The Common Exterior Lighting Choice That May Lower Your Home Value
Curb appeal creates a first impression of your home in the minds of visitors and potential buyers, and lighting plays an important role in establishing a home's curb appeal. Some exterior lighting choices can enhance your home's curb appeal and property value, while others can lower it. The common exterior lighting choice that may lower home value is too many dramatic light fixtures and over-illumination.
Large, dramatic light fixtures make a statement, but it may not be the statement you want to make. Huge light fixtures, such as enormous lanterns and outdated sconces, overwhelm the eye and take attention away from the elements of your home and landscape that you want to highlight. Some ornate lighting and colorful uplighting can look tacky and out of place.
When installing exterior lights, be sure to avoid common outdoor lighting mistakes. One mistake is overly aggressive lighting and light fixtures that are too close together. This contributes to light pollution and can detract from the natural beauty of your property and leave your home in an unappealing light. Over-illumination overwhelms the eye and can actually reduce security. In this case, the lighting adds no value to your home or curb appeal.
Energy-efficient lighting with timeless curb appeal
Making a better choice for your exterior lighting begins with a careful planning process and intentionally avoiding the mistakes of oversized, outdated, or overdone lighting. Start by defining the purpose of your outdoor lights. Do you want to increase security, enhance curb appeal, spend time entertaining outdoors in the evenings, or illuminate pathways? Once you determine where you need lights, select lighting in a style and finish to complement the architectural style and color of your home to help them blend in. Consider proportions to select fixtures that are large enough to be noticeable without being so oversized that they take over the exterior.
When making decisions about light fixtures, keep in mind that warm light creates a relaxed and cozy vibe, while cool lighting is more vibrant. If you want to boost curb appeal, choose warm-toned lighting — it's less intense and exudes an inviting feeling. Install fixtures in ways that enhance your home's architecture and provide sufficient light for security, entertaining, and finding your way in the dark. Consider outdoor walkway lighting ideas that add ambiance and make your yard safe to enhance the beauty of your landscape.
Energy efficiency is another important factor to consider when planning your exterior lighting. Outdoor solar lights for your yard are affordable and won't increase your monthly utility costs. Another energy-efficient exterior lighting solution is using low-voltage LED lights, which cost about $1 to $5 per month in electricity compared with $5 to $15 for traditional incandescent bulbs. With a thoughtful exterior lighting plan that includes the right type of lighting that's correctly placed, your outdoor lights can be functional, energy efficient, and boost your home's curb appeal.