Need outdoor lighting (floodlight or sconce) advice

last year

last modified: last year

I'm in need of lighting for the driveway area outside of the garage. Due to the split between brick on the sides of the garage and the black vertical cedar siding in the center above the garage door, I'm torn between installing sconces on the side or installing something in the middle.One thing to note is that the light fixture above the main entry door is a black sconce that lights above and below, so I was originally trying to find something that matches this aesthetic. Not sure if it'll work though.My latest idea was to install just a simple black floodlight in the area above the garage door for the time being. If I do end up going with that, how far up would you suggest install it? About midpoint, or higher or under the eaves to better conceal it?
See photos below!

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Comments (5)

Chet K
Original Author
last year
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
How about some LED strip light all across the door . Is it lighting the driveway or just for some additional light.
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
A few suggestions besides the lights.

Pressure wash the drive

Eliminate any orange paint on your house

Install lanterns on each brick wall

Looks like you need another lantern adjacent to the front door

IMO the stain color chosen for your wood siding is way too dark.

You don't want a flood light,...... this isn't a maximum security prison you're trying to illuminate.

I suggest you consider landscape lighting for the front yard to provide additional illumination as your approach your home.

That shrub in the foreground is at least twice the size appropriate for that location. It's a safety issue. Cut it back.
Chet K thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
wdccruise
last year
last modified: last year
Outdoor lighting should always follow Dark Sky principles to illuminate only the areas that need it and minimizes light pollution. Fixtures like those above should not be used and your house should never look like that.

I'd suggest installing downlights under the eaves in front of the garage door as those would cause the least light pollution. Select fixtures that illuminate the ground in front of the door, not the door itself (which would serve no purpose). If I were to use an LED strip light as suggested above, I'd install it in a deep channel (example) or groove to limit lighting to the area directly in front of the garage door.

An alternative would be to attach dark-sky compliant wall lights to the brick. (Don't choose two-way fixtures that also shine upwards.) Your house is modern and there are many interesting products. No floodlights.

I'd tuck a downlight above the landing in front of the entry door. If you needed to illuminate a portion of the driveway to guide people to the front door, consider low-voltage path lights.

Walk out of your house and see the stars!
Chet K thanked wdccruise
PRO
MIRODEMI
last year
Hello! Check our bestselling outdoor wall lamps. They are very beautiful and of high quality.

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