Creating a Warm Welcome - How to choose the right size exterior lighting for your home

Even more important than the style and finish of your new outdoor lighting fixtures is choosing the proper size and proportion of the units. In fact, the biggest mistake consumers make when installing new outdoor lighting is purchasing fixtures that are too small. Keeping in mind a few simple tips when selecting your fixtures will greatly enhance the final look and visual appeal of your lighting.

When choosing lighting for a door or entryway, a simple rule-of-thumb to keep in mind is that the height of your lantern or outdoor fixture should be based on the height of the door or opening.

If a single side lantern is used, the piece should be approximately one third the height of the door. If two lights are used on either side of a door, the pieces used can be slightly smaller, say one quarter the height of the entryway.

These fixtures are too small in proportion to the entrance size.	Fixtures should measure approx. 1/4 the height of the doorway.

The fixtures should be mounted so that they are slightly above eye-level. On a typical door this measures out to approximately 66 inches above the threshold of the door. Depending on the outlet box location, different arm styles can be selected to position the filament at the correct height.

Don't undersize your fixtures. Lanterns will appear to be about half the size from 50 feet away. This is an especially important rule to remember when buying post or fence mounted lighting. For maximum curb appeal, visualize the front of your home as guests or neighbors will see it from the street. If in doubt, always go larger.

Feel free to visit the outdoor lighting section of lampsplus.com to find the perfect exterior lighting fixtures for your home.

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