Outdoor wall lights can be a beautiful way to illuminate the exterior of your home. They can also be a powerful design element, highlighting the texture and surface dimension of your walls.
Lighting trends are increasingly blurring the distinction between form and function. While traditional outdoor lights are primarily functional, new styles allow homeowners to express their style through lighting.
Rustic
Achieve a look that blends rustic style with modern sensibilities with outdoor wall lights fashioned from iron. In a lighting industry that often prioritises sleek minimalism, these fixtures offer enduring appeal in rich hues and organic textures that complement a variety of facades. They can be used to highlight architectural features or a charming façade, or they can add ambiance to an inviting seating area with the soft glow of ambient lighting. Rustic iron lighting is more than just a source of light; it’s a celebration of craftsmanship and a tribute to the enduring allure of natural materials.
Outdoor sconces come in a wide array of shapes, sizes and styles to accommodate virtually any design aesthetic. Many of these fixtures incorporate a minimalist silhouette that’s well-suited for contemporary and transitional designs, while others emphasise material contrast or geometric form to create bold profiles. Some even allow you to control the direction of light with options like the Appear flush mount, which casts a beam of subtle but powerful illumination that can be directed up or down depending on your needs.
Illuminate your steps and porch entrances with a set of delicately designed lantern sconces. Crafted from metal, these streamlined fixtures feature a geometric silhouette that seamlessly blends into the walls of traditional homes. They can be used to politely welcome guests and family members or to illuminate your outdoor dining table.
If you prefer a more refined look, consider a set of wall sconces with an antique bronze finish and a classic metal design that recalls historic European fashions. These fixtures have a classic, sturdy appearance and include water-, rust- and UV-resistant wrought iron construction for durability. They’re also rated for wet spaces and feature circular backplates that encase filament bulbs (sold separately) in bubble glass shades, adding a timeless design to your exterior decor.
Other outdoor wall sconces are crafted from iron with a distressed whitewash or brushed nickel finish for a more transitional appearance. They’re well-suited for a wide range of exterior finishes and can be matched with a variety of furniture pieces. Some of these sconces are also available with a black finish, which is ideal for contemporary designs and blends beautifully with dark wood or stone accents.
Contemporary
Lighting fixtures with contemporary designs bring clean lines and a simple, minimalist aesthetic to any outdoor space. These fixtures can add a striking focal point to a front entryway, garage door, backyard patio or any other wall-mounted area that is visible at night.
Modern outdoor wall lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it's easy to find the perfect complement to your home's architecture. For example, the Kichler Franceasi Wall Sconce features intriguing detailing that casts interesting shadows and a rich olde bronze finish for durability. Its angular silhouette is balanced by dual cylinder glass shades and rounded caps that are crafted for a sleek, contemporary look.
Alternatively, the Palladian Wall Sconce takes a more transitional approach. Featuring a streamlined silhouette with double sconced LEDs in a frosted glass shade, it's a sleek and versatile design that will elevate a variety of exterior aesthetics. The curved bases, textured hardware and dark bronze finish of this fixture give it a transitional style that blends well with both traditional and contemporary elements.
The Glenwillow One-Light LED Outdoor Wall Lantern presents a timeless design that will accentuate your home's landscape. The Victorian bronze finish with seeded glass creates an eye-catching, turn-of-the-century appearance, and the LED illumination is up to 79% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.
An essential part of any homeowner's landscape, outdoor lighting elevates security and the overall beauty of a home's exterior. This includes providing a welcoming glow to visitors and illuminating dark corners of the property. It also brings a sense of hospitality and warmth to a home, inviting friends and family to socialise into the evening and enjoying peaceful relaxation in a beautiful garden setting.
Aside from the practical benefits, outdoor lighting is an opportunity for homeowners to express their style and personality. This includes choosing the right fixture colour and material, as well as integrating Dark Sky Compliance and other environmentally responsible options that minimise light pollution and preserve the natural nighttime environment. The fixtures in this collection offer the style, functionality and quality to make a lasting impression on your guests and neighbours.
Transitional
Outdoor wall lighting plays a key role in the visual appeal of your home’s exterior, brightening entryways and drawing attention to landscaping or architectural highlights. When selecting a fixture, consider factors like Dark Sky Compliance to minimise light pollution and preserve the natural night environment, height to optimise visibility from your property’s perimeter, and materials that resist wear and tear from weather elements. Additionally, consider choosing a bulb with a high CRI to ensure accurate colour rendering and a cosy, welcoming ambiance.
The sleek silhouette of contemporary outdoor wall lights elevates the appearance of your property while offering energy-efficient functionality. Choose a fixture like the Gemini matte black LED wall sconce to illuminate your front door and elevate your home’s style with its minimalist design and dazzling brightness. Designed to be both functional and sophisticated, this fixture features an integrated LED that illuminates your space while using only 8.5 watts of power.
Lantern wall sconces are a stylish and timeless accent that adds character to your traditional home’s exterior. This type of fixture typically consists of two pieces that feature a metal frame with a glass shade that’s either clear, seeded, or frosted. They can be mounted on a wall to illuminate a walkway, porch entrance, or garage door. For a more ornate look, consider the Glenwillow 1-light LED outdoor wall lantern. Inspired by nature, this classic fixture boasts a Victorian bronze finish and an intricate metal pattern of leaves and vines that beautifully enhances your home’s landscape.
Whether your taste leans more towards modern or rustic, you’ll find plenty of options when it comes to transitional outdoor wall lights. The sleek silhouette of these fixtures makes them perfect for illuminating your entranceway or highlighting a garden accent. The all-white Dayna waterproof wall sconce is another excellent choice for outdoor lighting, blending functionality with sleek aesthetics to brighten your driveway and accentuate the beauty of your front yard.
Adding outdoor wall lighting to your home is an easy way to make your exterior more attractive and welcoming. It’s also a great way to increase your home’s security by illuminating walkways, stairways, and the surrounding area of your yard. For additional safety, consider installing motion sensors or dusk-to-dawn photosensors on your outdoor lighting system.
Traditional
Adding outdoor lighting to a home can help with safety and security, as well as enhancing the overall ambiance. Whether you're looking to brighten up the entryway to your house or provide a subtle glow for evening backyard gatherings, there are many options available. Choosing fixtures that match your design aesthetic can elevate your home's exterior with a sleek and stylish appearance. From minimalist designs that blend seamlessly with modern aesthetics to ornate and traditional pieces that add a timeless feel, there's something for every taste.
An elegant way to illuminate your home's entrance is with a pair of wall-mounted sconces. These decorative yet functional fixtures can make your front door stand out while creating a welcoming and inviting feeling for guests and family members alike. They're also a great option for illuminating stairs and walkways.
Choose a set of lights like the Appear sconce for an artistic, geometric silhouette that stands out on your home's exterior. The fixture features two openings that direct light up and down, so you can set the tone for your home's ambiance with 16 million colours of subtle but powerful illumination. It's crafted from metal in a matte black finish and topped with a band of wood for material contrast.
Lantern-style sconces are another popular choice for homeowners who want to create an old-world feel in their outdoor space. These sconces feature sturdy lantern-inspired designs and weather-resistant finishes for a classic, rustic appeal that looks great in any landscape. Many of these fixtures are adorned with frosted or seeded glass shades to protect the inner workings of the fixture and create a soft, warm glow when lit up.
Another popular type of sconce is the solar-powered model, which eliminates the need for electrical wiring and allows you to mount your lights anywhere that receives sunlight. Some people even use these fixtures in their landscaping to save money on electricity.
To install your new sconces, consult with a professional electrician. They can assess the current lighting setup in your home and recommend the right fixtures based on your needs. Alternatively, you can opt to do the installation yourself if you're familiar with and comfortable doing electrical work.
