Lighting Tips to Spruce Up Your Front Porch

Your front porch is the initial representation of your home; it is the entrance into your castle. But beyond being an entrance, your front porch can also serve as an area for lounging, or the place for your personal revelry. While the possibilities are endless, here are a few ways to create a porch visitors will fall in love with using a few lighting techniques.

Caged Lanterns

If I've said it once, I will say it again: lanterns are a great way to add style to your décor. There are countless options for lanterns such as using them for centerpieces, or hanging them over your kitchen and dining room tables. However, let’s focus on caged lanterns with LED candles for the purpose of the porch. Bird cage LED lanterns create a romantic and relaxing atmosphere with the use of battery powered LED candles. The candle still emits the beautiful glow of a flickering flame but without using fire, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not you forgot to blow out your candle.  Most LED candles also come equipped with a timer option. Another great thing about these lanterns is that they can be used indoors or outdoors.  These lanterns work as ground lanterns but you will find that they are also great for table or counter lighting.

Ceiling Fans

It’s a laid back summer afternoon. You’re relaxing on your front porch swing with some good music, a cool glass of fresh squeezed lemonade, and a few hot-out-of-the-oven sugar cookies. The sun picks up and before you know it, you've hopped off the swing in a sweaty mess that even the lemonade couldn't cure. The front porch can be a peaceful haven, but even havens are subject to the heat. Installing a ceiling fan on a larger porch is a great way to stay cool while on your porch, especially during those extra-warm summer days. When choosing a ceiling fan for your porch there are several things to consider, including fan size, ceiling height and whether you want a fan with or without lighting. You should also be sure to check that the fan is rated for outdoor use so you won't end up with a warped and wilted blades.  A ceiling fan is a double blessing because while it’s keeping you cool on a summer day, it also gives you something stylish to look at.

Outdoor Wall Sconces

Rated for outdoor use,  wall sconces are a beautiful addition to your front porch décor.  Illuminate different sections of your front porch using these decorative fixtures, placing one on either side of your front door. Paired with the ceiling light, sconcesprovideadditional light for when you are entering or exiting your home.  Depending on the sconce you choose, you may use 1-3 lights for the fixtures. Some outdoor wall sconces can be used with LED lighting, though you should remember that most LEDs are not rated for fully-enclosed fixtures.

Outdoor Ceiling Lights

Outdoor ceiling lights are a necessary form of lighting for your front porch. Typically, outdoor ceiling lights provide your porch with its primary source of lighting.  These fixtures can be simple or decorative. Depending on the look you want to achieve for your porch, consider using pendant-style ceiling fixtures or close-to-ceiling fixtures.  Pendant style ceiling fixtures hang lower; for example, some lanterns can be used as pendant ceiling lights, whereas close-to-ceiling fixtures do not hang. Choose ceiling lights that best complement your porch and provide you with the most adequate lighting for your illumination needs. If you have a smaller front porch without much space, you may want to consider a close-to-ceiling fixture. Contingent on the size of your porch, you may want to use more than one ceiling light.

Giving your porch that extra special glow is always a plus. Whether you decide to improve your illumination with caged lanterns, ceiling fans, outdoor wall sconces, ceiling lights or all four options, remember that your porch is the portal to your paradise. Now sit back in your favorite chair on your front porch and take in this gorgeous day.  What are some ways that you've spruced up your porch in the past? Comment below, or leave us a message through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instagram!