Our exterior light situation is a little ho-hum, as evidenced by this tiny fixture outside the back door on our garage (don’t mind the grimy green brick that’s screaming out for some scrubbing).
And yes, I realize the door itself is looking a little rough. It originally sported a rusty, loudly-banging storm door (not just a medium bang, this was SCARE-YOUR-NEIGHBORS LOUD) that we removed. So we’re getting ready to repair some of the trim and prime/paint it white to match the door in the sunroom veranda that we already updated.
But let’s turn our attention back to the light. It was too small and very weather-worn, so we decided it was time to make an upgrade. Choosing the fixture to upgrade it with proved a bit more challenging than we expected. Maybe because we’re not really used to shopping for them. I think we might have bought three exterior lights in the course of seven years. So after hitting up a local outlet and some big box stores without anything screaming “I’m perfect!” at us, Sherry took the hunt to a few online sites to see what she could come up with. After about an hour of clicking around (and waaaay too many windows being open at the same time which led to not one, but two browser crashes) there were eight contenders:
- Black lantern $69 here (inspired by the ones here)
- Seeded glass lantern $75 here
- Outdoor wall lantern $87 here
- X-Lantern $37 here
- Bronze cross-cross sconce $35 here
- Bronze lantern $79 here
- Antique copper wall light $219 here (purely just for eye candy, since it’s way above our budget)
- Bronze lantern $117 here
Making that mood board didn’t give us a eureka moment either. But what did was strolling through the lighting aisle at Home Depot and Lowe’s again, and discovering that Option #1 had gone on sale (down to $59). It had been my favorite all along anyways (Sherry was really into #6, but it was significantly smaller) and my argument for #1 was that we were looking for something large and in charge, and it was the second biggest of the bunch while also being among the three most affordable ones in the roundup. Sherry gave me one of those “hold on I’m thinking” faces and then said “ok, let’s do it.” And into our cart it went.
Installation was just like installing any other fixture:
- Step 1: Turn off the power
- Step 2: Remove the old one after staring at the wires to see how they’re connected (or even grabbing a photo of them with your phone if it’s your first light-switching job)
- Step 3: Connect the new one to the same wires the old one had been connected to
- Step 4: Tuck all of the wires into the backplate and use the provided screws to adhere the light to the house
- Step 5: Turn the power back on and make sure the light is connected well and working correctly
So installation went nice and smoothly, and you can see from this photo that it’s a big improvement. Well, not the door. Or that green wall. But at least the light is no longer rusty and small.
You think I’m joking about the size difference, don’t you? Here’s a side-by-side with the old fixture so you can see just how much more substantial the new fixture is compared to the old one.
We personally like an outdoor fixture that has lots of visual presence, so this guy is doing the trick for us. Just imagine this with a freshly painted door and non-green bricks and a nice welcome mat and some plants on either side. I know… that’s a lot of imagining. We have a long way to go back here.
I like this shot the most, since it helps to show the size of the light, along with the traditional shape, which we think is pretty fitting with the exterior of our house (we’ve admired it on a lot of our neighbor’s homes, and also were inspired by this photo of an outdoor space with similar ones). At one point I suggested that we put them in The Artist Formerly Known As Prince The Veranda Formerly Known As The Sunroom (we’re looking for four sconces to go on the posts in there to provide some eye-level light) but after holding them up they didn’t look right – so we’re still on the hunt for what might work in there.
I’ll share just one more “after” photo of this guy because when I came out to take this picture I opened the door to find a herd of deer standing right outside. Of course they ran away at the sight of me.
But they didn’t go far and still make an appearance in the background of this picture.
Here they are, just giving me the ol’ deer staredown, when I stepped a little closer. If you’re on the edge of your seat for more of my stellar wildlife photography (or are just a fan of Where’s Waldo: Deer Edition) we’ve got this post on Young House Life for your deer-loving pleasure.
Sorry I keep getting sidetracked. Lights. We’re talking about lights. And obviously that back door isn’t our only outdoor fixture. We’ve got one more wall-mounted one above our garage. It was also looking a bit worse-for-wear and was also on the diminutive side.
So we purchased a second one to match the one we added to our backdoor. And… the results were a little less impressive.
Even though it felt nice to have a sparkly new light up there – and the ORB finish commanded a bit more attention than the rusty gold – the size wasn’t reading as much of an improvement between those two giant garage doors (we’ll be painting those black or charcoal if that helps you visualize where things are going). And yes, we have more green stuff to attend to on that concrete driveway pad. Yeehaw, I smell some power-washing in my future…
But back to the light.
It’s not terrible, but it’s not exactly what we were hoping for. It just looks kinda lost on that big brick wall with those big garage doors. And I’ll admit we’re feeling a little defeated because of all of the lights that Sherry mood-boarded, it was among the largest of them all (it’s about 19″ high, and the biggest – and most expensive – was only 20″). Update: We also have a pergola planned for over the double garage and we want to add shutters to all of the windows on the side and back of our house eventually (as seen on Listy McListerson) so those are things to consider for this side of the house too.
Part of us feels like we should just stick with this one for the time being and withhold judgement until we can do some other things to the garage side of the house (like the paint the doors). And the other half of us feels like we should just return it if we don’t love it there, and not settle for something that we might later end up regretting.
What do you guys think? Would you keep it or return it in the hopes of finding something better? Any tips for where else to look besides local lighting shops, Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Overstock?
Lori says
Had to laugh at the “waaaaay too many windows being open” line. I am accused of that on a regular basis. But hey, we’ve got to keep things right at our fingertips, right? No sense in closing any until a decision is made!
Thought of you last night when I saw that my current band crush, Hudson Taylor, did a cover/mashup of Eminem’s Lose Yourself. Cool take on it, from what is basically an acoustic duo (of adorable brothers from Dublin). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmCYOLOEErA
YoungHouseLove says
So good!
xo
s
Troy - Remodeling Indy says
Oh man! Something so simple as a light really gave the house a great extra touch.
Vicky says
Pretty fixtures! I think the one on the garage wall could be a nice, techy looking security light like this… http://www.lampsplus.com/products/two-light-rustic-brown-outdoor-spotlight-with-motion-sensor__22116.html
Doesn’t call much attention to itself but looks ready for action when called upon. Doesn’t seem like it needs to match the decorative and functional fixtures by your pedestrian doors. It would be different if it were lower and flanking the doors. Thanks for being a positive, happy place in the world!
tess says
the light by the garage is fine
I thought the reason garage doors were white or light colored was so they wouldn’t become burning hot in the sun (as black would really heat up)
YoungHouseLove says
I’m not sure, there are lots of dark stained wood ones and charcoal/black ones in our neighborhood so I think it should be ok. We painted our first house’s double garage black (it was red) and it worked out really well.
xo
s
Tom M says
Funny, I actually got outside light advice from you guys. I had 4 ugly, tarnished-brass sconces and 1 matching post light. I couldn’t find any new lights I really liked and didn’t want to drop $300 on 5 new ugly lights.
After reading a post on the ORB spray paint, I took the fixtures down and gave them a few coats of paint. They looked much better and it only cost a few cans of spray paint. Here’s a belated thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Erin J. says
I feel your pain…I had the hardest time trying to find outdoor fixtures that I liked. I replaced our front porch pendant and post light (they match), but I still have to replace the light on our side porch. Your #5 is actually the wall-mounted version of what I bought for our pendant and post light, but for whatever reason I’m not feelin’ it on the side porch. I keep debating if things should be “matchy” but I’ve recently decided that if I don’t dig it, it’s not worth investing in! I’m just going to keep looking until I see something that stands out. I’m really interested to see what you end up picking for your garage area since we seem to be on the same page as far as outdoor fixtures go!
And if it were me, I’d return the garage fixture if you’re not feelin’ it – that could be $60 that you could use towards something else that you really love! We bought our outdoor fixtures from LightingDirect.com, which had some pretty good deals at the time. I also know that Wayfair.com has some outdoor fixtures too, and they typically have really good deals. I really like the idea of #4, #5, or #8 between your garage doors – something about the angles that I feel would work better with the rectangular lines of the doors (i.e., something with lines that run parallel to the lines of the garage doors).
Keep on keepin’ on! I’m eager to know what you end up doing :)
Caroline says
The light over the garage looks great — adding two more lights on the sides of the doors would help a lot. We have a two-car garage and three lights — one on either side of the doors and one in-between them. Ours are all the same height (lower than yours) and having the two lights on either side help tremendously when we need lights outside! Big security issue sometimes.
Ash says
My apologies if it’s been suggested already, but have you Photoshopped that view of the garage with painted garage doors, shutters, plants, etc. – everything in place to see how the light works when it’s a finished product? After all, you guys have the motto of “the middle doesn’t make sense,” so maybe do a test-run on the finale?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ash! I love that idea. We do appreciate everyone’s thoughts and tips and links. Happy Friday indeed!
xo
s
Emilie says
I think it’s a matter of placement that makes it feel less impressive than hoped for. The space feels like it needs two lights.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/161076/James-Martin-Associates-traditional-landscape-chicago
I know you’ve said changing/adding the placement of the light might be costly. Probably. But I don’t think it will be any spendy-er than purchasing a single light large enough to fill that space.
That being said, you’ll find what works for you and that will be great!
Carrie says
I like the light, but I think one that hung down, below the mounting part, would have complemented the door a little better. Almost all, if not all, of your other choices would have been lower than the door, instead of higher. And I’m very, very sorry for this comment. It’s the first I’ve ever made that wasn’t completely positive. But, sometimes constructive criticism is a good thing, right? Oh, don’t hate me forever…
And take back the one you don’t like. You are always telling us, your readers, to wait until you find what you love. Take your own wonderful advice on this one and save the $60!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the advice guys! It’s so helpful and we so appreciate your thoughts!
xo
s
Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says
I say return it and spray paint the one that was already there in ORB to match the new one – and live with that until you make the changes you want to the garage and find the light of your dreams!!
Plein Jane says
I’ve been criss-crossing my fingers all week, hoping for an update on the stair runner!!! #readerscanbesoannoying
But, John, I think my favorite thing this week has been the upgraded landscape. So beautiful and lush-looking, and it must be such a relief to get that done before winter. Now you won’t dread every rainfall. Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Thanks Plein Jane!
-John
Gaidig says
If you’re certain that light won’t cut the mustard once you’ve installed the pergola, I would return it. It is an improvement, but not a huge difference, as you mention.
The only way I can think of off hand to get a larger scale light in this area is to create a bracket and hang a large lantern from it. Something along the lines of this: http://lowermerionhistory.org/buildings/image-building-list.php?photo_id=4607 but not so medieval.
Gaidig says
I was originally thinking that you could make a triangular wooden bracket for a lantern-style light, but now I’m thinking it would be very cool to hang a series of regular-sized lanterns from your pergola when you install it. You might not even need to make holes in the brick when you install them.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a sweet idea too! Love it!
xo
s
Meggan says
Keep it! I think it goes along with your “stage 1” philosophy. It’s easier on the eyes than the original fixture and buys you time to look for your favorite or change the lighting/pergola plan out there.
Laura H says
Definitely lower the garage light and put one in the middle, 2 on the sides, or even 3 across.
Care says
Definitely return until you find something you love – that’s always my motto! Yes, it definitely is an improvement, but there is a decent chance you may regret it later. When that time comes when you actually have/need to replace it you can always get it (meaning this type style) again if you still haven’t found anything you truly love yet. I see it as a win win.
Alyssa says
Hey guys! Ok, so this post came at a great time because my hubby and I have recently had some issues with our outdoor lighting! Here’s the situation (assuming you’re board and want to read something!) we built our house in September of 2009, as our builders requested items we shopped around. Our outside fixtures were one item we found at Menards and they were the cheapest place at the time. Fast forward 4 years, and those fixtures we once liked are now a pain in the rear. I like to change the white bulbs out with alternating red and green bulbs for Christams on the front of our house (4 lights total). Well, last year when my husband went to change them he found that some of the screws were super cheap and broke off inside the light and/or were easily stripped!! The type of fixture we picked are completely closed and the top opens up, so you have to screw the top off to change the bulb. I’m now looking to replace all of our lights with the “lantern” style, an open bottom so we can quickly change bulbs either for the holidays or when one burns out. That should eliminate one of our issues with these lights and save time when we do change the light bulbs. But this is a tip I wanted to share with you in case you run into the same problem! It may help you narrow down choices for the rest of your outdoor fixtures.
Oh and while talking with a neighbor recently, I found that they have the same style fixtures (closed all around with screw access on top) and they are looking to change theirs out as well because one of their fixtures doesn’t even open since the screws are broken too and they like the ease of the lantern style. :)
Kimberly R says
Keep it. The proportion of the light is not the problem. It looks a lot better than the old one … and the pergola and shutters will make all the difference.
Allison says
My favourite part about this new light fixture is how it compliments your new one in the foyer really nicely. Different shapes, but equally awesome.
I’m kind of in love with your foyer, so this might just be an excuse to reminise about that again for a little bit…
Amelia says
Hmm…not my favorite. I think they both look a little weird. A little out of place. For some reason, it looks strange to me that the top of the light by the door is higher than the door frame. And the one by the garage is, like you said, so puny on that huge wall of brick.
Amelia says
Yup that’s what it is. I just did a search of outdoor sconces and doors and I am hard pressed to find a sconce that is set above the door frame. I think that is what is strange feeling about the one over the garage too (though that would be hard for you to change).
Kristen says
I say call it good for now and move on to another project! Like….. the nursery! :)
Mary Ann says
What about Ferguson? http://shop.ferguson.com/page/lighting
They have a showroom in the northern part of Williamsburg.
Julie G. says
Just a quick note. I would reserve judgement because, as you mentioned, that garage is screaming for a pergola, which will make all the difference. I think the whole process with the house is about layering the updates. It is so hard to do because every time one small change is made, it always seems to draw attention to what else needs to be done. Fortunately, you all are all about the journey!
Jennifer M. says
Love the new fixture! I agree with the person that wrote the fixture should maybe hang down on the garage wall…? Maybe that will give the look you are going for.
We just moved into our first home a little over a month ago and we were replacing the bulbs in our fixtures above the garage. We noticed that the previous owners must have replaced the fixtures because there seemed to be some sort of caulking left on the brick from the original fixtures but there isn’t any caulk around the new ones. I was wondering if they should be caulked? Did you or are you going to caulk around your fixtures?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! If they’re not sitting flush I think you can caulk (I’d use clear caulk just so it blends in really subtly). Ours sat nice and flush so we didn’t use any… which will come in handy if we want to pop them down and take them back!
xo
s
Karen says
See Sherry, is this “phase 1” if you end up keeping this light, or returning it and save $60 now and wait till you do the whole job?? Hee hee, had to say it!!! You guys are awesome. :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I think I’m definitely leaning towards not settling and bringing back anything we don’t love.
xo
s
Karen says
Wish I realized that when it came to my boyfriend!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Works for that, too!
xo
s
Heather says
I would probably return it. I found this website that sells extra large outdoor lamps. http://www.bellacor.com/extra-large-outdoor-lighting-th.htm
sara says
Definitely a new light for the garage in the same finish. the way it is set up, i would get one that is a “downer” rather than an “upper”
sara says
Definitely a NEW one for the garage. Just get the same finish, Would also get a “downer” rather than an “upper”
Jill says
I’d actually never have given this new light a second thought if I saw it on your garage. It looks totally normal. Particularly after you add black shutters and paint the garage doors, I think a normal-looking ORB light will fit right in and match. I agree with everybody else who is saying your outdoor light doesn’t need to be the star here. As long as it is shedding all the light you actually need, I’d say I’m sold.
That said, if you feel that you need more light, or you agree with those who are saying it’d make more sense to have lights on either side of the garage doors and that this light in the middle is weird, or if for some other reason it ends up that you’d like it if this center light did not exist and so you have to figure out what to do about the fact that you have a hole in your brick here, what about covering it with whatever access panel is required for the electrical, and then covering that with a “Home Sweet Home” sign or a “Welcome Home!” sign to greet you when you drive up?
You could have Clara help you make it, so there is this nice thing to make you smile, like your house is happy to have you back whenever you come home.
Elisa says
I like the light for now, but agree that it does look a little lost. I’ve had great luck finding affordable lights at Destination Lighting. Here is the link to the outdoor light.
http://www.destinationlighting.com/products/outdoor-wall-lights?page=1
Best part, you can sort by height. Good luck!
Amanda says
I would switch the garage door light out, as a lot of others have said, for a downward facing light (or lights if you add two per some suggestions). Not a big fan of the light by the entry door either; I think a downward facing one would’ve been better there as well. It goes a bit higher than the door making it look a bit unbalanced, IMO.
sarah says
Hello YHL, I am sorry but for a change I have to say I’m not keen on the lights in either place, they look a bit space ship like :-( I think no 3 was the nicest and it mirrors the door shape better. I feel bad saying that but I really enjoy reading your blog and love most of your ideas, the hallway & stairs are fabulous!! I’m looking forward to seeing how your house progresses, wishing you all the best, Sarah, Portsmouth, UK
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Sarah! Not to worry! We LOVE hearing from you guys and getting your feedback! We’re definitely novice outdoor light shoppers, so we’re soaking up all of the suggestions and loving all the links and tips. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share!
xo
s
Haley J. says
I love the light by the backdoor, but I feel like the garage area will need more light, particularly if you’re going to put in a pergola eventually. I’d return the light over the garage and consider a dual light or a large floodlight (which isn’t beautiful, but is very functional). Maybe like this one?
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/cast-aluminum-wet-location-bronze-finish-double-floodlight__k5895.html
More possibilities: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/s_bronze-flood-light/category_outdoor-lighting/
Ami says
Personally I think if you’re not in love with it, take it back. You can use that money towards one you do love. Also I personally really like flood lights in a drive way/garage area for the excellent illumination and security. I know it’s hard to find an attractive one of those but somebody has to make them right?
Beth B. says
I think the problem is that it is one light next to two big doors. I think you need to add electrical to either side of each door and add two more lights. Right now its off balance. If you look at garage lighting options, it ALWAYS looks off with only one light. You need to frame the doors. But only putting one on either end isn’t the solution either, because then that center area will get too many shadows.
Kaija says
Your old rollup garage door light looks just like the one by my front door. It’s a townhouse HOA se we’re not allowed to change them out :( But I think it’s time to take it down and spray paint it gold, so at least it can live to up its limited potential :)
I would take the light back, go to the Habitat for Humanity store or Craigslist and find a cheap yet passable option for now, until you do the pergola project.
Lindsay says
Wonder what it would look like to install a bigger gooseneck lamp either in the middle of the garage doors or on top of each door?
Kaija says
Well, actually… If I can talk the HOA to change out our fixtures, we’ll have 121 of them available for a song. That should be enough for that brick wall, right? :D
YoungHouseLove says
HOLY COW!
xo
s
Berry says
Keep it. At 60 bucks it is a medium small investment in cash. Wait on investing in bigger lighting until you have the pergola etc in place, then put in lighting that works well with those other, visually larger improvements. Make your long term investment when you have the other design elements in place.
In the short term, you have a sconce that put out more light, and in the long term it will weather about the same as the one in the back, leaving you options for setting them up in a pair in case of wild Sherry hairs.
(As a side note, in the long term I would add extra lighting on the eaves on both sides to illuminate more of the area for safety and convenience.)
Brittany says
I like it better beside the door than above the garage… I think it sits too high above the garage. I would put one that hung down more like all the other options except #1. IDK, maybe it would work better once a pergola is there.
Michelle H. says
Keep it! Once you add the pergola and paint the doors it will look like it always belonged. At least I think it will. Love the changes you are making. Even the little ones add so much.
Candace says
Is the one over the garage flippable? As in, can it be turned upside down? For some reason, I think it would actually look a lot better and a lot bigger, even, if it were the other way around and positioned closer to the actual garage doors (as opposed to so high up on the brick wall).
YoungHouseLove says
I’m not sure that flipping it upside down just wouldn’t look like an upside down light, but we’ll have to see how it looks!
xo
s
Cary says
I think most fixtures that are installed that high and over a garage are usually set up with motion detector flood lights. They sort of disappear visually so your eye isn’t drawn to them. Also, can you return the light? I always heard once they are installed, they are not returnable.
YoungHouseLove says
I believe as long as you save the box and the light is in like-new condition (not rusted or caulked or anything) and you have the receipt to show you haven’t had it for months it’s fine with them to return it. We’ve said “we installed it and it just didn’t look as good as we imagined when we stood back and checked it out” in the past, and they didn’t seem to have any issues with that – although it might vary by store/company/etc.
xo
s
Jess says
Sorry if this has already been asked – but that window on the house part (not the garage, but facing the same way)… is that to the attic? It must be, because otherwise that would be…. the laundry room? which doesn’t have a window. And it looks higher? Anyways, if it’s an attic window, that is really exciting! Does that mean you could potentially ever use part of it? (Even for a cool fort/loft)???
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the unfinished room that’s behind the laundry room (on the same level as our bedrooms, not actually in the attic – you can see it on our House Tour page). Eventually we want to finish that room and make it a fun family game room/bunk room. Or a room for forts… that sounds fun too!
xo
s
Jess says
OH – duh. I knew that. I was thinking that was the window above the garage. OOPS! I am very excited for your future plans with that room. Silly me.
Jess says
No wait – SORRY. Okay. The room over the garage is the future bunk room, (the window that has the brick and is above the garage). But then there is a window facing the same direction but it looks higher, and is located on the siding part of the house. Is that the attic? am I crazy?
Sorry – I know this isn’t even that important.Gah.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, that’s the attic up there! It’s a lofted space where we just store things like Christmas stuff and the furnace is up there. Some people have made that a finished third floor but we’re not sure we’ll go that far (it’s nice to have that option though).
xo
s
Jess says
Ah,
Thanks! I really appreciate that you guys take the time to answer questions. You really are just the best!
Also: totally unrelated, but I read another blog and she recommended this: http://www.biobands.com/ – she’s preggo, and they really helped her! I know last you checked in you were still feeling sick, though you said it was 30%???? better? Something like that. Anyways. If you don’t keep getting better, it’s a thought for you!
xo.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jess! Alas I have tried those with no luck, but hear they’re awesome for some people!
xo
s
Lynne says
I know you said John’s opposed to a barn-type hanging light, but he seems into nerdy things, so maybe you can sell him on the argument that if all outdoor lights shined only down and not up, Clara could look up at the sky and see more stars, not just a big orange glow? I know a couple other people mentioned it, but the darksky.org site shows types of lights that cut down on light pollution. It’s not just that the lights have to point down, but the bulbs should be fully shielded by the fixture. There are lights out there that provide enough light where you want it, and don’t pollute!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it! Teach me how to reason with my nerdy husband! I agree that having something that shines down would be ideal (no need to light up the top part of the house).
xo
s
MonW says
I think for the garage, you need one for the middle and one on each side. You can control the amount of light with bulb wattage and type. We found LED outdoor spotlight bulbs for our patio, but we still need at least one light for our driveway itself.
Our driveway isn’t a problem in the summer, but the dark winter nights guided us. Need the electrical redone before we can add anymore lights or outlets anywhere here.
Meredith McKinnon says
not to beat a dead horse, but my first thought was also that there really should be a light on each side of each garage door as well, making three total. it might not be as expensive as you think–a quote is free, right? three lights of that same size would look perfect, i think! with one, i agree that it is dwarfed!
Anna says
The light by the back door looks great but I think a light that points down would work much better that high up on the wall between the garage doors.
Karen R says
We bought ours at an outdoor light store. What I didn’t think about was how painful they are to change. They are pretty but oy would have gone different way.
Rachael says
Have you tried National Builder Supply? They’ve got lots of lanterns and free shipping over $100.
http://www.nationalbuildersupply.com/outdoor-wall-mounted-lanterns/c11401
I think this:
http://www.nationalbuildersupply.com/feiss-castle-outdoor-wall-sconce-ol1900bk-black/p104161
or this:
http://www.nationalbuildersupply.com/progress-lighting-coventry-outdoor-wall-sconce-p5829+87-fieldstone/p13190
would look great on either side of the garage.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for all the links/tips/suggestions guys! We have pages of notes going on and can’t wait to see what else we can find and report back!
xo
s