Outdoor Accent Lights For House

Proper outdoor lighting can make your home look more appealing and inviting, increasing its curb appeal. You can also create a safer outdoor space by ensuring adequate lighting. When choosing outdoor accent lights, you'll need to consider several factors, including the type of light fixture, the brightness of the light, and the placement of the lights.

Types of Outdoor Accent Lights

There are several different types of outdoor accent lights, each with its unique benefits and drawbacks. Some of the most common types include:

Floodlights: Floodlights emit a wide beam of light, making them ideal for illuminating large areas. They are often used to light up driveways, patios, and other outdoor living spaces.
Spotlights: Spotlights emit a narrow beam of light, making them ideal for highlighting specific features of your home, such as architectural details or landscaping. They can also be used to create dramatic effects by casting shadows.
Path lights: Path lights are small, low-profile lights that are designed to illuminate walkways and other pathways. They are typically spaced evenly along the path to provide consistent lighting.
Deck lights: Deck lights are designed to be installed on decks and other outdoor surfaces. They are typically recessed into the surface to provide a clean, finished look.
Wall-mounted lights: Wall-mounted lights are attached to the exterior walls of your home. They can be used to provide general illumination or to highlight specific features of your home's exterior.

Brightness of Outdoor Accent Lights

The brightness of your outdoor accent lights is another important consideration. You'll want to choose lights that are bright enough to provide adequate illumination without being too harsh or glaring. The brightness of a light is measured in lumens. The higher the lumen output, the brighter the light will be.

For most outdoor accent lighting applications, you'll want to choose lights with a lumen output of between 500 and 1000 lumens. This will provide enough light to illuminate your outdoor space without being too overpowering.

Placement of Outdoor Accent Lights

The placement of your outdoor accent lights is also important. You'll want to place your lights in a way that provides even illumination and highlights the best features of your home's exterior. Here are a few tips for placing your outdoor accent lights:

Use a variety of light fixtures: Don't be afraid to use a variety of light fixtures to create a more dynamic and visually appealing look. For example, you could use floodlights to illuminate your driveway, spotlights to highlight your landscaping, and path lights to line your walkways.
Consider the height of your lights: The height of your outdoor accent lights will affect the way they illuminate your home. Taller lights will cast a wider beam of light, while shorter lights will create a more focused beam of light.
Use light to create shadows: Shadows can add depth and interest to your outdoor space. Use your lights to create shadows by placing them behind objects or by shining them at an angle.