Showcase your new garage door with just the right outdoor lighting

It’s a great idea to change your current garage door to give your home an all-new look. Why not take advantage of this occasion to modify or improve the exterior lighting of your house as well as that around your garage door to put your whole residence in its best “light”!

The outdoor lights you select can have a major impact on your home’s exterior, both at night and during the day. Ideally, exterior lighting should furnish enough light to be able to ensure a safe environment around your home after sunset while, as well, create an impressive aura that highlights the architectural style of your home and garage door, increasing curb appeal. However, don’t go too far… if you select spotlights that light up your home like a stadium, you could both bother your neighbors and detract from the look you are trying to achieve. Here are some tips on how to do it right.

Surrounding the garage door

When planning your exterior lighting, sketch out the size of your garage door itself. The approach you will use for a double garage door, often 16 feet wide, is different from two single 8-foot doors. Or you may have a combination of a double and a single door, with the later frequently used for a storage area. Many smaller homes may have just an appropriately-sized single garage door while larger homes, three or more single doors. Whatever the situation, the space around the garage door or doors should be indicated on your plan. How much space is on each side of the door(s) and above? For two or more doors, how wide is the space between them? If there are eaves over the door, you may wish to install down lighting. Depending on your roof line, can lights be installed on the wall over the door? Would you like to supply lighting for your driveway at the same time?

All of this information will aide in indicating the maximum space you have to work with and ensure that the lighting you select will fit the space. In general, designers often suggest some blank space around the light fixtures to create balance, and these lights should not take up more than half of the available wall space. If the room around your door(s) is limited, fixtures can usually be installed on each side of the door(s) to highlight your garage door, achieve a great look and increase curb appeal.

What type of light fixture should you choose?

First start with the architectural style of your house. Is it modern and contemporary? More classic and colonial? Or is it a country or carriage house style? Your goal is to enhance the overall coordinated appearance of your garage door along with your residence. Not only should the lighting be handsome during the day, but it ought to also provide secure illumination at night. Also, keep in mind the distance from your home or driveway and any city streetlights – no need to duplicate or compete with existing lighting.

There are numerous choices of outdoor lights to create a harmonious link between your garage and house while showcasing your new garage door both at night and during the day. You can find some inspiration and creative ideas at sites such as Pinterest.

Take a look at some choices for a modern style home:

For a rustic style home:

What about the lightbulbs for these new fixtures?

It may seem like an easy question, but examine it more closely. If you are looking to save energy, certainly LED lightbulbs will be your best choice. However, the manufacturer’s recommendations should take precedence.

When first deciding on lightbulbs, ensure they are durable, designed for outdoor use and don’t exceed the maximum wattage to avoid overheating the light fixture. Most outdoor fixtures are rated for a maximum of 100 watts yet some others may be at 60 watts based on the number of bulbs in the light.

As we said before, the best outdoor bulbs are LED bulbs. They are weather resistant and energy efficient and will last many years, supplying up to 100,000 hours of dependable use, meaning you rarely need to change them. That being said, there are still some fixtures that require specific bulbs such as 60-watt incandescent ones. Be sure to check the specifications for bulbs for any fixture you are considering so you are prepared.

It bears mentioning that the use of spiral compact fluorescent bulbs, containing a small amount of mercury, is not appropriate for outdoor purposes even if they are protected from the elements. In cold weather, this type of bulb loses lighting intensity and was not designed for exterior use.

So now all that’s left to do is install the lighting around your garage door, screw in the appropriate lightbulbs, and stand back and admire the warm and inviting appearance you’ve given your home.

H2: Ready to shop for your new garage door?

Then contact us right away at 724-834-8450. Ask to see our image gallery showing projects we’ve done in your neighborhood. If you’d like, we can send you a quotation by email.

Another choice is to come and visit our showroom and see the different models presented there. Or, from the comfort of your home, try out our Design Centre to choose the style that best suits you.