Brighten Up Your Home: A Guide to External Lighting
When the sun goes down, the right outdoor lighting makes all the difference. Increased security is just one of the main reasons why people choose to have external lighting installed at their home.
As well as enhancing security, external lighting also creates a warm welcome at your front door, adds atmosphere to your garden, helps keep walkways visible and highlights design features.
At DRS, we help homeowners choose the best lighting setup to suit their home, style, and budget. Let’s break down the essentials.
Why is External Lighting Important?
Security: A well-lit home is far less attractive to intruders. Security lights act as a deterrent and give you peace of mind.
Safety: Lighting driveways, steps, and paths reduces the risk of trips and falls.
Curb appeal: The right external lighting highlights the best features of your property, making it look inviting after dark.
Practicality: From finding your keys at the door to enjoying an evening in the garden, external lighting makes outdoor spaces usable all year round.
Different Types of External Lighting and Their Benefits
Outdoor areas need different lighting depending on their purpose. Here are the main types we recommend:
Security lighting
Usually motion-sensor floodlights that automatically turn on when movement is detected. These are bright and cover large areas. Great for driveways and the back of the house.
Porch lighting
Wall-mounted lights by your front or back door provide a welcoming glow and make it easier to see locks and keys.
Garden / General exterior lighting
These include wall lights, spotlights to highlight trees or features, and softer ambient lighting for relaxing evenings outdoors.
Route lighting
Low-level lighting along paths, steps, or driveways makes it safer to move around while also adding style.
What To Consider When Choosing External Lighting?
Here’s what to think about when planning outdoor lighting:
Brightness: The general rule of thumb is to keep outdoor lighting functional but not overwhelming. For example, path lights don’t need to be blinding – just enough to guide your way.
Positioning: External lights need to be aimed carefully to avoid shining directly into neighbours’ windows or creating glare.
Energy efficiency: LED fittings are best – they’re bright, long-lasting, and cost less to run.
Controls: Motion sensors, timers, or smart systems ensure lights only switch on when needed.
Weatherproofing: Outdoor lights must have the correct IP rating (usually IP44 or higher) to withstand rain and damp conditions.
A Note On UK Law & External Lighting
External lighting is covered by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. In short, outdoor lighting that causes a nuisance (such as overly bright security lights shining into a neighbour’s bedroom) can be classed as “light pollution” and may lead to complaints.
Planning permission is usually not required for external lights, but you must ensure they don’t cause glare on nearby highways, as that can be a safety hazard.
Always choose properly certified fittings and it’s always best to have a qualified electrician (like us!) carry out the installation.
What To Look For When Choosing Exterior Lighting
- Durability: Check the IP rating to make sure it’s weatherproof.
- Energy efficiency: LED is the way to go.
- Design: Choose a style that suits your property, from traditional lanterns to sleek modern fittings.
- Ease of control: Consider whether you’d like smart controls and automation, motion sensors, or simple on/off switches.
What Are The Best External Lighting Brands?
There are plenty of options out there, but a few stand out for reliability, design, and quality. One of our preferred brands is Hunza LightingHunza Lighting.
They specialise in durable outdoor lighting made from the highest quality materials including natural copper, 316 stainless steel and machine-grade alloys. Hunza luminaires are also weatherproof so can withstand our sometimes soggy climate!
Hunza offers an incredible choice of external lighting products from ground and deck lighting, to pillars, hanging lights, eave, step and even tree lighting.
External lighting is about more than just increasing visibility. It improves safety, security, and adds a touch of style to your home.
At DRS Electrical, we can help design and install a setup that exactly meets your needs, whether you need a single porch light or a full garden and exterior lighting scheme. Take a look at this Garden Lighting upgrade we worked on.
Call us on 01483 495223 or email info@drselectrical.com to enquire about our external lighting design & installation service.
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