The outside of your home is the first thing people see when they walk by or pull up to the curb. If you have guests visiting you for the first time, you want them to form a great first impression of your property, and since the exterior is the first view they get, it’s important to make sure your home has positive curb appeal. During the day, people will see your house’s paint or siding color, along with other design features, but at night, what they’ll notice first is your outdoor lighting. At Dulles Electric Supply, we can help you transform your exterior spaces with new outdoor light fixture options for your front entry, backyard, and much more.
Exterior lighting plays two very important roles — showing off your home’s features at night and keeping your house secure after the sun has set. When you visit our showroom or shop in our online catalog, you can find both decorative outdoor lights and security lighting for your property.
Front Entry Lighting Options
When people visit your home at night, they usually enter through the front door. It’s important that your front entry is easy to see and easy to navigate, and that can be accomplished with proper outdoor lighting. From the moment they step out of their car, your guests can find their way to the front door with the help of pathway lights, post lights, and front porch fixtures.
As for what type of front entry lighting you choose, it’s important to take into consideration how long the sidewalk to the front porch is, as well as how big the porch itself is. If you have a short sidewalk that leads from the driveway or the street to your front steps, you can add a couple of post lights or lanterns to show the way. As for the porch, you can go with the traditional semi-flush light above the front door, or you can install outdoor sconces on either side of the door. If you have a long, spacious covered porch where you enjoy spending time with friends and family, think about adding more overhead lights along the entire length.
Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting is intended to show off the outside of your home, as well as the various trees and bushes you have planted around your property. The pathway lights along your sidewalk can be considered landscape fixtures, but the main purpose of these lights is to highlight your home’s landscaping and exterior. If you have a large tree in the front yard, consider adding a ground-level fixture that lights up the trunk at night. If you have bushes near the front windows, install ground or well lights to show them off, while also illuminating the front facade of your home.
Landscape lights can also help keep your home safe by illuminating the darker spots of your yard, such as near the edges or next to your backyard fence. If you want to deter trespassers and intruders, well-placed landscape fixtures can be the perfect choice.
Backyard Lighting Updates
The backyard of your home is often an extension of your indoor living spaces — you want your outdoor area to feel just like another family room. Lighting plays a big part in creating a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, and at Dulles, we love helping people find the right outdoor fixture options. Whether you have a deck, a patio, or a gazebo, we can provide exceptional lighting options.
The lights in your backyard don’t need to be bright, but they should provide enough illumination so that you and your family can see whenever you’re spending time out there once the sun has gone down. You’ll want to be sure there’s plenty of light around the entire yard, from the post lights on the corners of your deck to the step lights that lead up to the back door. If you have a main seating area where you sit whenever you have company, think about hanging an outdoor chandelier or pendant for the perfect ambient lighting. If you’re more interested in staying cool and comfortable in your backyard, then an outdoor ceiling fan can be the way to go.
Security Lighting
On top of making your front entry and backyard appealing and inviting, you also want to keep these areas safe and secure, along with the rest of your property. In areas such as outside the garage and near your back gate, it can be a good idea to install security lighting. Motion sensor lights and spotlights can help keep your home secure by turning on whenever something passes by or at a certain time each night. These lights should deter trespassers, and they can help you see those areas of your property that aren’t reached by other exterior fixtures, such as your landscape lighting.
Security lighting can also make you feel safer when you come home after dark. Whether you’re walking from the garage or coming in the back gate, knowing that your property is well-lit can help you feel more at ease as you make your way to the house. If you have any questions about outdoor security lights, our team is more than happy to help.
Outdoor Lighting Controls
As with any light fixtures you purchase, your new outdoor lights need the proper controls. For your front porch and backyard lights, you can install switches that let you turn them on and off at will. If you want to create the right ambience when you have guests over and you’re hanging out in the backyard, consider adding dimmers that let you control each fixture or set of fixtures.
With your landscape and security lighting, it’s often best to have these on timer controls so that they turn on and off at the same time each night. Timers can be especially beneficial when you’re away from home and you want it to appear that someone is still at the house. Your landscape lights will turn on each night, illuminating your home and keeping your property safe. Your security lighting will likely be controlled by motion sensors and photocells that can be adjusted for higher and lower sensitivity settings.
Shop For Your New Outdoor Lights Today
No matter what type of outdoor lighting you’re looking for, you can find it at Dulles Electric Supply. Our 13,000-square foot showroom is filled with options from the world’s leading lighting brands, including Quoizel, Kichler, and Hinkley. When you visit our showroom, you can sit down with one of our expert designers to go over your outdoor lighting design and layout, discussing everything from fixture style to the type of wiring you’ll need.
Speaking of wiring, our 5,000-square foot electrical supply counter has everything you need to install your new outdoor lights, should you want to tackle the project yourself. We carry parts and accessories, as well as hand and power tools that can help with any job. If you’re building or remodeling a home, we’ll gladly help you find the right options for your outdoor wiring needs.
If you want the very best in outdoor lighting options, come to Dulles today. You can shop in our showroom or look through our online catalog to find the perfect options for your home. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
