Front Porch Lighting Ideas
Meggan Wynja- Front porch lighting can enhance your outdoor spaces and make them more welcoming.
- Color Cord Company has front porch lighting ideas that are modern and creative.
- Check out a few different ways you can elevate your outdoor space with lighting.
Modern Front Porch Lighting
The right front porch lighting ideas can transform the exterior of your home with a warm, inviting glow that welcomes guests into your space. At Color Cord Company, we know that redecorating on your own can be daunting, so we’re here with a collection of creative porch lighting ideas to inspire your next project. Check out everything from hanging front porch lighting to fairy string lights and discover something that will make your home shine.
1. Statement Pendants
Just like your entryway, the front porch is the gateway to your home. It’s the first impression visitors get of your space, so it deserves an elevated touch that makes an impact. For a simple one and done design style that truly stands out, consider installing a statement pendant in the center of your porch. This front porch lighting idea allows you to play with different shade styles, like wrought iron or acrylic globes. Choose the most oversized option that fits in your space to ensure that you make a statement!
2. Wall Sconces
Instead of hanging front porch lighting, you may want a front porch lighting idea that hugs the walls and guides people to your front door. You can add wall sconces in so many places to create cohesive lighting that illuminates the entire space. Measuring out your porch’s surface area will ensure you buy enough fixtures to create full coverage. Consider adding wall sconces to columns, putting them on either side of your front door, and extending them around the sides of the house to accommodate wrap porches.
3. Seasonal Lighting
Just because it’s a light fixture, doesn’t mean it has to be fixed! Updating your lighting on a quarterly basis can help you embrace the changing seasons and highlight holidays throughout the year. For this front porch lighting idea, stock up on seasonally appropriate shades for outdoor spaces, like woven rattan shades for summer, paper lantern shades for spring, and acrylic globes with color-changing bulbs for winter. Get creative with porch lighting ideas for Halloween, Christmas, and other holidays!
4. Practical Lighting + Chic Accents
You want modern front porch lighting that’s functional without sacrificing the ambiance of your space. If you’re looking for a front porch lighting idea that balances both, you can blend practical lighting with aesthetic accents to achieve a refreshing look and feel that still showcases your personality. First choose functional lighting, like wall sconces for either side of your door or pendants for hanging front porch lighting that will illuminate your way as you search for your keys. Next, add twinkling string lights or plug-in pendants for the more social areas of your porch, especially near rocking chairs or swing seats. Now, you have the best of both worlds with whimsical light fixtures that provide comprehensive lighting.
5. Layered Lighting
Our previous front porch lighting idea touched very lightly on layered lighting, but this modern front porch lighting recommendation is especially important when your porch is a frequent hosting space. You want your guests to feel comfortable relaxing in your space, as well as entering and leaving the area. Layered lighting provides everything they need to feel at home, including ambient, task, and accent fixtures.
Ambient fixtures are those big overhead pendants or chandeliers that provide general illumination. Task lights focus on specialized activities that may occur in your space. These may include pendant lights for reading, table lamps to keep track of drinks, or wall sconces that highlight doorways and windows. Finally, we have accent fixtures that show off decor and architectural details.
6. Blend Indoor & Outdoor Aesthetics
You don’t want a harsh transition between your outer spaces and your indoor environment — especially if you have large windows that allow you to see both spaces at the same time. For a sleek, cohesive front porch lighting idea, choose outdoor fixtures that are similar to your indoor styles. For example, if you primarily have mod globes accenting your indoor decor, get acrylic globe shades for your hanging front porch lights.
Acrylic shades are the preferred option for outdoor lighting, as they offer the same light diffusion as glass, but stand up better to outdoor conditions. They’re practically shatter-proof and resilient enough to withstand sun degradation. Acrylic is at the forefront of modern front porch lighting due to its durability.
7. Spotlights & Uplights
Spotlights illuminate areas below the fixture while uplights showcase the areas above a fixture. You can use both to draw attention to certain areas of your porch in a subtle and soft way. You can create spotlights and uplights on your porch for this creative porch lighting idea by installing wall sconces at the appropriate height and using a shade to angle the light where you want it to go. Metal shades offer the least amount of light diffusion to ensure all the light is pointing in one direction.
Use this front porch lighting idea if you have planters, architectural details, or decor you want to showcase.
Design Your Modern Front Porch Lighting Here
Whatever you do with your front porch lighting ideas, we recommend that you carry them over to all of your exterior spaces. Whether you have a pool area, gazebo, pergola, BBQ pit, or other lounge space, you want everything to feel cohesive. Whatever you choose for the front of your home, use the same fixtures and aesthetic everywhere else as well!
Color Cord Company wants to be the go-to spot for all your front porch lighting ideas. We’re here with recommendations, inspiration, and a massive selection of fixtures and accessories to help you DIY your custom lighting design. Browse our outdoor collection today to find outdoor-rated fixtures, shades, and hardware!
If you have any questions about our products or bringing your ideas to life, please reach out to our team for personalized guidance and support.
