Choosing Unique Outdoor Lighting Fixtures for Your Yard

by DoItYourself Staff

The outside of your home is nearly as important as the inside as it is the first thing that people see, so unique outdoor lighting fixtures are important. Outdoor lighting fixtures not only have the purpose of providing a safe haven for your light bulbs but outdoor lighting fixtures also work with, create or set a theme. There are things to consider when choosing unique outdoor lighting fixtures and this article will share some of those with you.

Size Perception Matters

Upon entering a home store and wandering over to the lighting fixture section you will be presented with dozens of options. Stores carry a wide variety of outdoor lighting fixtures because they need to provide many choices for any given person. Employees at these stores do not get a commission so they are more likely to offer you honest advice to any questions you may have. If you live in a small home that sits on one level you will not want outdoor lighting fixtures that are nearly as tall as your home. All this would do is make your home look much smaller than it actually is. Very tall lamp posts, for instance, may be too large for your small ranch home but perfect for a Victorian style. A good rule of thumb is for your outdoor lighting fixtures to be about 1/3 the height of the home from ground level to initial roof lip. This same rule applies to outdoor lighting fixtures that are affixed directly to the home but instead you use the door height to determine correct size.

Design and Style

Outdoor lighting fixtures should match the home's exterior. If you install outdoor lighting fixtures that just don't work with your home will make your home look silly. If you live in a mobile home and you're hanging medieval sconces on aluminum siding then it'll look weird and out of place. If you hang the same medieval lighting sconces on a home with a slate rock exterior then the sconces will make a world of difference. There hundreds of styles to choose from which makes picking one a difficult journey and definitely one that should not be that difficult. In order to choose unique outdoor lighting fixtures always choose a design and style that compliments the exterior of your home.

Cost of Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

You can spend a lot of money for outdoor lighting fixtures or very little. This will, of course, depend on your budget and what you want out of the fixture. The materials that make up outdoor lighting fixtures will often drive the price either up or down. The frame is the most crucial part of the fixture. The frame can come in various materials from wrought iron and aluminum to plastic and fiberglass. Along with the frame is the glass inside that can add to the cost. Tempered glass will cost much more than Plexiglas.