Your home exterior plays an essential role in enhancing your curb appeal. You can add gardens, build patios, and put up fences to make your home look more inviting to guests and even your neighbors. However, one thing you may not have thought about is the exterior lighting in your home. The exterior lighting has a significant part in your home as an aesthetic point and for functional purposes.
You can choose from many options for your exterior home lighting. You can go with traditional porch lights or consider hanging lights. The traditional porch light is a great option, but it can limit the installation area and how much light it emits. Hanging lights, on the other hand, offer a lot of flexibility in terms of installation and are effective at lighting up your home exterior.
Here are some of the reasons why you should consider installing hanging lights in your home:
1. Offer Better Lighting
One of the advantages of hanging lights is that it offers better lighting than traditional porch lights or ceiling lights. This is because they can be installed in various places, so you can choose the best location to light up your home exterior. For example, you can install them under the eaves of your house or on the sides of your porch.
In addition, hanging lights can combine with larger bulbs so you can have more in surrounding areas. This means they can provide better illumination to your home exterior, making it easier for you and your guests to see at night. However, to ensure you get the most out of your hanging lights, you should consider letting professionals handle the installation process. For instance, if you are in Oregon, USA, you can hire companies such as Oregon Outdoor Lighting and many others to take care of the installation for you. They have years of experience that can surely meet any project you may require and more.
2. Flexible Installation
As mentioned before, hanging lights offer much flexibility when installed. They can be installed in various places, allowing you to choose the best location to light up your home exterior. For example, you can install them on the sides of your porch or under the eaves of your house.
You can also choose the height at which you want to install them. Hence, you can customize the lighting in your home exterior to suit your needs and preferences. For example, if you need lights in your garden or driveway, you can install them at a higher level. However, if you need lights around the pool, you’ll want to install them at a lower level.
3. Affordability
Consider affordability when installing exterior lights in your home. When the lights favor your budget, you can easily install more of them without affecting your set budget. Hanging lights are readily available and affordable, so the money you may save you can use to install other kinds of lights on your home exterior.
If you want to install hanging lights but are worried about the cost, you can do a few things to reduce the expense. You can opt for solar-powered hanging lights. These lights rely on solar energy for their operation and are known for their cheap cost and environment-friendliness.
Another option is to buy hanging lights in bulk. This can help you get a discount from the supplier, reducing the overall cost of the purchase.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
Besides providing better lighting, hanging lights offer an aesthetic appeal that traditional porch lights cannot match. Your home’s aesthetic appeal showcases your style and home value. Hanging lights come in different shapes, such as stars, moons, and flowers. This means you can find hanging lights that match the theme of your home exterior.
Hanging lights are also available in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose the right color to complement the style of your home exterior. So, if you have a white or cream-colored house, you can choose hanging lights in blue or green. You can also try different mix-and-match styles such as white lights with a colored cord or vice versa.
5. Increased Functionality
Hanging lights can also help you increase the functionality of your home exterior as you can use them to create different lighting effects. For instance, you can use them to highlight your house’s architecture for a romantic ambiance in your garden.
These lights can also help turn your garden into an entertainment area if you have an outdoor event. They can help you create the correct lighting to set the mood for the party, whatever your planned theme is. You may consider using string globes to set the appropriate mood during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or any other significant family celebration or event.
Likewise, because the nights are usually hot during summer, staying indoors can get uncomfortable. However, if your exterior is well lit, you can spend most of your nights outdoors, taking in whatever cold air you can get to beat the heat. You can hang out in your garden or pool, or make your patio a haven where you and your family can gather to talk about your day.
6. Improved Security
Another reason to install hanging lights on your home exterior is for improved security. This is because they can help deter criminals by lighting up dark areas around your home. Hanging lights can also create a safe environment for you and your family. For instance, if you have a pool in your backyard, you can install hanging lights around it to prevent night-related accidents.
You can also use hanging lights to improve your home’s security by installing them in strategic areas. You can have them near doors and windows to prevent intruders from breaking into your home. You can also install them in the driveway or on the sides of your house as protection from burglars.
7. Increased Property Value
When buyers look for houses, they look for different features. These include the additional functionalities, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of the kitchen, and so on. However, another crucial thing they consider is the house’s curb appeal.
The curb appeal is how your house looks from the street. This includes elements such as your landscaping, driveway, porch, and exterior lights.
A well-lit house with beautiful hanging lights can increase the curb appeal of your property. This, in turn, will also help increase the value of your property. Moreover, you’ll be able to close house deals faster because buyers will be more interested in your property.
Types Of Hanging Lights to Consider
Now that you know the benefits of hanging lights, it’s time to look at the different types of hanging lights available today. Here are some of the most popular types of hanging lights:
Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are hanging lights suspended from the ceiling by a metal rod, chain, or cord. You can usually see them in kitchens and dining rooms, but can also fit in other home areas such as living rooms and bedrooms.
Pendant lights come in a variety of styles, sizes, and shapes, so, you’ll be able to find one that matches the décor of your home.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are hanging lights that consist of multiple lights. They are usually made from metal or glass and exude an elegant look. Chandeliers can often be seen in formal dining rooms and living rooms. However, you can also see them in other areas of the house like bedrooms, foyers, gardens, and stairways.
String Lights
String lights are hanging lights that consist of small bulbs connected by a wire. They are often used for decorative purposes and can be purchased in various colors, sizes, and shapes. String lights are usually made from plastic or glass.
You can use string lights to create different lighting effects, such as ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.
String lights are also often used during the holidays to add a festive touch to the home. However, they can also be used year-round in your yard, garden, or patio to create a romantic ambiance.
Lanterns
Lanterns are hanging lights with open top and sides. They are usually made from metal, glass, or paper and come in different sizes, shapes, and colors.
You can use lanterns to create different lighting effects, such as ambient and accent lighting. Lanterns are often used to light up pathways, gardens, and patios.
Rustic Hanging Lights
Rustic hanging lights are a type of hanging light that has a rustic or country look. They are usually made from metal, wood, or glass, and are available in various sizes and shapes.
You can often see rustic hanging lights illuminating patios, gardens, and pathways. You can also use it to produce accent and ambient lighting effects.
Conclusion
Hanging lights offer many benefits that traditional porch lights cannot beat. So, if you’re looking to improve the lighting of your home exterior, hanging lights are a better option. You can choose from several types of hanging lights, so you’re sure to find one that matches your needs, preferences, and home décor.
Scola Ian is an interior and exterior design specialist and has worked with many homeowners and construction companies on home decors. She loves sharing her expertise through her blogs and podcasts. During her free time, she loves painting and traveling.
