Porch Lighting, a Very Important Component of Your Outdoor Home Lighting Design Layout.

Porch Lighting is an important addition to your home lighting layout and by its very nature can also aid as Outdoor-Security-Lighting in that it helps to keep your home and exterior a far safer and securer place to live.

What is Porch-Lighting?

Porch-Lighting, comes in many different styles, designs and colors. Outdoor-Recessed-Lighting, Outdoor-Pendant-Lighting, all come under this category but the first thing that springs to mind when I think of Porch Lighting is a nice Wall-Light or Wall-Lantern, situated alongside the front door of a porch. Or, ideally, one either side of the front door.

The really good thing is that because there are so many different types in the way of Outdoor Wall Lighting (also known as Wall Sconces), there is a design and model to suit most porches of most homes and you only need to shop around to find the model and design you will love that will complement the décor of your porch:-).

Porch Wall Lighting. The example you can see depicted below is not too over elaborate but it will do a good job of illuminating your porch and will help to deter burglars and thieves from your home.

Porch Lighting

Antique Reproduction Wall Lights are one of my favorites as they hold a certain style and charm. All Outdoor Lighting is made to withstand the elements of the weather to a degree.

Even though your fixtures will be located under the cover of your porch they will still be susceptible to damp and wet weather conditions at some point so do ensure that you check with your Lighting Store that your fixture is built for outdoor use.

Outdoor Recessed Lighting?

Outdoor Recessed Lighting is very similar to Indoor Recessed Lighting except they are specifically made for out door use. In the photo below see how Recessed Lighting is used in the ceiling area. A few of these fixtures spaced 3 to 4 ft apart is usually sufficient to illuminate a porch and by adding a couple of Wall Sconces or Wall Lanterns, well this will be the icing on the cake:-).

Porch Lighting

Light Bulbs

Light Bulbs and the best ones to buy? This will depend on a couple of things really. Particularly with Outdoor Lighting a fine balance needs to be met to ensure that you do not over-illuminate your porch area.

LED light Bulbs are great for your Recessed Lights but they are not quite as bright as say Halogen Light Bulbs or Incandescent Light Bulbs so please bear this in mind when deciding on which ones to buy. Your Lighting Store will be pleased to advise you on the question of bulbs, so please do not be afraid to ask.

Motion Sensors

Motion Sensors has its “pros and cons” but mostly they are pros I am pleased to say. They work by way of an infra-red light which senses motion or heat which automatically sets off the light.

They are very good at scaring off intruders but the downside is that they can be set off by harmless things such as a rabbit or other small animal. This can be annoying at night when you are trying to get to sleep, but worse still it can be annoying to your neighbors so please bear this in mind before purchasing.

Outdoor Pendant Lighting

Outdoor Pendant Lighting is another one that I like very much. The photo below shows a beautiful example. The only possible downside is that your porch ceiling needs to be fairly high if you are thinking of installing one of these fixtures unless you are hanging your fixture over a table or other object that is as they are suspended by a chain.

Outdoor Pendant Lighting

Pendant Lighting both the Indoor and Outdoor variety comes in an abundance of shapes styles designs and finishes, at a guess many hundreds I would say so there should be something to suit every taste and pocket.

With regard to the best light bulbs for your pendant light, standard incandescent bulbs do an excellent job and are one of the cheapest bulbs to buy, although they are prone to blowing early it has to be said but they do throw out a good amount of light. Again, there are pros and cons as to whether to go for these or Low Energy Bulbs which initially cost more but may not be quite as bright as Incandescent ones.

Most people go for a combination of Porch Lighting Fixtures, how many you will need will depend on the size of your porch but as with all forms of lighting installation I would highly recommend that you use the services of a qualified electrician. Good luck and Happy Lighting!:-)

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