If you are seriously considering adding some outdoor lighting to your home, it is a good idea to start with your driveway. Since your driveway is the most important entryway to your home, it needs to be well lit. With the right kind of design and the proper fixtures, it can offer not only a safe and secure entry point, but an attractive and welcoming one as well. There is every reason to consider both beauty and function in the planning stages. With the great variety of options to choose from, this will be an easier task then you might anticipate.
The best place to start your design is with driveway entrance lighting. This is especially important if you have fence posts, shrubbery or even just a fancy mailbox on one or both sides of the driveway entry point. Most mishaps occur where the drive meets the street and people cannot see clearly exactly where to turn in. If your street tends to be dark, or if you have a lot of shade trees shielding your property from streetlights, this is even more critical. Depending on the kind of entryway you have, you can choose between lantern style lights installed directly onto a fence post or pole lights that are sunk into the ground. Of course you must make certain that the light itself does not become an obstacle by placing it too close to the driveway.
driveway entrance lighting
If you have a long driveway that curves, it is a good idea to install fixtures along the entire length of the drive so that everyone can navigate it safely, whether in the car or on foot. You don’t want anyone missing the edge and putting tire marks in your flower borders! You may want to place small spotlights low on the ground at the curvature, and small pole lights along the rest of the length.
Once you have your driveway lighting planned out, you can turn your attention to outdoor accent lighting ideas. Here you can be more creative and artistic and less concerned about safety, as accent lighting is used to liven up your landscaped areas where people are less likely to walk. You can focus your lighting on interesting areas of your yard, such as trees, trellises, or statuary. However, if you have any sort of pathways within the interior of your landscaping, it is best to highlight them enough so people can meander through and enjoy your yard’s nighttime landscape to the fullest.
SE Wireless Motion Sensor Light – 10 Super-Bright LED
- Instantly add motion-activated light for security and safety – indoors or out
- Infrared technology senses both movement and heat for fewer false activations
- Compact (3″ x 3″) and lightweight (4.3 oz) lets you install almost anywhere; easy-mounting slot
- 10 super-bright LED cast pure white light, last for 100,000 hours, sip battery power
- Wire-free installation, operates for months on 3 AA batteries (not included); lead-free RoHS-quality
Instantly add motion-activated light for security and safety – indoors or out*Infrared technology senses both movement and heat for fewer false activations*Compact (3″ x 3″) and lightweight (4.3 oz) lets you install almost anywhere; easy-mounting slot *10 super-bright LED cast pure white light, last for 100,000 hours, sip battery power*Wire-free installation, operates for months on 3 AA batteries (not included); lead-free RoHS-qualityEffective tool for both security and safety; the sudden activation startles unwanted visitors but also provides safe entrance and room lighting for your family and guests. We were very impressed with the performance of this device in our tests. The sensor is quite sensitive, very quick to light and we experienced no false activations. An excellent way to add automatic light to dark closets and cabinets; makes a great night light for safer navigation without producing constant light – especially helpful during power outages. Effective range 10-15′ front, 15
List Price: $ 14.95
Price: $ 6.99
Westek OLC5CLC 150W Outdoor Screw-In Flood Light Control, Grey
- On at Dusk, Off at Dawn – for incandescent bulbs only
- Long stem design fits inside most PAR floodlight, spotlight or enclosed exterior fixtures
- Ideal for driveways, entrances and patio lights / Water Resistant
- Includes shroud to shield sensor from reflected light
- Reliable solid state circuitry, 150 Watts Max
* Ideal for driveways, entrances and patio lights * Outdoor light control operates in most any position with any PAR floodlight, spotlight or large enclosed exterior fixture * Weather resistant * Solid state circuitry * For use with incandescent bulbs only, up to 150W capacity * UL Listed * 120V AC * #OLC5C
List Price: $ 12.99
Price: $ 6.50
Vonsolar VSE03011 Stainless Steel 41 Inch Cylinder Solar Garden Light x4
- Solar Panel: 8x40mA each in crystalline solar panel (Epoxy Sealed)
- Battery: One 600mAH/1.2V AA Ni-H Rechargeable Battery (included)
- Light Output: 9000-12000mcd/pc, 3 Watt/8 x Super Bright LEDs with diameter 5mm bulb
- Number of LED: 8. LED Life: Up to 100000 hours
- Operating Time: 8 hours min. if fully charged
This elegantly designed solar light comes with a varnished stainless steel exterior, improving its overall looks while also keeping it free of rust. Very stylish when turned on at night, this solar lamp is suitable for use in the garden, lawn, villa, park, and/or yard. There are absolutely no operating costs as the light runs on solar power, and no messy wires making installation very simple. The light turns on/off automatically, but features an on/off switch for when manual control is desired. Also included is an environmentally friendly rechargeable storage battery.
List Price: $ 95.99
Price: $ 95.99