The Best Outdoor Lights

Buying Guide

Outdoor lighting is both functional and decorative. It can be used to illuminate dark corners around your home’s exterior or create a whimsical aesthetic. There are many types of outdoor lights available, and choosing the right kind of lights is a matter of determining your needs, outdoor space and ideal use.

Ceiling outdoor lights are overhead lights that have a fixed radius and shine light from above. They are best for enclosed outdoor spaces such as patios and pergolas with a ceiling. These types of lights create a well-lit and dramatic look that is perfect for both intimate and large gatherings. While ceiling lights go on a horizontal surface, wall lighting goes on a vertical one. They illuminate spaces such as walkways and entryways. Wall lighting often has a unique aesthetic such as a farmhouse style or modernist style.

Other options include post lights, which are lights that are mounted on railings, fences or posts. They can be used around walkways or paths where there are not many options for mounting lighting fixtures. Post lights can be mounted high up on tall posts so they cast a wide ray of light. Shorter posts provide visibility closer to the ground. Many types of post lights are powered by solar energy instead of electricity.

If you have beautiful gardens around your space, you may want to highlight the flowers, shrubs and trees with landscape lighting. These are also great for illuminating fountains and sculptures. Landscape lights can be mounted on posts or can be low-profile and close to the ground.

Flood lights are perfect for increasing security around your property as they shine a wide, bright beam of light in a specific direction. They can be set on a motion sensor so they are only triggered when there is some kind of movement in the space.

Another option is to string up some rope lights, which are small bulbs strung together on a rope-like fixture. These lights offer flexibility as you can conform the rope into different configurations, such as wrapped around a fence post or hung in a pattern along an exterior wall. Rope lights can be a permanent or temporary fixture.

• When deciding on which kind of outdoor lights to get, it’s best to first look at the space you are trying to illuminate both in the daytime and in the dark. During the daytime, consider which areas of the space you want to light up. For example, is there is a walkway that should be lit up for safety reasons or would it be nice to have lighting on your porch so you can sit out there at night? When it is dark, take a look at what you can and cannot see as compared to the daytime. This will help you determine what kind of light you will need and where it should be installed.
• If you want to be energy-efficient, consider putting outdoor lights on a motion sensor. This way, the lights will not be on all the time — only when the sensors detect some movement in a certain area. This is ideal for lights that are used for safety purposes.
• Some outdoor lights are available in different colors and shades, which can change the mood of the space you’re illuminating. For example, lights with a yellow glow seem warmer than lights with a blue hue.