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The Ultimate Buying Guide for Outside Lights for Your House

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Outside Lights for Your House

Posted: December 06, 2024

Categories: Solar Lighting

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Outside Lights for Your House

Outside Lights is not just about illuminating the exterior of your house; it’s an important element that can transform your home's curb appeal and increase its functionality. Properly chosen outside lights enhance security, provide safety, and create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Whether you’re looking to brighten up a front porch, illuminate a garden path, or add drama to your outdoor space, choosing the right outdoor lighting is crucial.

In this buying guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about choosing the perfect outside lights for your house. Let’s dive in!

outside lights

What Are Outside Lights?

Outside lights, also known as outdoor lighting, are fixtures designed for outdoor spaces. They serve various purposes including safety, security, decoration, and creating ambiance. It also plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall aesthetic of your home, from highlighting landscaping features to making your home look inviting at night.

These outside lights come in various designs, sizes, and technologies to suit different needs and environments, making it important to choose the right style and features for your specific requirements.

What are the common types of Outside lights

1. Outside Landscape Lights: is designed to highlight and accentuate the beauty of your outdoor environment.Whether it's illuminating your garden, path, trees, or sculptures, these lights create a serene, inviting atmosphere around your home.

Application:

Ideal for use along garden paths, driveways, flower beds, and to highlight outdoor features like fountains or sculptures. They help guide the way through your garden while enhancing the night-time beauty of your landscape.

Linkind Smart Solar Spotlight SL5: is an advanced outside lights solution that combines style, functionality, and security. Perfect for illuminating garden paths, highlighting outdoor features like fountains and sculptures, and enhancing safety with its motion sensor, this spotlight offers versatile features. It is the world’s first solar spotlight with wireless smart control, allowing you to manage multiple lights at once. The SL5 provides three customizable lighting modes to suit different needs, from soft ambient lighting to bright, focused beams. Installation is flexible, with options for ground insertion or wall mounting, making it easy to position along paths, gardens, or entryways. Equipped with RGBTW technology, it offers 43 vibrant preset colors for dynamic lighting effects. Built with durable monocrystalline silicon PET lamination, the spotlight is weather-resistant, ensuring long-lasting performance. With its motion sensor, it not only illuminates but also adds an extra layer of security to your outdoor space.

Linkind Smart Solar Spotlight SL5
$69.99 69% Off
$231.99
  • Group Control: The world's first solar spotlight with wireless capabilities to offer smart group control functionality.

  • Multiple Convenient App Functions: Control smart spotlights with the AiDot App. Adjust color, temperature, brightness, and use group control, music sync, and energy-saving features.

  • Music Sync & Preset Scenes: Sync RGBTW smart solar lights with music by granting microphone permission. Customize effects, preset scenes, or choose from 16 million colors to enhance your outdoor ambiance.

  • Three Optional Lighting Modes: Linkind solar lights feature 3 modes: Motion for safety and efficiency, Luminance for automatic dusk-to-dawn lighting, and Continuous for constant illumination.

  • Enhanced Lighting & Easy Installation: Linkind solar spotlights are adaptable for ground or wall mounting, with 360° horizontal and 180° vertical adjustability.

     

     



Linkind Solar Pathway Light SP3: is a high-performance outdoor lighting solution designed for durability and efficiency. Featuring automatic dusk-to-dawn activation, this light provides up to 200 lumens of brightness and covers a wide 2-meter diameter, making it ideal for illuminating pathways and garden areas. Its IP54 waterproof rating ensures reliable performance in various weather conditions. Equipped with three lighting modes, the SP3 offers flexibility to suit your lighting needs. This outside light’s 70x70 mm solar panel is nearly double the size of standard 50x50 mm panels, allowing it to collect more solar energy in less time. After 6-8 hours of sunlight, it can run for up to 12 hours, providing warm white illumination throughout the night.

Linkind Solar Pathway Light SP3
$41.99 68% Off
$134.99
  • Auto On/Off Sensor: Linkind SP3 Solar Lights feature automatic dusk-to-dawn activation, powered by light-sensitive sensors for hassle-free operation.

  • Unique Decorative Design: Embracing a planet-inspired aesthetic, these solar lights cast mesmerizing shadows akin to Venus's circular reflection, adding elegance to your outdoor setting.

  • Super Bright Illumination: Emitting up to 200lm brightness and covering a wide 2m diameter, these LED solar path lights brilliantly enhance your garden, landscape, or patio.

  • Easy Installation Options: With four height options for effortless setup, these landscape lights offer customizable illumination to illuminate your outdoor spaces with ease.

  • Highly Waterproof Construction: Crafted from premium ABS material with IP54 waterproofing, these solar lights endure harsh weather conditions for durable, long-lasting performance.

2. Outside Hanging Lights and Lanterns:are perfect for creating a vintage, rustic, or even bohemian atmosphere in your outdoor spaces. These lights are usually suspended above, making them ideal for larger areas where you want both style and function.

Application:

Best for larger outdoor spaces like patios, decks, or dining areas. They provide general ambient lighting while adding a warm, cozy ambiance, perfect for evening gatherings or alfresco dining.

Related Articles:

TOP 5 Outdoor Hanging Lights for a Cozy Backyard

The Complete Guide to Solar Lantern Lights

 

3. Outside Wall-Mounted Lights: are versatile, functional fixtures that attach directly to the exterior walls of your home. They provide a perfect balance of practicality and style, offering both visibility and decorative appeal.

Application:

Wall-mounted lights are great for enhancing the security and aesthetic of areas like the front door, entryways, garage, or along exterior walls. They also make a welcoming statement near porches and verandas.

4. Outside Floodlights: are high-powered, wide-beam lights designed to illuminate large areas, making them perfect for security, driveways, or open outdoor spaces. They provide an expansive coverage of lights.

Application:

Ideal for large yards, driveways, outdoor courts, or even security purposes. Floodlights help brighten up large spaces, making them safer and more secure. They’re also excellent for highlighting features like large trees or outdoor sculptures.

Related Article:
Top 6 Outdoor Flood Lights: Bright and Energy-Efficient Options

 

5. Outside Deck and Step Lights: are designed specifically for lighting stairs, steps, and railings, ensuring safe navigation in the dark. These lights are unobtrusive and functional, often integrated directly into the structure of your deck or staircase.

Application:

Perfect for decks, patios, stairs, and walkways, these lights are essential for safety. They help prevent accidents by lighting up the steps and any uneven ground.

 

6. Outside Post Lights: are mounted on top of posts, fences, or columns to illuminate driveways, walkways, or gardens. These lights are both functional and decorative, adding a polished look to outdoor spaces while providing ample lighting.

Application:

Ideal for gates, garden walkways, or at the end of fences or driveways. Post lights are commonly used along entryways or to define property boundaries, offering a welcoming touch as well as safety and security.

Related Article:
Transform Your Outdoor Space: The Ultimate Guide to Solar Post Lights

The Best Brightness levels for Outside Lights

When choosing outside lights, brightness is measured in lumens (lm), which quantify the total amount of light emitted. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. Below is a table summarizing the lumens levels and the best use cases for each:

Lumens Range

Best For

Use Cases

Examples

Benefits

50-300 Lumens

Ambient or Accent Lighting

Soft, decorative lighting for gardens, pathways, and architectural features. Ideal for creating ambiance and highlighting small outdoor elements.

Small garden lights, path lights, accent lights for statues, trees, or details.

Energy-efficient, provides subtle lighting for mood and aesthetic purposes.

300-700 Lumens

General Outdoor or Task Lighting

Provides sufficient lighting for areas like driveways, porches, and small to medium-sized outdoor spaces. Effective for lighting paths or decks.

Wall-mounted lights, post lights, small floodlights.

Good visibility for security and daily activities, ideal for frequently used areas.

700-1,500 Lumens

Security or Floodlighting

High brightness needed for large areas or security lighting. Perfect for driveways, yards, or around buildings.

Large floodlights, wall-mounted lights, motion-sensor lights.

Maximum coverage, ideal for security and large outdoor activities.

1,500+ Lumens

Extensive Outdoor Areas or Heavy-Duty Lighting

Intense lighting for large areas or commercial properties. Ideal for sports courts, large lawns, or industrial settings.

Stadium lights, large-area floodlights, heavy-duty security lights.

Provides extreme brightness for expansive areas, ideal for commercial or large residential spaces.

Other Considerations when Choosing Outdside Lights

This table highlights the key factors to consider when choosing outside lights to ensure they meet your needs and match your home's style.

Consideration

Details

Weather Resistance (IP Rating)

- IP65 or higher: Offers excellent protection against rain and dust. Ideal for most outdoor climates.
- IP44 or lower: Suitable for sheltered areas or dry climates.

Materials for Durability

- Aluminum: Lightweight, rust-resistant, weatherproof.
- Stainless Steel: Strong, corrosion-resistant.
- Plastic: Budget-friendly, but less durable.
- Copper: Durable, classic aesthetic but may tarnish over time.

Color Options

- Warm White (2700K-3000K): Soft, inviting glow, ideal for patios, gardens, and relaxing spaces.
- Cool White (4000K-5000K): Crisp, bright light, perfect for task-oriented areas like driveways and security lighting.
- RGB Colors: Versatile, allows customization for parties, holidays, or mood lighting.

Solar vs. Battery-Powered

- Solar Lights: Energy-efficient, no wiring, ideal for garden/path lights.
- Battery-Powered Lights: Energy-efficient, but require battery replacement.

Style & Design Compatibility

- Traditional Homes: Lantern-style or vintage designs.
- Modern Homes: Sleek, minimalist metals like stainless steel.
- Rustic Homes: Natural materials like wood or iron.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right outside light is essential for both aesthetics and functionality. The right lights can enhance your home’s curb appeal, improve security, and create a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you need subtle landscape lighting or bright floodlights for safety, understanding the types, brightness levels, and key features will help you make the best decision.

Consider factors like weather resistance, durability, energy efficiency, and design to ensure your outdoor lights fit your needs and complement your home. With the right choices, you can create a beautiful, safe, and efficient outdoor space that lasts for years.

FAQs about Outside Lights

Q1: What is the best outside lights for a house?
It depends on your needs: floodlights or motion-sensor lights for security, landscape lights or hanging lanterns for ambiance, and wall-mounted or path lights for practical illumination.

Q2: What are the different types of outside lights?
Types include landscape lights, floodlights, wall-mounted lights, post lights, and hanging lanterns, each serving different purposes.

Q3: How do I choose the right brightness for outside lights?
For pathways, 100-200 lumens; for tasks (grilling, reading), 300-500 lumens; for general or ambient lighting, 200-300 lumens; for security or large areas, 700-1,500 lumens or higher.