Have you replaced your aging garage door with something new? That’s great. However, you can take things a step further and really ramps up the curb appeal of your home with some new exterior lighting. In fact, you can show off not only your new garage door but provide additional utility and beauty for your entire property with the right lights.
Outdoor lights can have a major impact on your home at night, but also in the daytime. Exterior lights should provide ample illumination for your evening and nighttime uses and to ensure safety if you’re using the space around your garage door after the sun goes down. However, the right style and design can tie into your home’s overall aesthetic and increase its beauty.
Of course, there are things you’ll need to know, and mistakes that you should avoid, such as adding spotlights that blind your neighbors. In this post, we’ll walk you through some of the most important tips you’ll want to know before investing in outdoor lighting for your garage.
The Space around the Garage Door
The first thing you’ll want to do when choosing new garage door lighting is to make a sketch of the garage door and the area around it. If you have a double garage door, usually 16 feet in width, you’ll need to take a different approach than if you have two single doors, which usually measure about eight feet in width. You may also have a combination double/single door. Smaller, older homes often have single garage doors, while larger homes may have a combination of double doors, or multiple single doors.
Your plan will hinge on the area around the garage doors. You’ll need to know things like how much space you have on either side of the door(s), as well as between them if you have multiple doors on your garage. Are there eaves? If so, you may want to consider downlighting, rather than wall-mounted lights. Your roofline might also complicate things. Establish your lighting goals, too. For instance, do you want to light just the area around the door(s), or do you want to provide illumination for the driveway, too?
What you’re really trying to do at this stage is determine the maximum amount of space you have to work with and ensure that your ideas in terms of lighting will actually work within that area. In most cases, you want to leave at least some whitespace around the fixtures to ensure that there’s balance – too much detail can be overwhelming.
Light Fixture Choices
So, how do you choose the right light fixtures for your project? You can go almost any direction you might want, but the style of your home is probably the best option. Is your home rustic and charming? Is it quaint and old-timey? Is it sleek and modern? Most homes fall into the following categories:
You also need to remember that you have two goals. The first is utilitarian – you want to provide illumination for safety and peace of mind. However, you also want to make the space look good, as well. Finally, make sure that you consider how far away any street lighting might be, as this will affect your illumination needs.
Not sure how to tie your garage lights into your home’s style? There are tons of options out there that can help provide inspiration. We’re big fans of using Pinterest for just that purpose, but you can also find inspiration in other areas, too.
For modern homes, you might consider something like the following:
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If you have a more rustic home, consider something like these options:
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What about Bulbs?
Fixtures are only one half of the illumination equation. You’ll also need to consider the type of bulbs that you want to use. If you’re going the energy-saving route, then LEDs might be the better choice. They’re long lasting, and use very little power, but they are not the right application for all situations. Our recommendation is to always go with your light fixture manufacturer’s recommendations.
When choosing bulbs for exterior fixtures, there are a couple of rules of thumb to follow:
● Make sure whatever you choose is durable and rated for outdoor use.
● Don’t exceed the maximum wattage of your fixture.
● Shoot for under 100 watts in most cases, but some may be as low as 60 watts.
● Check the fixture requirements – LEDs are usually the better choice, but some fixtures are not rated for their use.
As a note, if you’re thinking about using spiral CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs, you might want to think again. These contain mercury and are not well suited for outdoor use.
Ready to Buy a New Garage Door?
If you’re ready to invest in a new garage door, get in touch with us by calling 705-325-2568. You can also visit our image gallery to see what we’ve done for other customers. We are happy to provide you a quote by email. Finally, you can also visit our online Design Centre to get a look at how various garage doors will look on your own home.
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