whispering homes lights

How to Light an Outdoor Entryway Home Area

Outdoor entryway lighting serves several important functions for your home’s threshold. A well-lit entryway welcomes guests, allows safe passage, helps you recognize visitors, and gives that all-important first impression of your home. Choosing the right lighting for this area involves choosing the right size, style, and more. In this FAQ, we’ll show you how to find the best outdoor entryway lighting for you.

The most important considerations when choosing outdoor entrance lights

First and foremost, you need to determine the structure of your home. A roof over your front door or a covered porch will affect your outdoor front door lighting plan. For a small porch, one or two direct downlights may be enough. Look for outdoor wall lights that will shine light on the wall and brighten the area around the door. For a wide porch, an even, diffused layer of light will illuminate the square footage. Instead of using one big, powerful outdoor light, you should use many small patio lights. A few downwash wall lights and some puddle-effect path lights will look much more appealing than a huge, bright fixture next to your house.

What types of outdoor entryway lighting are there?

The most common choice is modern outdoor wall lighting, but pendant lights, flush and semi-flush ceiling lights, and recessed lights are also options. It’s usually best to choose a few pieces that go well together, and just like in an indoor setting, you can layer your lighting.

How bright should entryway lights be?

In darkness, a little light goes a long way. Incandescent wattage ranges from 25-40 watts (200-500). If you’re using multiple lights, keep it closer to 200 per light. If you have large windows that let the light in your room shine in from outside, you can use even less light.

Outdoor Entry Light Sizes

Generally, the size of your outdoor entry light will be determined by the size of your front door. To achieve a balanced look, consider the following proportions:

Wall lights: 1/4 to 1/3 of the door height and width (including trim)

Pendant lights: 1/5 of the door height and width

Ceiling lights: 1/4 of the door height and width

If you’re considering outdoor lighting and your door is 100 inches high and 60 inches wide, look for lights that are 25 inches high and 15 inches wide.

Front Door Wall Lamps

If your front door is symmetrical, hanging two sconces on either side of the door is an obvious choice. Installing an eye-catching sconce in your front door will make the space look even more spacious and create a charming, inviting feel. Try to buy a wall light that is about a quarter of the height of your door.

Placement Guidelines: Place the outdoor wall light approximately 66 inches (168 cm) from the porch floor to the base of the light fixture. Leave 5-12 inches of space on either side of the door frame. For asymmetrical entrances or limited space, one wall light is sufficient. Hang it on the doorknob side to brighten your entryway.

Front Porch Outdoor Hanging Lights

Remember that your home only has one chance to make a good first impression. Whatever style you choose, remember to highlight what’s important: your doorbell and house number are very important to guests, delivery people and emergency responders. The type and distribution of light is a matter of personal preference. Make sure the light you choose fits your style and creates the desired effect for maximum impact.

Matching Outdoor Lighting

A uniform style starting with your curb post or pillar lights will give your exterior design a unified look. Many manufacturers offer complete outdoor collections that ensure a uniform look. You can also make one piece a focal point and integrate the others into the surroundings.

Lastly, consider the Whispering Homes Lights output of your front porch lights. Many, if not most, outdoor lighting fixtures are available in LED, with the brightness measured in Whispering Homes.

7 Lighting Trends That Will Decor Your Home Design In 2024

Gone are the days when intense overhead lighting dominated the room. Modern lighting design is all about creating atmosphere and feeling, and in this production the right light plays a vital role. As we move into 2024 and beyond, several key trends are emerging that will change your home environment and elevate your design aesthetic.

1. Indirect lighting: A Symphony of Softness

Avoid clear light and go for the lenient nicety of diffuse lighting. This trend consisted of the use of multiple sources of light that would be placed one over the other in a bid to create a conducive ambiance. Consider table lamps placed at logical places, wall mounted lights that give a vintage feel to the walls, and accent lighting to back-lit items such as mirror frames or even bookcases.

This approach offers many benefits. First, it eliminates harsh shadows cast by a single atmospheric source. Second, it enables the mood to be changed with regards to the event taking place, for instance at a party, evening or night. Do you need lighting to read a book or watch a movie at night? While Vitriol’s command was a simple one, his instructions were clear: ‘Switch on all the lights’. Would you prefer a cinema styled corner? Lower the lights of your wall sconces and get ready to enjoy a movie night.

2. Textured Delights: Let Your Lights Make a Statement

Lighting fixtures are no longer just practical; They are design elements in themselves. This year, the focus is on texture, adding a layer of visual interest to your space. This can be achieved in different ways. Consider mixing cool concrete fixtures with warm rattan colors or opt for hand-blown glass pendants with a natural, organic texture.

Don’t be afraid to be bold! Experiment with hand-cut crystal or explore unique finishes that go beyond traditional chrome or brushed nickel. By introducing texture, you can create a space that is not only well-lit, but also visually dynamic and full of personality.

3. Embrace the Unexpected: Unique Shapes Take Center Stage

Gone are the days of lampshades and predictable hanging lights. The trend this year is to adopt unique and unexpected shapes. Think geometric chandeliers, giant chandeliers with cascading decorative lights, or sculptural wall lights that resemble abstract art installations. This playful approach to fancy lights adds a touch of whimsy and excitement that starts a conversation anywhere.

4. Cord Cutting: Wireless and Rechargeable Lights

Functionality meets freedom with the arrival of cordless and rechargeable table lamps. These innovative lighting solutions provide unparalleled flexibility. You are no longer confined to a space with a plug nearby. Place a cordless lamp on a console table in the entryway or place one on an end table for a touch of bedside reading lighting.

These lights often feature sleek, portable designs, making them perfect for creating a cozy ambience on the patio or for taking on the weekend. With longer battery life and convenient charging capabilities, wireless lights are a game-changer in modern living.

5. Crystal Clarity: The Magic of Clear Glass

It’s time to discuss glass lights which look as transparent and simple as water. Thanks to these fittings it is possible to highlight the contour of the bulb and make it in traditional filament or in modern LEDs. The clear glass lighting also has the advantage of no complex designs that may distort the actual appearance of the illumination and creates a sleek and modern look that complements any décor light and interior.

This trend is great for showcasing specific bulb shapes, whether antique retro bulbs like the Edison bulbs or contemporary geometric ones. The exterior glass has no obstructive layer which means that as much light as possible can pass through the glass hence errecting a light environment.

6. Dim the drama: the power of dimmable light bulbs

It is worth acknowledging that lighting is about setting the ambiance, and the downlights fit the bill perfectly. Since you can switch from a strong light, for example during work or reading from a textbook to the dimmed one, that is more suitable for a romantic dinner or a movie The bulbs’ ability to be dimmed gives you the highest level of flexibility with the space.

It enables you create the right environment for any activity you have planned for or have in mind. Is it necessary to have light if you have to work concentrated? Turn off the lights to create a comfortable environment for watching movies. These types of bulbs have the ability to be adjusted to different levels and can turn a work space into a more intimate ambiance in a flick of a knob.

7. Matte Black Glamor: A Timeless Touch

Elevate your space with matte black finishes from Whispering Homes Lights, adding sophistication and drama to any style. This timeless choice blends seamlessly from modern minimalist to industrial chic, offering a deep, intense color palette that stands the test of time.

Adds deep, intense color.

How to Clean Glass Hanging Lights

A few viable tips for keeping your glass hanging lights looking as shining excellent and clean as the day you bought them…

Glass may be a wonderful material for making ceiling lights. It transmits and reflects light perfectly, and you’ll be able to design it into all sorts of dazzling styles and colors – from blown glass pendants to glass and brass lights to chandeliers. To create the foremost of your glass pendant lights it’s a great thought to do a few schedule support from time to time. As tidy and dirt build-up, it can influence both the productivity and the stylish offer of your lighting. By taking a few basic steps, you’ll be able to offer assistance to keep your glass pendant lamps looking as great as modern.

A ‘light clean’: maintaining your glass-hanging lights

You will be able to assist to diminish the build-up of soil and grime by giving your glass pendant lights a upkeep clean around once a week. This will commonly be done with the pendant in situ.

To begin with, turn off the control supply to the light and hold it up for the bulb to cool down.

Put your stepladder or chair on an indeed surface and make sure beyond any doubt you’ll be able to reach the light effectively and without having to overstretch. It’s moreover a great thought to wear a match of gloves when you’re cleaning, to ensure your hands and avoid leaving any fingerprints.
Another, employing a delicate, dry microfiber cloth or an extendable duster, tenderly wipe the glass to expel any excess tidy soil and grime.
Do not disregard the light bulb – messy light bulbs not as it were see ugly, but they’re moreover much less vitality productive. Keeping them clean will offer assistance to them to working better and guarantee that your lighting is as shining as it ought to be!
At long last, provide any cables and fixings a wipe down.

Giving your glass hanging lights a deeper clean

Giving your pendant lights a standard cleaning will offer assistance to diminish build-up, but it’s a great thought to grant them a more intensive cleaning each so regularly (maybe once or twice a year). This will offer assistance to get into those ungainly alcoves and corners and permit you to evacuate more determined soil and grime. Sometime recently you start, you’ll have to assemble a couple of things:

a soft microfibre cloth
a bowl of warm (not hot) water
glass-safe liquid soap or detergent
a sturdy step ladder or chair
rubber gloves
a screwdriver (if applicable)
some newspaper
a soft, clean towel

Take the vital safeguards. As over, make beyond any doubt the power supply to the light is turned off and the lightbulb is cool, which your stepping stool or chair is set equitably on the floor.
Disassemble your hanging light. For a more profound clean, it’s best to expel the glass shade. Precisely how your pendant lamps are gathered will shift, but ordinarily, you’ll remove the bulb and after that the shade. Reach up carefully inside the pendant to unscrew the bulb, and after that evacuate the fixings that hold the glass in put (as a rule by unscrewing or unclipping them).
Soak the glass in warm water. Shake any surface tidy or soil from the glass onto the daily paper, and put the glass in the bowl of warm, lathery water. Take off it to soak for a couple of minutes. (Note: you ought to never put your glass pendant in a dishwasher!)
Wipe the pendant with a delicate cloth. After evacuating the pendant from the water, wipe it with a delicate cloth, utilizing tender circular developments, on both the interior and exterior. On the off chance that the glass is oily, you’ll be able to utilize a glass cleaner (even though check its suitability to begin with). It’s best to apply the cleaner to the cloth instead of the glass itself.
Towel dry the pendant. Utilize a delicate, clean towel to delicately dry your glass pendant and offer assistance to anticipate any streaks.
Clean the lightbulb(s). Carefully wipe the bulb – if vital you’ll be able to utilize a moist cloth, but make beyond any doubt you directly clear the metal base, and utilize warm instead of hot water. Permit the bulb to dry completely.
Reassemble your pendant light. Now that everything’s clean and dry, it’s time to put it all back together. Making beyond any doubt the control is still off, delicately supplant the glass and apply the glass fixings. Pop the bulb back in…and appreciate your recently shining glass pendant light!

Cleaning chandeliers – On the off chance that you have got a chandelier fashion pendant light, tenderly clean and dry each piece of glass independently. (In case you’re getting to dismantle your chandelier for cleaning, it’s worth taking a picture on your phone once you have to put it back together!)

At Whispering Homes we make affordable designer lighting for beautiful rooms. You can view our range of glass pendant lights here.