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March 24, 2025
Lighting outdoors is equally important as lighting indoors. Gardens, entryways, walkways, driveways, stairs, backyards, etc. need proper lighting for safety issues. Dark outdoor areas may increase tripping over here and there.
On the other hand, choosing the right exterior lighting options makes your outdoor areas bright, glamorous, and safe. This post will provide you the tips to choose the correct outdoor lighting options for your needs.
Key Takeaways Choosing the outdoor lights is critical and cannot be done randomly. Here are the best tips before you decide on the fixture:
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The primary function of outdoor lighting is safety. It can work as a decorative feature too that brings brightness and glam to your house. Here are the key reasons why outdoor lighting is essential:
Basically, the outdoor areas become dark after sunset. Due to the lack of adequate illumination, there is a risk of trips and falls. Also, people may face difficulties finding their way to your front door.
There is also a matter of security. Dark outdoor areas might increase the risk of potential intruders. However, a motion-active light or a brighter light outdoors can eliminate this risk.
The outdoor lights can enhance the look of your outdoor areas and make them eye-catching. So, these are great exterior decor to make your place inviting.
By lighting up the outdoors, especially the patios or backyards, you can extend the usable space of your house.
Outdoor lights are great for creating any festive vibe too.
Check the collections from Shoppe Maison Rose and pick outdoor lights to match your exterior design for safety, security, and functionality.
Different brands offer different styles and shapes for outdoor lights. Their specifications are different. The light you choose needs to match your exterior look and design, meet the brightness needs, etc. Here are some tips you should consider when choosing outdoor lights:
Different types of light serve different purposes. Pick one according to your purpose. Check the following table to find the best match.
Purpose |
Appropriate types of outdoor lights |
Illumination of pathways |
Consider Solar-powered lights as they are energy efficient. Choose soft, steady, and weather-resistant lights. You can get Blaze Outdoor Wall Sconce or Atwater Hanging Light from Shoppe Maison Rose. |
Entryway lighting |
Use warm white wall lights or pendants. Consider Shoppe Maison Rose’s Harac, Andersen, RLM Outdoor Pendant, Axel Outdoor Wall Sconce, Briggs Wall Sconce Bronze, etc. |
Security lighting |
Floodlights and motion sensor lights are appropriate for enhanced security. Choose high-lumen and cool-colored lights. Consider using motion-activated floodlights. |
Stair safety |
Use soft, steady, and warm white lights. Consider using Cannes Flush Mount, Cara, Gomez, Mission Beach Pendant, etc. from Shoppe Maison Rose. |
Patio lighting |
Choose waterproof LED strip lights or wall sconces for patios. Blink Outdoor Wall Sconce, Brandon Sconce, Ashton, Ossian, Blade Outdoor Wall Sconce, etc. are great options. |
Enhancing social ambiance |
Look for warm, dimmable, and weatherproof lights for a cozy and decorative look. Consider Shoppe Maison Rose’s Jerome Sconce, Angie Asymmetrical Glass Wall Sconce, Curves Wall Sconce, Colton Sconce, Ashton, Bushwick Sconce, etc. |
Before you choose outdoor lighting options, look for the right brightness and color temperature. These two things can change the entire look and style.
Brightness levels of lights are measured in lumens and different ranges of lumens are required for different purposes. Here are the lumen requirements according to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
Purpose |
Recommended Lumen Range (Per Square Meter) |
Illumination of pathways |
50 to 100 lumens |
Entryway lighting |
100 to 300 lumens |
Security lighting |
100 to 300 lumens |
Stair Safety |
50 to 100 lumens |
Patio lighting |
100 to 300 lumens |
Enhancing social ambiance |
50 to 100 lumens |
Swimming Pool and Water Features |
200 to 400 lumens |
Garage Lighting |
200 to 300 lumens |
Parking Lot lighting |
300 to 500 lumens |
Picking the right color temperature is essential too. It determines the warmth or coolness of the light. The right color makes the space look warm and cozy or bright and shiny. Here are the color temperatures suitable for different outdoor areas.
Color Temperature |
Suitable for |
2200K to 2700K (Warm White, Soft Amber Tone) |
Pathways, walkways, patios |
2700K to 3000K (Warm White, Slightly Brighter) |
Entryways and doorways |
3000K to 4000K (Neutral White) |
Task lighting in outdoor kitchens, work areas, and areas with architectural features |
4000K to 5000K (Cool White) |
Garages and driveways |
5000K to 6500K (Daylight, Bright and Crisp) |
Parking lots or areas requiring maximum visibility. |
As outdoor lights are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, they must be weather resistant. So, pick outdoor lights that are made of stainless steel, aluminum, and brass. These materials are durable and resistant to rust.
Strategic placement of the outdoor lights can enhance the look and effectiveness. Add the lights in a layered approach to create dimensions and depth. You can combine different shapes and styles of lights in a specific area to create layers. Do not position the lights to get direct glare. Try to use uplights and downlights to create light and shadow in the area.
Choose outdoor lights according to the existing exterior decor. If the lights match the existing style, it will complement the overall look. Mixing different styles in one place may look chaotic and overly decorated.
Choose LED or solar-powered lights to save energy usage. Decorating and layering the outdoors with lights will turn to high energy bills. Choosing energy-efficient options consumes less energy while creating a stunning look.
Quality lighting indicates lighting with durable, premium, and efficient lights. Premium options often have superior energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and enhanced safety and security. You can consider Shoppe Maison Rose’s collections as they offer high-quality and premium outdoor lights.
Choosing and placing the outdoor lights is a critical task. Do not randomly get any light to brighten up the outdoors. Consider the key factors like the purpose, color temperature, brightness requirements, style, quality, material, etc. before you pick the outdoor lights.
Check Shoppe Maison Rose For their durable and classy outdoor lighting collections. You can pick the right match for your outdoor areas and bring some shine to your house.
As principal at Maison Rose Interiors, Rose instills a bit of natural Canadian warmth where she was born and raised, and coastal California where she now lives. Rose’s culturally diverse background and travels abroad are seen in all her objects and ever evolving style. No matter what the style she is asked to create, each space designed by Rose is refined, collected, and unique.