Can you post a photo?

Hey Carrie, I don't have a photo yet, but I will try and get one on here tomorrow!

I did a search for “front door with sconce on left” and got a few images. They looked fine to me. I have a single sconce to the right of my front door, but if it was on the left, I don’t think it would make much difference. As long as it lights the porch.

Thanks saypoint, I'd love to see the images...I cant seem to find any, I will try to search again.

Hmmm. Wait a minute. My light is to the left of my door. Does this look wrong? That never occurred to me!

Ha! No it doesn't, of course it may be because the left side is larger and it looks more natural to have the light there?

Well, I think our light is big enough and bright enough that the light would be sufficient on either side. And I have seen a lot of images with the light on the right and the door opening fro the left so that doesn't seem to be that common?

If you have but one light it should be on the side where the keyhole is to help you see how to unlock the door.

I get the idea of that, that you need to see the lock to open the door, but I think our light is big and bright enough that that is not an issue. But if that is the rule then we have it on the correct side because our door opens from the left. Even though we never lock our door.

I will try and get a photo on here tomorrow, hopefully that will help.

Our house has two doors on the front, the front door and a service door, and they both have the light to the left, on the same side as the lock.

But, on the front door the doorbell is to the right; on the service door, the doorbell is on the left. Not that that's a big deal.

Well lots nice to know it isn't unusual, seems funny that o can't find images of many on the left, but I am relived to know it's not uncommon. Maybe after we get the porch finished and I can decorate it then it will seem more natural to me. It could be that the fixture is too big.

If you are only going to have one mounted light then it is hung on the side of the door where the handle is. I’m trying to figure out what you’re asking, do you think all houses have the light on the right side of door the door always?

My house

from pinterest

My light is to the left of the door and the opposite side from the lock. There is a window to the right of the door, so the only place for the light would have been where it is, on the left. It is plenty bright to see the lock to open it. Not my house, but easy to find examples of it done this way. Looks fine to me!

Eta: I like it being away from the door opening side because it keeps the moths and other bugs from getting in as easily.

Thanks Annette, It just doesn't look right to me so I thought maybe it should be on the right side. But seeing these images has helped, most of the images I pulled up of one light they seemed to always be on the right side. But it may be that our light is just too big, or like I said maybe after we finish the porch it will look fine.

Thank you everyone! I will try and post a pic tomorrow.

I can't post a photo for you tonight, but my front entry light is on the left, and my door lock is on the left. There is a carriage lamp on a post where the sidewalk to front entry meets my driveway, and that is to the left ;0)

The light on the small deck off the master is the same. Mounted on the left, same side as door lock. All other doors to this house - hallway, patio, 'man' door from garage to patio - have outside lights built into the underside of roof overhang (which is deep) and are centered over the doors.

5 doors, no lights mounted to the right ;0)

Malarkey!

If the light is on the same side as the lock, the lock will be in the deepest shade of the door jamb. With most lights (unless they hang away from the wall), the light only illuminates the farthest side of the door. I just checked, and my entire front door is in the shade of the jamb except for 4 inches on the far right--the hinge side.

On my house (Philly row house), the only place to mount a light was to the left of my door, so I had no choice, and it looks fine.

IMHO--the light belongs on the hinge side of the door. That way, in the summer you can get in and out at night without as much interference from the stupid bugs flying around the light. Plus, you don't let as many in the house, either. Plus, plus--the light can shine on your lock!

Wow, more lefties out there than I thought, I am feeling much better now!

I actually think the light there is a better choice. On the right you have the railing, the window and the beam. On the left you have: the light!

In addition to "being able to see your lock better," the other main reason to have the light on the opening side is so that, if you have a screen or storm door, you can open it without blocking the light -- to see a guest, package, or whatever...

I think your setup looks ok. Right now, the light look stranded because there's so much space below it -- maybe you'll have a mailbox, house number, or decoration there? Would also be nice if your hardware didn't disappear into the door color, but that might be personal taste...

Thanks acm. Yes, I do wish we had chose a different color door now so the ORB handle would stand out......Oh well maybe I can change that down the road. I appreciate the input. I will probably have a sign made with our address, although I was thinking about placing it on the right side to balance things out? I'm sure with the porch finished and decorated the light won't look so lonely. We are hoping to do a porch swing that will set on the porch to the left and maybe some large planters.

I feel like what is making it look awkward is that the light is either installed really high or the design of the light (curly bar at the top) makes it look that way. It sounds like it isn’t possible to move it down any, but I would definitely soften the effect by putting the house numbers underneath the light and not to the right of the door.

Put the house numbers under the light -- so they are easily seen in the light rather than the shadow and to balance the height. I agree with all the others that the left side is the better side with the railing and the left lock and handle, but the light seems a bit high. Better too high than too low though.

I'm left-handed, so I think your light looks perfectly fine... I bet you are right-handed and gravitate naturally to the right. Your door has balance and your numbers are illuminated. It is fine.

If your light is not on the same side of the door as your door knob, rather than ripping out the wall, you might consider adding additional trim beside and above the door to hide the wiring and put a light on both sides of the door.

It's on the same side as doorknob

Yep I'm a R

TY everyone, I will plan on putting house numbers below the light. I love this website, so much help!