How Do I... Light My Front Entrance?
A lighting pro reveals how a considered lighting scheme for your entrance is the key to making a good first impression
Georgia Madden
23 September 2017
Good outdoor lighting is about more than just showing off your home to its best effect – it ensures that any visitors approaching your place can do so safely and comfortably. We’ve asked lighting expert Ben Mills, executive general manager at Crompton Lighting, to share the key elements of a stylish and functional lighting scheme for your front entrance and pathway.
Start at your front gate
A well-considered outdoor lighting scheme doesn’t start at your front door, but at your front gate. This is, after all, the first thing visitors see when they arrive at your home.
You want any guests arriving at your home after dark to be able to locate your house with ease and walk to the front door safely and comfortably. Ensure your house number is properly lit and clearly visible from the street with up- or downlight lights or recessed illumination as shown in this home.
A well-considered outdoor lighting scheme doesn’t start at your front door, but at your front gate. This is, after all, the first thing visitors see when they arrive at your home.
You want any guests arriving at your home after dark to be able to locate your house with ease and walk to the front door safely and comfortably. Ensure your house number is properly lit and clearly visible from the street with up- or downlight lights or recessed illumination as shown in this home.
Illuminate your front path and planting
Illuminate pavers and planting leading to your front door with ambient lights such as bollards, flood lights, or up- or downlights recessed in garden beds.
If you would like to draw guests’ attention to a particular feature, such as a beautiful tree, statue or water feature, consider adding accent lighting such as a wall-mounted light or an uplight positioned at the base of a tree trunk.
Illuminate pavers and planting leading to your front door with ambient lights such as bollards, flood lights, or up- or downlights recessed in garden beds.
If you would like to draw guests’ attention to a particular feature, such as a beautiful tree, statue or water feature, consider adding accent lighting such as a wall-mounted light or an uplight positioned at the base of a tree trunk.
Choose low voltage for the garden path
With outdoor lighting, we recommend bulbs of 50 volts or less as they provide a warm glow and will not cause glare, which can temporarily blind anyone looking directly into them.
With outdoor lighting, we recommend bulbs of 50 volts or less as they provide a warm glow and will not cause glare, which can temporarily blind anyone looking directly into them.
Make sure it’s outdoor-rated
It may sound obvious, but never use an indoor light for an outdoor application. Outdoor lighting is IP-rated, which means it’s water- and dust-resistant. Quality outdoor lights will have a minimum IP rating of 65.
How to Choose the Right Lighting for Your Outdoor Paths and Steps
It may sound obvious, but never use an indoor light for an outdoor application. Outdoor lighting is IP-rated, which means it’s water- and dust-resistant. Quality outdoor lights will have a minimum IP rating of 65.
How to Choose the Right Lighting for Your Outdoor Paths and Steps
Ensure fittings are up to our tough Aussie climate
Our climatic conditions can be hard on outdoor fittings. Make sure you choose lighting made from materials that will last the distance, such as high-quality stainless steel and powder-coated steel or solid bronze.
Our climatic conditions can be hard on outdoor fittings. Make sure you choose lighting made from materials that will last the distance, such as high-quality stainless steel and powder-coated steel or solid bronze.
Illuminate steps with care
Outdoor steps can be a real safety hazard if they’re not properly lit. Make sure the edges of steps are sufficiently lit so that visitors can clearly see where they begin and end. Again, opt for a low-voltage bulb so there’s no glare, and make sure the beam of light is not in anyone’s direct line of sight.
Pay attention to stair width too. If your front steps are very wide you may need multiple fittings to provide sufficient light.
Outdoor steps can be a real safety hazard if they’re not properly lit. Make sure the edges of steps are sufficiently lit so that visitors can clearly see where they begin and end. Again, opt for a low-voltage bulb so there’s no glare, and make sure the beam of light is not in anyone’s direct line of sight.
Pay attention to stair width too. If your front steps are very wide you may need multiple fittings to provide sufficient light.
For the love of LED
LED strip lighting is a great option for outdoor illumination; it’s practical, energy efficient and easy to retro-fit. Adding hidden strips beneath stair overhangs and under handrails provides great safety lighting and adds a contemporary look to your exterior. You can use LED strips for accent lighting too; fitting a track above a feature wall or favourite area of planting in the area outside your home.
Front Garden Makeovers With Mojo
LED strip lighting is a great option for outdoor illumination; it’s practical, energy efficient and easy to retro-fit. Adding hidden strips beneath stair overhangs and under handrails provides great safety lighting and adds a contemporary look to your exterior. You can use LED strips for accent lighting too; fitting a track above a feature wall or favourite area of planting in the area outside your home.
Front Garden Makeovers With Mojo
Lighting the area around your front door
When it comes to choosing decorative fittings for around your front door, take your cues from your home’s architecture. A contemporary home will suit lighting designs with sharp, modern lines, two-way lighting styles or ones that are recessed into the ceiling or walls. A more traditional home can accomodate more decorative, traditional styles, such as a pair of classic metal hanging lanterns either side of the door or a beautiful outdoor chandelier.
When it comes to choosing decorative fittings for around your front door, take your cues from your home’s architecture. A contemporary home will suit lighting designs with sharp, modern lines, two-way lighting styles or ones that are recessed into the ceiling or walls. A more traditional home can accomodate more decorative, traditional styles, such as a pair of classic metal hanging lanterns either side of the door or a beautiful outdoor chandelier.
Pay attention to proportion
When choosing the size of a decorative fitting, it’s important to consider proportion. A small fitting might get lost in a double-height entrance, while a very large fitting may dwarf a tiny entrance – not to mention provide a bumping hazard. Your electrician will be able to advise you on the best height to hang decorative fittings for safety and maximum illumination.
When choosing the size of a decorative fitting, it’s important to consider proportion. A small fitting might get lost in a double-height entrance, while a very large fitting may dwarf a tiny entrance – not to mention provide a bumping hazard. Your electrician will be able to advise you on the best height to hang decorative fittings for safety and maximum illumination.
Make sure it provides enough illumination
If possible, test lighting levels in the showroom to ensure that whatever fitting you choose for your outdoor scheme provides sufficient illumination for the job it needs to do, without adding glare. And don’t forget usage; install switches for your outdoor lights in easily accessible spots next to doors and windows inside your home.
Browse more stunning modern exteriors
If possible, test lighting levels in the showroom to ensure that whatever fitting you choose for your outdoor scheme provides sufficient illumination for the job it needs to do, without adding glare. And don’t forget usage; install switches for your outdoor lights in easily accessible spots next to doors and windows inside your home.
Browse more stunning modern exteriors
Illuminate other access points too
If you frequently enter the home via the back door or garage, make sure these areas are adequately lit too. Spotlights are an effective and affordable lighting option here, just make sure that beams are pointed away from your neighbours’ windows and front gardens. The latest designs are more flexible and less obtrusive than their predecessors; Crompton Lighting’s compact Hornet LED flood light, for example, can rotate 300 degrees horizontally and 200 degrees vertically, and is small enough to be tucked out of sight under the eaves.
If you frequently enter the home via the back door or garage, make sure these areas are adequately lit too. Spotlights are an effective and affordable lighting option here, just make sure that beams are pointed away from your neighbours’ windows and front gardens. The latest designs are more flexible and less obtrusive than their predecessors; Crompton Lighting’s compact Hornet LED flood light, for example, can rotate 300 degrees horizontally and 200 degrees vertically, and is small enough to be tucked out of sight under the eaves.
Save time and hassle with motion sensors and timers
Motion sensors are a must with outdoor lighting schemes. They’ll save you hassle – and your guests from slipping on your front steps – by switching lights on automatically when visitors arrive at your home. They can also help reduce your power bills as they’ll only come on when required. Most can be adjusted so they don’t turn on when children or branches move past.
Timers are another smart addition to your lighting set-up. You can set lighting to switch on and off at specific times, deterring burglars while you’re away and giving you the confidence of knowing you’ll never come home to a dark house. Timers can also be used to control clusters of lights, which allow you to set a specific mood, say for dining or entertaining, without lifting a finger.
Motion sensors are a must with outdoor lighting schemes. They’ll save you hassle – and your guests from slipping on your front steps – by switching lights on automatically when visitors arrive at your home. They can also help reduce your power bills as they’ll only come on when required. Most can be adjusted so they don’t turn on when children or branches move past.
Timers are another smart addition to your lighting set-up. You can set lighting to switch on and off at specific times, deterring burglars while you’re away and giving you the confidence of knowing you’ll never come home to a dark house. Timers can also be used to control clusters of lights, which allow you to set a specific mood, say for dining or entertaining, without lifting a finger.
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Low voltage light bulbs? Surely you mean low lumens. Not even Watts are an indication of brightness these days.
Lighting is so very interesting with nearly limitless possibilities. It's inspiring to see the different ways they are used to great effect and function and practicality.