The Best Outdoor Lighting for Around Your Home

Love it? Share it!

Creating a beautiful outdoor living space has several important components. While you’re deciding on the furniture, landscaping, and decor, you should also consider lighting at the same time.

The options are plentiful, but the best outdoor lighting will always tick several boxes.

For one, outdoor lights should effectively light your space, creating good visibility and allowing you to spend more time outside, even after the sun sets.

At the same time, outdoor lights should also blend in seamlessly with your house’s decorative style and shed a glow that makes you feel right at home — just like with your indoor lighting.

A few other considerations I think are worth weighing up is how energy efficient the lights are, and how they’re rated for outdoor use. You don’t want to replace bulbs or light fixtures only after a few months of use!

Even with all of these details in mind, it doesn’t make it any easier to narrow down the top options.

To support you in beautifying your patio, deck, front porch, and other outdoor areas, I’ve put together a guide of the best types of outdoor lighting, broken down by style. I’ve also included some of the exact lights I use around my home, which I love!

Read on for chic yet functional outdoor lighting options — all which will create a luminous and beautiful space.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

Best Outdoor Lighting

Below, I’ve categorized lights by style and shared what each is best suited for. You’ll also find plenty of options that’ll fit with your personal design tastes.

Outdoor sconces

Modern-day sconces are usually wall-mounted lights, many of which have a cover around the bulb. Pairs of sconces are an elegant way to frame doorways, whether it’s a back patio door or a garage. Equally, one looks great on its own. There are so many styles available, whether you lean towards modern decor or rustic and farmhouse aesthetics.

I recommend this style of outdoor lighting for entryways, underneath decks, or really anywhere that’s in need of extra light. Sconces shed light in a way that feels quite warm and welcoming, too.

Lantern lights and Sconces

If you love the look of a lantern, you have two options. If it’s for functional lighting, opt for wall-mounted versions to frame your front, back, and garage doors. My personal favorite, which we have installed at our home, are these modern lantern-style sconces. They’re both elevated and impactful.

If it’s more about setting an atmosphere or decorating your outdoor space, movable lanterns are another lovely choice. These will either have built-in lights that are battery or solar-operated or will have space for you to add your own lights (faux candles and LED bulbs are popular choices for this style.)

Walkway Lighting

While they aren’t the most exciting style of lighting, walkway and path lights are very important for your outdoor spaces. They create more safety and visibility for dark nights throughout the year. They also help frame your sidewalks and backyard paths, making everything feel cohesive and well laid out.

Like with the other outdoor lighting options, there’s an abundance of choices. Solar-powered lights are popular, however, I recommend reliable LED lights as they’re brighter and longer-lasting.

String lights

A style of outdoor lighting that errs more on the side of ambience (rather than purely functionality) are string or fairy lights. These look beautiful draped across patios, decks, and backyards, and they’re a clever way to quickly spruce up an outdoor space that needs a little TLC.

One great advantage about a good portion of outdoor string lights is that you can often replace lights bulb by bulb, so if one goes out, you won’t have to take the whole garland of lights down.

There are many solar-powered versions (this is mine!), too, which is great for areas that get plenty of sunlight, such as pool decks or gardens.

Portable lamps

More permanent outdoor light fixtures, such as flood lamps and sconces, are essential for practical purposes. However, there are plenty of reasons for bringing moveable lights into your outdoor area too.

Portable lamps and lanterns are perfect for al fresco cooking and dining, shedding light without the need for hardwiring. It’s also easy for you to replace their batteries or recharge them.

Aside from placing them atop tables, portable lights are great placed next to outdoor couches and chairs, or sprinkled throughout your garden so you can enjoy it at dusk, too.

They’re also great for lower lighting for nighttime activities like relaxing by the fire pit, where you don’t want too much artificial light but still want to see at certain points.

Pendant Lights and chandeliers

Last (but certainly not least) on the list are pendant lights. While these are usually considered for indoor rooms, pendants make beautiful statements for your outdoor spaces.

I think these lights offer a warm touch to patios and outdoor dining areas, as it makes the outside feel just as liveable as your interior spaces.

If you’re looking for outdoor pendant lights, seek out materials that are weather-resistant, and consider lights with removable shades that you can take in during storms (if that’s a concern.)

This is yet another type of light with so many pretty options, from basket shades reminiscent of resorts to sleek metal covers.

FAQs about outdoor lighting

Still have a few questions about outdoor lighting? See the following answers below to help you choose the best option.

What is the best type of outdoor lighting?

The best type of outdoor light depends on the purpose you need it to serve. If it’s for more visibility around your garage or shed, a floodlight or bright, wall-mounted lights are likely best.

If you want some ambient lighting for outdoor dining and relaxing, portable table lamps, string lights, and pendant lights are ideal.

Which is better, LED or solar lights?

Both LED lights and solar lights have pros and cons, but LED lights usually offer more perks. LED lights tend to last longer and are brighter. Solar lights aren’t as reliable or bright, but they are easy to implement around your home.

What are the longest-lasting outdoor lights?

LED lights are the longest-lasting outdoor lights. Their light-emitting diode makes them more energy-efficient, which extends their life. This makes them a great candidate for outdoor lighting, as you won’t have to worry about frequent maintenance or replacement.

Stay Connected

Make sure to subscribe to get my Grace Notes directly to your inbox and to access all my insider perks. You can also follow along daily on Instagram and weekly on YouTube!

Check out more interior design tips in the articles below.

~Sarah