Your contractor should not be designing your space . I like outdoor lighting to be just like indoor , what do you do out in this area ? Do you dine here you need light for the table , is there seating it needs light . That is how you decide any lighting I would never combine 2000K and 5000K light together is a tiny space I would never do motion sensor light in a seating area of a outdoor space so IMO the light over the door to the garage can be on a switch inside to access that door and one on the inside of the garage to turn light on there they should be a 3 way to work from either direction . I would like to see the plan for that outdoor space to really see what is needed for lighting . We BBQ all year so lighting by the BBQ a must , we have an outdoor dining space it needs lighting , the outdoor seating area needs light . That is how outdoor lighting is planned so post a pic of the plan then we can help with the light plan. At least tell us the size of the space .

A motion sensor or a day/night sensor makes no sense in a private garden setting.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting Hi Patricia, thanks so much for your advice! You have a lot of great points here. I guess in the past, that small backyard space was not heavily utilized, that's why there was just one motion-sensor security light there over the door to the garage. And yes, that light is currently on a switch inside (in the garage).

Here is a blueprint for the current remodeling (for the entire house):

The lot size is 37' (W) x 100' (L). And the backyard (area highlighted in red) is about 8' (W) x 20' (L).

The garage has a door opening into the backyard, and the kitchen also has a sliding French door that can go into the backyard. I have also marked the two locations with red x that the contractor currently already setup the Round Metal Weatherproof Electrical Outlet Box to install light fixtures. I think there is a reason why the contractor didn't like the idea of drilling more holes on the wall connecting between the backyard and the garage, as that wall has a .lot of flowers (currently being covered by a lot of junk woods) and there is a outdoor brass faucet there too, and water and electrical do not mix well.

Thanks again!

Here is another angle looking out to the backyard from the kitchen. Note that that wall latern is not electrical powered. It is a solar powered or lighted by candle (which we probably willl remove or replace with other lighting solutions.

For the existing two locations that marked red X, I think we definitely will need two outdoor light fixtures, just don't know what "style" would be the best. As for the rest of the backyard, I was thinking that maybe solar powered string light or solar powered wall scone would work? Any thoughts? Thanks!

think about how the light from either (both) of these lights affect the interior spaces.

I personally do not want a motion sensor light flashing on and off, when I am getting my midnight snack.

a carriage style light often shows a bare bulb. I do not want to look eye level into a bare bulb.

Think dark sky lighting. read up online.

Light your rose garden with light to create atmosphere and accent the space.

have you considered solar lights?

is this a outdoor dining space, conversation, sunning, play area? think it through.

We got a converter for our back patio light fixture. You screw it into the existing socket so you can have a light bulb, but also a plug outlet. We plug in our string lights and they go on when we turn on the porch light.

(In case you have no outdoor plug there.)

Is that another door from garage to yard just past solar light? Is there a gate anywhere in the fence line for exit to alley? Guessing alley as it appears car entrance to garage is rear of house. A bit hard to envision what the yard looks like when cleared of construction & winter debris but it could be a jewel of a space & you have a view of it from kitchen slider doors. Do you have exterior plug ins out there? I’d strongly recommend at least 2. You’d then have a way to plug in patio type string lights & string along the fence. Why not plan exterior LED ground lighting for the planting areas? You don’t need path lighting but up lighting shining on plants around the border would create a beautiful space for sitting / dining.

I agree with Lyn that dark sky lighting is the way to go. Better for insects and birds (especially migrating birds), both of which are declining in numbers across the globe.

@Lyn Neilson, It sounds like someone gets a little startled from the sensor lights turning on and off from the bugs that are constantly flying around I get the same way. @ W C, I would definitely go with the solar lights and if you’re planning on installing a pergola that would be even better for hanging solar pendant lights.

@W C Here’s a visual of what I envisioned

Thanks for everyone's great ideas! I really appreciate it.

I was thinking of installing solar-powered string lights but I was not sure about installing pergola as it would add more cost and would require maintenance (we are not sure whether we will be living there, or use it as an AirBnB or long term rental yet). Thanks for mentioning about dark-sky lights (I was not aware of such a thing before). I will look into this, and perhaps it would be better to have a dark-sky light for the location above that white door entering the garage? Thoughts?

Here are some more photos for your reference (about the surroundings etc.). Note that we reserved an outdoor electrical outlet for patio or Christmas lights etc. Thanks again!

Thanks for the like!