on the street. It will also serve as a conversation starter for any visitors to your home.

 

What Other Options Are Available To Light Up Outdoor Walls?

There are many outdoor wall lamp varieties for you to choose from. From LED brick lighting to low level lights, the possibilities seem endless. Outdoor wall lamps are every bit as diverse and versatile as any interior lights, and that leaves you with many options to work with.

 

Below are some unique ways for you to light your space in an out-of-the-box style:

  • FESTOON LIGHTING. Festoon lighting consists of exposed bulbs, either large or small, that are strung up on wire. They tend to be eye catching and create a laid-back, relaxed space that makes them well-suited to use for LED patio wall lights when you drape them around.
  • FAIRY LIGHTS. Like festoon lighting, fairy lights can be strung up around your outdoor seating area or porch to create a whimsical look. Fairy lights tend to be smaller and more subtle than festoon lighting.
  • SOLAR LIGHTS. Even with their downsides, solar lighting can still have its place. You can line the driveway with them or even walkways into your garden to ensure there is plenty of light to see when walking in the area at night.
  • HIDDEN LIGHTS. With lights tucked away behind feature walls, under stairs or on the lips of furniture, you can generate a light whose source is difficult to see, giving it a more modern look. Hidden lighting can also serve as wall washing lights by shining up the walls from an unknown source.
  • RECESSED GROUND LIGHTING. Lights that sit flush with the ground and shine upward are perfect for lining walkways, steps and driveways. This sort of low level lighting is as practical as it is stylish.
  • SOFFIT LIGHTING. This style of lighting sits in or on the soffits of the house or building and shines light downward, creating a well-lit perimeter without the need for installing wall lights.

 

Other Types of Lighting You Can Use To Complement Your Outdoor Wall Lighting

Alongside the above, you can add additional lighting to make your outdoor wall lights stand out:

  • BOLLARD LIGHTING. Bollard lights are posts that are installed in the ground and stand straight up. They can be tall or short, thin or wide. When spaced out next to one another or used at the head of a walkway, they create a space that is easier to navigate while also outlining and separating areas from one another.
  • SPIKE LIGHTING. Spike lights serve a similar purpose. They can be installed anywhere you install bollard lights and are particularly stylish and useful in seating and entertainment areas.
  • UNDERGROUND LIGHTING. With lights hidden beneath the earth and shining upward, you can create stunning visual effects when highlighting shrubs or architectural features.
  • OUTDOOR PENDANT LIGHTS. Layering lighting is as important outdoors as it is indoors. Using pendant lighting as your ambient lighting complements the wall lights by ensuring no shadows are lingering where the wall lights cannot reach.

 

Can You Use Any Lights on Exterior Walls?

Unfortunately, you cannot use just any type of lighting on your exterior walls. Outdoor lighting needs to have a minimum IP rating of IP44 to comply with the electrical regulations in the UK. Fortunately, our lights range between IP44 to IP65, making them compliant indeed.

IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, are an indicator of a light’s protection level from various types of contaminants. The first digit in the IP rating is the protection from solid objects, while the second digit indicates how well protected a light is against moisture.

 

First Digit – Solid Object Protection

 

0  –  No protection against solid substances

1  –  Protection against damage from solid objects larger than 50 millimeters

2  –  Protection against damage from solid objects larger than 12 millimeters

3  –  Protection against damage from solid objects larger than 2.5 millimeters

4  –  Protection against damage from solid objects larger than one millimeter

5  –  Protection against damage from dust in limited quantities

6  –  Protection against any dust and other harmful deposits, otherwise known as being “dust-tight”

 

Second Digit – Moisture Protection

 

0  –  No protection against moisture

1  –  Protection against moisture caused by dripping water

2  –  Protection against moisture caused by dripping water when at a 15-degree tilt

3  –  Protection against moisture caused by spraying water

4  –  Protection against moisture caused by splashing water

5  –  Protection against moisture caused by water jets

6  –  Protection against moisture caused by strong jets of water

7  –  Protection against moisture caused by immersion as deep as one meter

8  –  Protection against moisture caused by immersion in water deeper than one meter

 

What Style of Outdoor Wall Light Should You Choose?

With so many types of external wall mounted light, how do you know which is best for you? To decide, you will need to ask yourself a few questions:

 

Modern or traditional lighting?

Modern lighting has the benefit of looking great on traditional and modern buildings alike, but traditional lights can look strange when used on modern buildings.

 

What size is the space?

Choosing wall lights that fit the size of the area is important. If you have large lights crammed into tiny areas, it can create a cluttered and bulky look. Conversely, lights that are too small for a spacious area can easily get lost.

 

What kind of climate do you live in?

For example, if you live in rainy, humid weather inland, you will need IP rated lights that are capable of withstanding moisture damage. If you live near the coast, you need durable lights designed to resist damage from the salty sea air.

 

Where will you place them?

Do you plan to install rows of wall lights or one on either side of a door? Do you want them high above on the wall or sitting low near the ground? This will determine the kind of lights you want to opt for.

 

How bright are they?

Some lights will benefit from being exceptionally bright, such as spotlights shining upward on a hotel. Other locations will need to be softer, so they are easier on the eyes like porch lights. Consider the lumen amount and even the colour temperature of the light before deciding on one or the other.

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