From the street, your front porch sets the tone for your entire home. Beautiful and ample lighting is an ideal way to welcome everyone to your home in the evening. A well-lit porch not only improves the appearance of your home, but it can increase your safety and security by deterring unwanted visitors from snooping around. Now that Spring is here, it's the perfect time to begin to think about ways to brighten your porch. Use these tips to add style and function to your outdoor lighting. 

Choose a Lighting Style Which Blends with Your Home's Architecture

Visit any lighting store and it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the types of lights available. The aisles are lined with hundreds of different types of fixtures. With so many options, homeowners often have a hard time deciding which type of lighting fixture will look the best for their homes. A good starting point is to choose a fixture which will accent the architectural style of their homes. Here are a few options to consider:

• Pendant or hanging lights are a great choice for homes with high porch ceilings. This type of light helps bring down the ceiling and provides a more intimate feel but can make a space with a lower ceiling feel cramped. 
• Sconces add a touch of class to your home. Brick homes look especially good with this type of fixture, but the right sconce can work with any home. The downside to sconces is that they do not provide lots of light and can be expensive to install if you are not replacing ones. 
• Ceiling mounted lights are one of the best choices for front porches with lower ceilings. Ceiling mounted lights provide plenty of overhead lighting without making a space seem too cramped. 

Whether you live in an old Victorian or a modern home, there is a light a lighting style which will perfectly complement your house.  

Make Sure Your Lighting is Bright and Durable Enough

Choosing the brightness of your lighting is a challenge. Not enough light means trouble finding your keys when you come home but if it's too bright, you'll feel like you have a spotlight focused on your door. Most homeowners find the sweet spot for pendant lighting and ceiling mounts is between 100 - 125 watts and 60 - 70 watts for sconces. Remember to check the UL before buying any light fixture. Porch lighting fixtures need to be damp or wet-rated.

Set a Realistic Budget

The price for lighting fixtures ranges from low to high. While you can find inexpensive outdoor lighting which looks good, cheaper lighting is usually made of inferior materials. Investing a few extra dollars now means your lighting will last for years to come.

Maximize your outdoor lighting budget by shopping at a trusted company like Northern Lighting. Right now at Northern Lighting, get up to 20 percent off during our Spring Clearance Sale! Call us at 614-891-7600 to find out more.