Choosing the perfect outdoor lighting to show off your new garage door

One of the best ways to offer a new look to your home is through changing out your garage door for one that is new. While you are in the process of doing so, this is also an excellent time to improve or change the exterior lighting around your home and garage door. It can really improve the look of your entire property!

During the day or at night, choosing the perfect outdoor lights may have a larger impact than you would think. You want to have enough light to ensure the area is space after the sun sets while ensuring the lights highlight the style of your garage door and home as a whole, something that increases the curb appeal of your home. On the other hand, going too far can be overwhelming and frustrate your neighbors or detract from the feel you want to provide. We have some tips that can help you find the perfect balance.

Lights around your garage door

The first step for planning out your lighting is to be aware of how large the garage door itself is. If you own a double garage door, you may find you need a different approach than if you have a single garage door or two single doors together. Some people also have a combination with a single and a double door, with part of the space often used for storage. Those who live in small homes are more likely to have a single garage door while those in large homes can expect numerous single doors. Regardless of which applies to your situation, you need to know how much space is involved. Think about how much room is above the doors and to the sides. If you have more than a single door, consider how wide the space is between the two. Those with eaves may want to choose the installation of down lighting. Some people can install lights on the wall over the door depending on their roof. You may also want to consider putting in lights for the driveway while working with lights around the garage door.

Jot down all of this information for the best results. You need to know how large the space you are working with is to choose lighting that fits it well. If you speak with a designer, you will learn that it’s best to leave space near the light fixtures for a good balance. Lights also should not take up any more than half of the wall space available. Those who have limited room around the doors can install lights on the side of doors to show off the door, create a pleasing look, and add curb appeal at the same time.

Choosing the perfect type of light fixtures

When choosing the light fixtures best for your garage, take time to think about the architectural style. Is your home modern and contemporary? Perhaps it is instead classic and colonial? Does it offer the look of a country or carriage house style? The idea of adding lights is to enhance the appearance of your home and the garage door. You want the lighting to look great during the day, but you also want to be sure it offers sufficient light at night. It’s also a good idea to consider how far your home is from the streetlights or driveway lights near your property. There’s no need to double up on light when it is already there.

The good thing is that there are many choices of outdoor lights to complement your home and garage while drawing attention to the garage door, whether it’s day or night. If you are looking for a few inspirational ideas, you can find some options on sites like Pinterest.

Here are some of your options for a house of modern style:

There are also many choices available for a home that is of a more rustic style:

Selecting light bulbs for the new fixtures

It might seem obvious which lightbulbs to choose, but this isn’t always the case. Those who are interested in saving energy might want to choose LED light bulbs. It’s always worth considering the recommendations of the manufacturer above all else, though.

The first thing to look for when choosing bulbs is that they are designed for outdoor use, extra durable, and not too high of a wattage to overheat the fixture you just installed. Many of the outdoor fixtures you see will be rated for 100 watts maximum, but this is not always the case. Some might be 60 watts because of how many bulbs are included.

As we mentioned, LED bulbs are often the top choice for an outdoor light. These bulbs are going to be energy‑efficient, weather-resistant, and capable of lasting for years at a time. With about 100,000 hours of use in each bulb, that means changing them will not be needed very often. However, some fixtures require other bulbs so you should make sure to check first. Specifications will be provided with any fixture you are thinking about using.

If you are considering using spiral compact fluorescent bulbs, which have a bit of mercury within them, this is not recommended for use in your outdoor light fixtures. Even when protected, the bulbs can lose intensity in the cold and are not designed for use out of doors.

What next? All you have to do is get the lights installed near your door, add in the light bulbs, and then enjoy the appearance and feel that you have given to your home.

What about shopping for the new garage door?

If you are ready to get a new garage door, you can reach out to us at numbers below. You can view our image gallery to see other projects we have done in neighborhoods just like yours. We are also happy to offer you a quotation by email.

If you prefer, you can come out and visit our showroom to see what the models are which are available to you. From your own home, you can also visit our Design Centre to see which style looks the best by your garage door.