Intro
Exterior garage lights are not only practical, but they also enhance the aesthetic of your home. If you’ve noticed other people’s garage lights or have been shopping around a bit, you’ve probably come to realize that there are a myriad of ideas and styles available.
When choosing the best exterior garage lights for your house, you shouldn’t focus just on practicality. You should think about how the lights fit your home’s aesthetic, how they go with your family’s style, and how they elevate the overall look of your home. So, for this reason, your exterior garage lights need to be carefully hand-selected. No pressure!
This guide will offer the best exterior garage lighting tips and tricks and answer some frequently asked questions to help you choose the perfect exterior lights for your home! Get ready to be hit with inspiration!
Exterior Garage Lighting Tips and Tricks
1. Drive and shop around to get ideas
With so many options available, you probably shouldn’t go for the first ones you come across. To get ideas for possible outdoor lighting, you can drive around suburban neighborhoods to get inspired.
You can also visit any hardware store in-person or online to get some ideas of the various exterior garage lights available. You want to make sure you know everything available before you make your final decision.
2. Determine how many lights you need
Some may only need one exterior light for the center point above their garage. Some people prefer getting two for either side of the garage. A good starting point is to check your old lights and find ones to replace them. With this information, you’ll know if you just need one or two lights for the exterior of your home.
3. Find the right size lights for your exterior
Depending on where you are installing your exterior lights, the sizing will be a little different. If you are installing your exterior lights on either side of your garage door, it should measure 1/3 to ¼ of the height of your garage door. If your light fixture is single, centered, and above your garage, you have to make sure you buy a size that will light up your entire driveway. This can only be determined once you measure the width of your driveway. So, be prepared with measurements before you make your final choice!
4. Opt for motion sensor lights
Motion sensor lights are the best bet for safety and convenience. These lights will turn on as soon as it senses movement on your driveway. If anyone in your home arrives home after sunset, it will conveniently turn on so that they have a lit-up pathway to the front door. It can also act as a warning if you live in a neighborhood that may be prone to burglary. Most unwanted visitors will get intimidated by lights that illuminate the driveway and back off!
5. Study and know the features you want
Not only are there so many sleek, traditional, and different styles of lights, there are also interesting features you can look for! Make sure to choose exterior lights for your garage that have all the features you and your family want.
Some features include LED, bulb size, dimming option, motion sensing, light direction, and timed lighting. Knowing which features are important and making an informed decision will give you the best results!
6. Choose lights that match your home’s aesthetic
Look at the outside of your home. Consider the colors, styles, patterns, and overall look. You want to choose lights that suit the aesthetic of your home. Your home is the first point of interaction between you and your guests. When they pull up into your driveway, you want to give them a burst of personality.
The exterior lights you choose should match the overall look of your house. But with so many light styles available on the market, it can be hard to find the perfect one for you. There are traditional lights, modern, or classic ones. Choose the lights that mesh well with the ambiance of your home and impress every passerby!
Things to Consider
Now that you’ve uncovered some tips and tricks, you are probably ready to dive in and start doing some research. But before you do, here are some things to consider before making your purchase!
Cost
Before any home project, the cost and budget should be determined. It’s important to note that there is an option out there for every reasonable budget. In the case of exterior garage lights, the cheapest options will also be the ones that will wear out the fastest. Keeping that in mind, the best ones that will last you years will probably cost you no less than $50.
Replacing your old exterior light fixture is typically a simple job. But if you have to install a junction box for any new fixtures, or you want to change the location of your lights from the center to either side of the garage, you may need to consider hiring a professional. Sure, there are quite a few videos on YouTube on how to install a junction box all by yourself, but you would need the right tools for the job, and that, too, will cost you.
The simplest and most cost-effective option will be to replace the old light fixtures you already have outside your home. All you would be buying is the replacement fixture.
Maintenance
Depending on the material of your light fixture, you might need to maintain it from time to time. Materials can be anything from plastic to aluminum to stainless steel to copper to brass or cast iron! Whatever material you choose will influence the price you buy it at.
Most light fixtures can be cleaned with a damp cloth to keep them from any dust or debris. Brass fixtures require polishing to keep them shiny and looking new. If you have copper or stainless steel, you can opt for spray cleaners that are intended for those particular materials. It will keep your fixture looking brand-new! Depending on the brand you buy, your warranty can range from 30 days to a lifetime. Consider this as well before making your final pick!
FAQs about Exterior Garage Lights
Q: How high should exterior garage lights be?
If you are installing your exterior garage lights on the sides of your garage, it should be about 5 ½ to 6 feet from the ground. For perfect results, the distance should typically be measured from the ground to the center of your light fixture.
If your exterior garage lights are going to be installed above your garage door, they should be about 6-12 inches centered and above your garage door.
Q: How do you put lights on the outside of a garage?
Every light fixture comes with an instruction booklet on how to assemble. It will also provide you with light fixture brackets to help with the installation. Read the instruction booklet provided to you by the manufacturer and follow the process to assemble and set up your exterior garage lights.
If you don’t have a junction box to install the fixture brackets, you may need to make your hole in the side of the house to insert a junction box. You can find YouTube tutorials on how to do a DIY junction box before inserting your light fixture brackets. Hopefully, you won’t have to do this step and will just replace your old exterior lights.
Q: How big should exterior garage light fixtures be?
When installing lights on either side of the garage, exterior garage light fixtures should be ¼ to 1/3 the size of the height of the garage door opening. If your fixture is centered and above your garage door, you need one large enough to light the range of your driveway. You can measure the width of your driveway and find a fixture that correlates. Most light fixtures provide an estimated range based on the bulb size.
Q: Are LED lights good for outdoor use?
The best choice for outdoor lighting is LED lights. They provide a brighter white light than traditional bulbs, and they have a longer life than their counterparts. Depending on how often it gets used, LEDs can last tens of thousands of hours!
Final Thoughts
Exterior garage lights are sought out for their practical uses. Many don’t realize the importance of exterior lights to their homes. If style and aesthetics don’t appeal to you too, then you can buy any light fixture and call it a day.
But if your home’s aesthetic holds a significant meaning to you, then you should consider choosing your exterior garage lights with care. These lights will give your home’s exterior a crucial look from the outside and brighten up your driveway during the night. More than practicality, you want to choose an exterior light that matches your personal style and matches the rest of your home.
In this guide, we offered tips and tricks to choose the best exterior garage lights for your home. Hopefully, it’s inspired you to find the best-looking and functional lights that suit your home and your family’s style. Happy hunting!
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