The Porch Design Mistake That's Making Your Space Look Cheap (And Better Alternatives)

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A perfect porch adds more than just curb appeal to your home. A thoughtfully designed porch provides more usable outdoor space for hanging out or entertaining. It gives your Amazon delivery guy (and your packages!) a dry resting place during a downpour. A porch can even increase the energy efficiency of your home during the hot summer months by providing plenty of shade. From planters to porch swings, there are many must-haves for updating your front porch. One of the most crucial elements is good lighting. But using flimsy plastic lights that don't offer much brightness or are easily knocked over instead of investing in permanent lighting and higher-end fixtures is a porch design mistake that's making your space look cheap.

If you've blown most of your curb appeal budget on hardscaping materials and the perfect plants, it can be tempting to pick those inexpensive and easy-to-install solar lights that you just stick in the ground. You're not alone, which explains why products like the GIGALUMI 12 Pack LED Solar Lights are a perpetual bestseller on Amazon. But there are some major downsides to solar lights you should know about before using them in your yard and garden. Because they use batteries, there's the potential for leaching harmful chemicals into your family's favorite hangout space. Since they're constructed from plastic, you'll also start to notice the weather taking its toll over time. Soggy and freezing ground can make them start to lean. Scorching summers can dull their color. And cloudy conditions mean your solar-powered lights may not illuminate your porch at all.

Hardwiring exterior lighting is a permanent and elegant approach that's a better alternative than sticking a few of those cheap solar lights around your porch, patio, or walkway. From stringing a simple strand of lights like the Brightever Shatterproof Vintage Edison Bulbs Outside Hanging Lights to flanking your front door with a pair of fixtures like the Designers Fountain Preston Wall Mount Lantern Sconce, your lighting plan can be as simple or elaborate as you want. If you have majestic trees or unique architectural elements surrounding your porch, you may want to consider uplighting them. When you've got to climb up a few porch steps, installing step lights like the Cloudy Bay 120V Dimmable LED Stair Lights can make the trip safer for you and your late-night guests. It's not terribly difficult to plug in some string lights, but unless you have electrical expertise, you should call an expert for more involved lighting projects.

In all things you get what you pay for, which is why inexpensive porch lights can make the whole space look cheap. But even if you're sold on the added safety, security, and serious curb appeal benefits, you may still wonder how much it costs to light up your porch. The cost varies widely depending on the type of fixtures you choose, the number you want to install, any additional wiring your home needs, and whether you decide to DIY or call in a pro. The average cost to install outdoor lighting ranges from $2,000 to $6,000, but according to the experts at Zillow, your home can go for over 1% more than properties without outdoor light fixtures when you decide to sell.