From spotlights to path lights, we all love outdoor lighting. No one likes dark and dusky outdoors; we all prefer to have some light shining over the outdoor spaces to make them look less drab and more welcoming. Outdoor lighting, especially outdoor LED lights, is not just excellent for improving home aesthetics; it also offers a wide range of functional benefits.
If you are thinking of elevating your outdoor space with lighting, this guide will help you understand outdoor lighting types and their functions so you can choose the best fit for your home.
What is Outdoor Lighting?
First, let’s understand what outdoor lighting is. Outdoor lighting incorporates using a mix of light fixtures that are installed in the outdoor spaces of the home to improve home security and safety while also enhancing its ambiance. You can use light fixtures to highlight your landscaping, put focus on your architecture, and brighten up places for navigation at night. The best part is that outdoor LED lighting comes in various types and styles, so you can easily find the one that accentuates your existing architectural style.
Why Use LEDs For Outdoor Lighting?
Outdoor lighting comes in a variety of types, ranging from outdoor LED light bulbs to traditional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lighting.
- Fluorescent lighting uses low-pressure gasses to produce visible light. However, it is not used outdoors because it doesn't perform well under temperature fluctuations. It is also fairly outdated because it uses toxic materials.
- Incandescent bulbs are the next popular choice and have been around for over a century. They feature a heated filament that emits light when an electric current passes through. They aren't as widely used anymore because they become hot to the touch quite quickly and consume plenty of electricity. (In 2023, the US banned sales of incandescent bulbs or any light bulbs that emit less than 45 lumens per watt.)
- The third type is LED lighting, the most popular choice for lighting today. Outdoor LED lights feature light-emitting diodes that emit light when current passes through. They are the more popular choice because they are much more energy efficient, consuming 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Outdoor LED lights also have longer lifespans and do not produce excessive heat. Most outdoor light fixtures you find are, in fact, designed to accommodate LED light bulbs.
What is Outdoor Lighting Used For?
There are several benefits of using outdoor LED lights. Here are the most common reasons homeowners typically highlight:
Security
Outdoor lighting is one of the most essential elements for keeping your home safe and secure from trespassing intruders. According to studies, outdoor lighting can cut down crime by 39%. This is because burglars and intruders are far more likely to target a home that is not lit, particularly around the lawn, gardens, and pool sides.
However, it is natural to not want light on all the time in order to avoid unnecessary glare and save on energy costs. If you don’t like having lights on all the time in your outdoor spaces, you can opt for motion sensor lights that will only switch on when motion is detected. Use outdoor LED lights to deter potential trespassers and give yourself a sense of security.
Ambiance and Aesthetics
LED outdoor lighting can convert any outdoor space into a warm and welcoming place by using the right style and color of illumination. They can be placed strategically around the outdoor space as accents in your garden or to highlight your landscape features. Similarly, outdoor LED string lights can create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, particularly around the holidays. Use warm outdoor LED lighting around the garden pathways and the steps leading up to your home for visibility and a warm glow, and opt for wall sconces and lanterns to create aesthetic focal points.
An interesting factor is that outdoor LED light bulbs are far more cost-effective than traditional incandescent bulbs while offering more energy efficiency and durability. You can save costs in the long run, especially when you have to light up larger outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Entertainment
You cannot expect to entertain guests outdoors without sufficient outdoor lighting. String lights suspended between trees and shrubs can give your outdoor areas a warm glow. Lanterns, lights around the firepit, and step lights can also combine to create a zen-like atmosphere in your outdoor space. Outdoor LED lighting also creates the perfect ambiance for any winter party, housewarming, birthday celebration, and more.
Functionality
People want to live in a safe and secure home, be it morning or night. Imagine having to navigate the outdoor home space at night. Walking around the yard, in particular, can be quite challenging without the aid of outdoor lights. The next thing you know, you might stumble over a hose without the proper lighting. This is even more important if you have elderly or young children. You can make your home safer and reduce the chance of accidents by introducing efficient outdoor LED lights, particularly on the steps, backyards, driveways, gardens, porches, etc.
Keep in mind that LED lights do not generate nearly as much heat as traditional incandescent bulbs, which makes them far safer to use outdoors for navigation. Children and pets who wander outdoors might always accidentally touch the light. But with little to no heat, these lights are safe to touch. This is another overlooked benefit of LED outdoor lights.
Types of Outdoor LED Lights
LED outdoor lighting comes in many shapes and sizes, each providing a range of benefits. Here are the most popular types of outdoor LED lighting available in the markets:
Outdoor LED Flood Lights
Flood lights are typically quite bright and feature a cooler light. These are used for lighting up large expanses of spaces, as you might have seen in outdoor stadiums and football fields. In homes, they are used for parking spaces, driveways, and landscapes. Flood lights are therefore utilized to bolster safety and security in outdoor areas. Keep in mind that outdoor LED flood lights have the most lumens and, therefore, might be blinding for smaller areas. They are best recommended for those with larger properties who fear the risk of theft or burglary. You can also get LED outdoor flood light bulbs.
Wall Sconces
Wall sconces are wall-mounted light fixtures that traditionally held candles or torches. Today, these mounted structures are built to support LED bulbs. They do, however, support incandescent and fluorescent bulbs as well. You will find them in a variety of styles, from contemporary to minimalist to traditional.
Wall sconces are typically recommended when you want to create focal points in your outdoor spaces or add an aesthetic ambiance. LED outdoor wall lights normally use warmer natural lights (2,700 K) to create a welcoming, cozy ambiance. Use them to enhance your curb appeal and serve as accent lighting alike.
Outdoor LED String Lights
Festoon lights, string lights, or hanging lights are typically lights strung around strands of wiring that can be used to illuminate large outdoor spaces. They are generally warmer, feature smaller LED lights joined one after the other, and create a welcoming ambiance. They also add a luxurious warmth to your outdoor space, which can make an ideal space for unwinding and relaxing. String lights are more popular because they can quickly be draped where needed and adjusted according to your needs. You can set them up where you require them without the need for any mounting equipment.
Path Lights
Path lights or pathway lights are lighting places along the steps, driveways, walkways, around the gardens, and around the pool, or just about anywhere where you might need navigation support. As the name suggests, path lights highlight the areas around your outdoor space so you can move around securely without the fear of falling or tripping. These outdoor LED lights are positioned around 1 foot of the area meant to be illuminated and spread light over broad areas such as patios and stairs. When installing, make sure the light is aimed downwards, and no glare hits you directly in the eyes when walking past.
Spotlights
Many people think that spotlights are the same as floodlights, but they are actually quite different. Floodlights are meant to illuminate large spaces, whereas spotlights deliver focused illumination in a select area. You can use them to highlight your home exterior's architectural features, landscaping elements, gardens, pool areas, etc. They can also add visual interest to your outdoor areas through strategic lighting placement.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Outdoor LED Lighting
There are several factors to consider when choosing your outdoor LED lights to ensure you get truly functional lighting solutions:
Durability
One key differentiator between outdoor lighting and indoor lighting is that LED lights used outdoors are manufactured to be more durable. Outdoor lighting will be exposed to dramatic temperature changes and dynamic weather conditions such as rain, snow, and sleet, as well as changing humidity.
As such, outdoor lighting is constructed using non-corrosive materials such as stainless steel, cast aluminum, bronze, marine glass, and high-grade plastics. The materials are meant to ensure that lighting remains moisture-proof, fire-resistant, and explosion-proof. Even the heat sinks used in LEDs are designed to quickly absorb and dissipate heat produced to maintain performance and enhance longevity. Overall, outdoor LED lights are more robust and resistant to shocks and vibrations, which makes them ideal for external home use.
Look for a UL certification tag to make sure the product you are purchasing is tested and certified to meet safety, quality, and security standards. Similarly, look at the indicated IP rating of the light fixture, which will tell you how well the light shows resistance against water and dust.
Versatility
Outdoor LED lighting should be versatile and provide multifaceted benefits, including security, visibility, and improved ambiance, among others. For example, LED lights should create a pleasant outdoor atmosphere for entertaining people at your home. They should provide enhanced visibility in the outdoors so you can take care of outdoor activities even during the night time. Furthermore, outdoor LED lights should provide security by making sure that intruders do not come across your property. Intruders will typically opt for shadowed places to sneak in, and outdoor LED lights will prevent that from happening.
Motion sensor lights are a good example of versatile lighting solutions. Not only do they provide lighting, but they will only turn on when they detect movement, which can provide an additional layer of security.
Brightness
Lumen is the standard unit of measurement for the brightness of a light. It essentially provides the total visible light emitted by an LED bulb per square foot. You should determine the correct number of lumens for your outer spaces and, in turn, control the brightness and intensity of your lighting.
Since outdoor lighting is used in a variety of different places and for various purposes, the lighting brightness typically varies. For example, if you wish to install lighting along the steps leading up to your home, opt for dimmed, smaller lighting (12-100 lumens). On the other hand, motion sensor lights should be brighter, typically 300 to 700 lumens. Flood lights that are used to lighten up large expanses of spaces should be the brightest, ranging from 700 to 1300 lumens. Pool lighting is typically dimmer since most homeowners desire a pool area with an intimate aesthetic. 200-400 lumens lighting is sufficient for the poolside.
Here is a complete breakdown of the brightness/lumens you should aim for:
- Step Lighting: 12 to 100 lumens
- Wall-mounted Lights: 50 to 185 lumens
- Landscape Lights: 50 to 300 lumens
- Pathway Lights: 100 to 200 lumens
- Spotlights: 120 lumens
- Lamp Posts: 120 to 180 lumens
- Pond/Pool Lights: 200 to 400 lumens
- Motion Sensor Lights: 300 to 700 lumens
- Flood Lights: 700 to 1300 lumens
Color
The next step to consider is the color of your outdoor LED lights. The color temperature is usually measured in degrees of Kelvin and typically ranges from 1,000 to 10,000 Kelvin. The bulb's temperature might be warmer or cooler depending on where the temperature falls on the Kelvin scale. The type of color you want for outdoor LED lighting will depend on the aesthetic you wish to create.
Extremely warm light or yellow-red light, usually at 2200 Kelvin, is used to create an intimate, low-key, or romantic atmosphere. This type of lighting is popular for outdoor fireplaces, wall sconces, or step lights.
Warm white light at 2700 Kelvin is also warm but offers a slightly yellow-tinged light and is excellent for entryways of the building. Natural or neutral light at 3000 K is usually used in parking spaces, outdoor dining areas, sheds, or workspaces. Cooler white light (4000 Kelvin and above), which is more crisp and clear lighting, is best used for security lighting.
Additional Options to Explore
Lighting your outdoor spaces is not an easy feat, especially for a beginner. You will have to consider plenty of factors before you begin, and many people often overlook some aspects. We want to make sure you are aware of all possible installation solutions beforehand so you can have an optimally illuminated space.
Solar Powered Lights
Don’t assume that you must power your outdoor LED lights using your home's grid connection. You can alternatively connect the lighting system to solar-powered battery units and keep your outdoors illuminated through the night. Solar power will allow you to cut down on utility bills associated with outdoor lighting, which can be quite expensive when it is kept running all night long. You can recharge your solar batteries in the morning and use them to provide illumination at night.
Dimmers
Outdoor LED lights can be equipped with dimmer switches so you can quickly adjust the brightness of your light as needed. Through this, you can create the sort of ambiance you desire when you need it. Dimming lights will not only create a more romantic and relaxing atmosphere but can also allow you to save energy costs. This is quite helpful when you don’t have a large outdoor space and have only invested in a few LED outdoor lighting installations. Dimmers will allow you to make do with the few outdoor LED light fixtures you have so you can have both bright and dim lighting solutions at hand.
Smart Connectivity
Most modern LED light providers allow you to connect your outdoor LED lights with remote applications on your phone. You can monitor your lighting when it is switched on or off from the comfort of your seat. You can further use them to alter the brightness and even the color of your lighting as needed. If needed, you can create a schedule to turn the lights on and off and even use voice commands for the same effect. This will allow you to reduce the wastage of electricity, especially when lights are kept on for hours without you realizing it.
Timers
A similar device you should look for when installing outdoor LED lights is a timer. Light switch timers will allow you to automatically switch on or turn off the lights as needed. You can set the time according to your needs and save energy costs in the long run. Most scheduled lights allow you to switch on the lights for up to eight hours a day (typically during the night) before switching them off automatically. Timers make it so much easier to manage lighting schedules.
Should You Install Outdoor LED Lights Yourself?
This will ultimately depend on the type of lighting you are planning on installing. If the project is as simple as stringing up some outdoor LED string lights or placing some wall sconces, you can certainly do it yourself with some guidance. However, if you need to install larger outdoor LED flood lights, spotlights, step lights, etc., you should opt for a professional designer or installer to do the job.
Professional designers have the necessary skills and expertise to handle any lighting project and will even guide you on the optimal lighting solution according to your needs. They also have the necessary tools to perform the installations, which you must acquire first. Professional installers will also ensure your lighting is safely installed, keeping in line with your local regulations.
Outdoor LED Lighting Maintenance
Having your LED outdoor lighting installed can be pretty exciting. However, you need to keep up with outdoor lighting maintenance if you want them to continue shining just as brightly. To prevent scratches, regularly clean your outdoor LED light fixtures and bulbs using a mix of warm water and soap. Use a soft cloth to do so.
You should also inspect the wiring for any signs of wear and tear or damage, which is likely when you experience rapid weather changes or during the rainy season. You should further always make sure your outdoor LED light fixtures are securely mounted in place. Loosely fitted bulbs and poor mounting can lead to overheating, sparking, or flickering lights, which can damage the bulb.
Yeelight’s Outdoor LED Lighting Solutions
Your outdoor lighting solutions can only be as good as the provider you work with. Here is an overview of Yeelight’s outdoor LED lighting solutions and some of our leading outdoor products. Yeelight is one of the leading LED light providers, dealing with a wide range of indoor and outdoor lighting solutions. Check out our leading products below:
Yeelight Permanent LED Outdoor Lights
Yeelight offers permanent outdoor string lights that can conveniently be installed in any outdoor space. These are typically used around the holiday season but are suitable for use year-round. They offer remote control and monitoring capabilities so you can instantly switch the lights on and off, adjust the brightness as needed, and even alter the colors and lighting patterns. These lights are perfect for installation outdoors thanks to their enhanced durability and robust material design. You can use them under eaves, along the roofs, along window frames, or even drape them on your shrubs and trees.
Yeelight Candela Lamp
The Yeelight Candela lamp is one of the most convenient outdoor and indoor lighting solutions. It features a portable lamp illuminated by a candle-shaped bulb within. The rotating base gives it an alluring appearance enhanced with a warm inner glow. You can place them anywhere around your gardens or the patio to create an intimate ambiance. You can continuously use them for up to eight hours on a single charge!
Final Thoughts
Outdoor lighting can quite literally transform your space if done right. Follow the guide we have provided above to get the best fit for your home. And if you are not sure which provider to work with, Yeelight offers a compelling range of lighting solutions for you to explore, including an impressive variety of outdoor LED lights. Explore our complete catalog here.
