12 Illuminating Ways to Light Your Entrance
Forget hunting for the keyhole or tripping on the step, stylish exterior lights will brighten up and beautify your entrance
Coming home to a dark house or negotiating an unlit porch after a long day at work is not a great experience, so give your front door a lift with lighting. Good exterior illumination is essential, especially if you live in the countryside, where street lighting is scarce. It helps you to see – which also prevent accidents – and improves the security of your home. You don’t need to spend a fortune on outside lights; often just one or two will make a huge difference to the atmosphere, front of house. So check out these illuminating ideas for bright and lovely front door lighting…
Work with windows
There is so much lighting pouring from the impressive windows in this property that there’s almost no need for an outside light. A simple, modern design, installed level with the top of the door frame, provides enough illumination.
There is so much lighting pouring from the impressive windows in this property that there’s almost no need for an outside light. A simple, modern design, installed level with the top of the door frame, provides enough illumination.
Brighten up steps
Fitting lights into the steps up to a front door not only looks attractive, it helps visitors clearly see the stairs, preventing accidents. As these built-in lights are not especially bright, a strong downlight above the door is also included in this scheme.
Fitting lights into the steps up to a front door not only looks attractive, it helps visitors clearly see the stairs, preventing accidents. As these built-in lights are not especially bright, a strong downlight above the door is also included in this scheme.
A series of Victorian and Edwardian Front Doors
Don’t forget flames
A traditional storm lantern full of candles is a romantic way to light your front step. Choose chunky church candles, which have a long burning time, rather than tea lights.
A traditional storm lantern full of candles is a romantic way to light your front step. Choose chunky church candles, which have a long burning time, rather than tea lights.
Get funky
If your front door space is sheltered from the elements, consider hanging an interior fixture outside for a double dose of wow. Here, it’s the iconic Sputnik light. Ask an electrician to fit it to ensure it’s safely installed.
If your front door space is sheltered from the elements, consider hanging an interior fixture outside for a double dose of wow. Here, it’s the iconic Sputnik light. Ask an electrician to fit it to ensure it’s safely installed.
Create a runway
Lights set along a path leading up to a softly illuminated front door seem to draw you in, creating a runway effect and leading visitors towards the entrance.
Lights set along a path leading up to a softly illuminated front door seem to draw you in, creating a runway effect and leading visitors towards the entrance.
Go minimalist
Choose lighting that will match the design and feel of your home’s exterior. Huge traditional lanterns suit a handsome Georgian home, but a modern, timber clad property like this calls for something more discreet. Here, a small single light fitted onto the timber wall makes an unobtrusive addition to this stylish home.
Choose lighting that will match the design and feel of your home’s exterior. Huge traditional lanterns suit a handsome Georgian home, but a modern, timber clad property like this calls for something more discreet. Here, a small single light fitted onto the timber wall makes an unobtrusive addition to this stylish home.
Do the double
On a modernist property where the door is part of a larger piece of glazing, add lights at two heights to create a beautifully illuminated facade with different points of interest.
On a modernist property where the door is part of a larger piece of glazing, add lights at two heights to create a beautifully illuminated facade with different points of interest.
Hang a classic lantern
If you are lucky enough to have an imposing front porch, then hang a classic lantern to match. This lovely glass and metal design has a timeless quality and is big enough to cast lots of light over this spacious entrance.
If you are lucky enough to have an imposing front porch, then hang a classic lantern to match. This lovely glass and metal design has a timeless quality and is big enough to cast lots of light over this spacious entrance.
Fit discreet downlighters
Downlighters are much used indoors and produce lots of light from a very minimalist fitting. You can work them into your exterior scheme, too, by building a narrow shelf out over a front door, as here, into which downlighters can be installed. It’s a neat, unfussy look that provides a bright wash of light.
Downlighters are much used indoors and produce lots of light from a very minimalist fitting. You can work them into your exterior scheme, too, by building a narrow shelf out over a front door, as here, into which downlighters can be installed. It’s a neat, unfussy look that provides a bright wash of light.
Embrace illuminated art
Choose lights that will both brighten your front step and create beautiful shadow patterns across the walls. These attractive lights produce a sun-like glow that looks great, and has a useful function, too.
Choose lights that will both brighten your front step and create beautiful shadow patterns across the walls. These attractive lights produce a sun-like glow that looks great, and has a useful function, too.
Lamps fitted either side of a front door is a simple, classic way to light an entrance. The lamps create a soft wash of light across the walls, which is enough to see your guests by without dazzling anyone standing on the doorstep. Planters either side emphasise the symmetrical arrangement.