You want an "open bottom" because you want lights that comply with dark sky (darksky.org) principles and shine downwards, not outwards or upwards or onto the wall.

In most cases you won't be changing a bulb as the fixtures have integrated LEDs. Choose lights whose color temperature is 2700K or 3000K maximum, and dimmable.

Sources (but the "dark sky" designation be inaccurate as some products listed shine upwards, outwards, or have bulbs exposed from the sides):

• Lumens
• Home Depot
• Lowes
• Build

You "don't want to have to clean them".......

Well. Climate and topography, and Mother Nature factor into a lot of exterior maintenance. Any environment with salt air will mean maintenance. A home on a lake will mean cobwebs, bugs. So too those in a wooded surrounding.

As with any part of the exterior of your home? It depends how clean and pretty you want to keep it. Bugs, insects that fly.......are attracted to light in darkness. That's life and it hardly matters outside the glass, or inside: )

Will they be on all the time? My porch light is on at night so it’s a sealed led faux can. Along my deck I have a row of open fixtures that are on just occasionally so rarely need attention. Agreed with LEDs changing the lamp is never an issue.

I have a closed bottom fixture, basically like an opal glass cup that screws onto the base, and even though it is "closed" I have to unscrew the glass and shake out dead bugs and dirt on a regular basis. And they show at the bottom of the fixture as dark spots when the light is on. In an open bottom fixture, this sort of stuff will fall out. It will get cobwebs and such in it. That is the nature of things.

I personally don't like LED fixtures where you can't change the LED because of having to dispose of the entire fixture if the LED goes out. This is theoretically not supposed to happen, they are supposed to last thousands of hours, but I know several people this has happened to. Even if it happens ten years from now, it's still a big something that ends up in a landfill instead of a small bulb.

Everything needs to be cleaned form time to time there are no exceptions

I have open bottom lights on our garage and prefer these vs closed bottom. The glass is kind of marbled so doesn't need cleaning that often. Every couple of weeks I do find myself with a soft hand brush wiping away cobwebs. Much more bug activity this time of year.

Great input - thank you!
I should clarify - I don’t want to have to clean them frequently. Obviously they’ll need to be cleaned from time to time no matter what we pick.
I do think either textured or seeded glass might be a good idea - seems like clear glass will really show everything…

Will never purchase an integrated LED fixture again. We had a leak and had to pitch the entire fixture. Money down the drain.

I have open bottom lanterns on my house and have to deal with birds building nests in them.