Selecting the right brightness is key when setting up the perfect lighting system for your home’s exterior. To ensure that you pick the best possible lighting solution for your home’s exterior, you should keep a few tips in mind. By following these tips, you can be confident that you have chosen fixtures with just enough illumination without going overboard or leaving any areas unprotected from the darkness. Here are three tips for selecting the right brightness for your exterior.
Consider the Purpose
Regarding exterior lighting, there are two main types: functional and accent. Functional lighting is for a specific purpose, such as providing illumination for pathways or security purposes. On the other hand, accent lighting creates an attractive atmosphere and highlights areas of your property. It’s important to determine what type of light fixtures you need before selecting the appropriate brightness level.
The most suitable lumen range for functional lights will depend on its purpose. For example, pathway lights should be bright enough so that visitors can safely find their way around your home’s exterior without stumbling in the dark. At the same time, they shouldn’t be too bright, as this can be intrusive and cause glare issues. Security lights need to be brighter, while accent lights will likely be dimmer.
Consider the Location
Once you’ve determined the purpose of each light fixture and its type, you need to consider where they should go around your property. Different areas will require different brightness levels to ensure visibility and comfort. For instance, fixtures near pathways or entryways should produce a high level of lumens so that visitors can easily find their way around without stumbling in the dark. On the other hand, lights close to living spaces, such as patios or decks, may need lower illumination levels since too much brightness can be intrusive and cause glare issues for those nearby.
Another factor to consider when deciding on outdoor lighting location is how far away from each other you place them. Fixtures that are further apart may need higher lumen levels so that no shadows are between them. In contrast, this won’t always be necessary if they’re closer together, as they’ll provide enough light coverage even at lower wattage settings.
Consider the Lumens
And finally, you’ll need to consider the lumens. Lumens are the units that measure light brightness. Each light bulb has a specific amount of lumens determining how brightly or dimly it shines. And each type of exterior lighting will require various amounts of lumens. For example, 100 to 200 lumens is best for path lighting. Step lighting is better with 12 to 100 lumens, and landscape lighting can look great with a wide range of brightness levels, including 50 to 300 lumens. And, of course, security lighting needs to be brighter, so you’ll require about 700 to 1300 lumens for something like a floodlight. You can play around with different lumens until you find out what works best for your outdoor space.
Now that you know how to determine exterior lighting brightness for your home, you can put these tips to good use. And be sure to check out Astoria Lighting’s selection of exterior soffit lighting fixtures to elevate and illuminate your home’s exterior.