Homeowner’s Guide to the Best Outdoor Lighting

Choosing Outdoor Lighting

The right outdoor lighting for your home adds ambiance and warmth. It can also add safety and security from burglars, who are less likely to target a well-lit house.

There are many options to weigh for outdoor lighting. The main factors include:

• The area you want to illuminate;
• Your main purpose — security, enhancing your overall decor, highlighting landscaping or simply providing overall light;
• Your budget.

First, check to see if the lighting is suitable for outdoor use. Look for the UL Listing or the ETL Listed Mark. UL refers to Underwriter Laboratories while ETL refers to Electrical Testing Laboratories. Both laboratories test the safety of various products. They generally label lighting one of three ways: Safe for dry areas only, suitable for damp locations or suitable for wet locations.

If there’s no label, it’s best to assume that the light is safe for dry areas only. Definitely look for these labels when shopping for outdoor lighting.

Here are eight popular kinds of outdoor lights to consider.