Home renovations are a good way to get more value and a new look at the same time. If you’re looking to upgrade your curb appeal or the exterior of your home, a new garage door can go a long way. Of course, if you’re going to invest in a brand new door, you might as well get some new outdoor lighting to show it off.
Finding the right garage lighting is all about balance. The lights you choose are going to make an impression - it’s up to you to make sure it’s a good one. Don’t choose spotlights or bright lights that are going to light up the entire neighborhood or take away from the overall appearance of your home. You should install just enough lighting to be safe and useful while accenting your garage door with a fixture that fits.
Step one: plan your project
In order to get the right lighting, you will need to create a physical sketch of your garage door. You’re not an engineer, and no one expects it to be drawn to scale. Just mark down the measurements of the door, the garage itself, and the areas between where you can put light fixtures. Whether you have a single door, double door, or multiple garage doors, you should include measurements for between all door panels, or between the door panel and the edge of the garage. This is usually where most lighting goes.
You should also consider the space above the garage door. Some people like the look of downlighting, or they will install decorative lighting on the sides and a motion-sensing security light on the top for added peace of mind. Think about all of this so you can do everything at once.
A few tips:
- Designers suggest leaving at least a few inches around the fixtures so that the wall doesn’t look overcrowded.
- For those with limited side space, smaller lights are available that can be installed right on the side of the door frame.
- Consider how the style of the fixture fits with the style of your garage door. More on this next.
Step two: choose your lighting
There are plenty of options for outdoor lighting that will allow you to create a cohesive look for your home and garage. The first thing you should consider is the architecture of your garage and your home. They should have similar styles, if not the same architectural style. Although there are a huge variety of styles, they are usually grouped into three categories: contemporary/modern, classic/colonial, and country or carriage house.
If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out sites like Pinterest to see what other people are doing with their garage lighting and new overhead doors. With so many different choices, it might make it easier to visualize what you can do.
Check out these ideas for modern outdoor lighting:
If you prefer something more rustic, try these:
Step three: choose your bulbs, carefully
Lightbulbs might not sound like a complicated matter. However, outdoor lighting fixtures are unique in that they often utilize specialty bulbs or require a certain wattage to be effective. LED bulbs, of course, are the best choice for outdoor bulbs. They can resist the weather and they are the most energy-efficient choice. Plus, they can provide up to 100,000 hours of life, which means you will hardly ever change bulbs.
Of course, the manufacturer’s recommendations are the first priority. Check the fixture or the instructions that came with it to see what type and wattage of bulb are recommended. Use that bulb first and foremost. If it happens to be an energy‑saving LED, that’s great. If not, that’s fine too. If you are really concerned about the lightbulbs, check the fixture before you buy. It should tell you on the package or on a website listing what type of bulbs it requires.
Finally, make sure that you don’t use CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs outside. These contain a small amount of mercury and are not safe for use outdoors, even when protected inside of a light fixture. These bulbs also lose intensity in the cold weather, so they aren’t effective as a lighting source.
Now that you’ve got everything together, just install your new lighting, put in the bulbs, and enjoy your updated curb appeal.
About that new garage door…
Contact us today at 709-368-7222. We’ve got an image gallery of past projects that we can share for inspiration, and we can even send you over a quote by email. Or, enjoy staying in and play around with our virtual Design Centre to create the perfect look for your home.
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