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Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
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Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • C&B Project House
  • Shopping
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Shop
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    • Single Issues
    • Product Collab
    • Ebook
  • Cottage Destinations
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Porch Light Fixtures and White Farmhouse Home with a family sitting on the front porch.
  • C&B Project House

Outdoor Lighting that says “Stay Awhile”

  • June 5, 2018
  • Written by Kathryn Drury Wagner with Capital Lighting
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For C+B Project homeowner Katie Busenitz (@therusticboxwood) of The Rustic Boxwood, the front porch of their custom dream home will be more than a “pass through place.” She envisions sitting in her vintage rocking chairs, someday enjoying the view of the orchard of pecan trees the family hopes to plant. In the meantime, “We’ll definitely spend lots of nights relaxing with family and friends on the front porch,” she tells Cottages + Bungalows editor Jickie Torres in the June issue of the magazine. “We’re especially looking forward to sitting in our rockers at night and listening to the beautiful and peaceful sounds of nature.” This is why porch lighting is so important.

At Cottages & Bungalows, we love to curate and share our favorite finds from across the web with you. Some of the products you’ll see on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase, C&B will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! 

Porch Light Fixtures and White Farmhouse Home with a family sitting on the front porch.
Katie Busenitz of The Rustic Boxwood, and her family enjoying the front porch of their farmhouse build—the 2018 CB Project House. Photo Credit: Sarah Ferguson.

For their spacious porch, the family chose large front doors to keep with the scale. The doors are painted a high-gloss black, and simple black-framed windows are also in keeping with a modern-farmhouse design. To add statement style, as well as evening functionality, they chose outdoor light fixtures from the Ellsworth Collection by Capital Lighting.

Ellsworth Outdoor Light Fixture from Capital Lighting in black metal.
We love this Ellsworth Outdoor Light Fixture from Capital Lighting.

These fixtures are made of durable, non-corrosive, rust-resistant, fade-resistant materials and finished in Oiled Bronze or Black. They are different from indoor lighting as they are designed to stand up to the elements such as sun and rain, all year round.

Busenitz Family on the front porch of their farmhouse-style home
Katie Busenitz of The Rustic Boxwood, and her family enjoying the front porch of their farmhouse build—the 2018 CB Project House. Photo Credit: Sarah Ferguson.

The Right Light For You

When choosing outdoor lighting for your own home, there are several factors to consider. Do your fixtures meet HOA guidelines, if applicable? Have you layered lighting, using various heights? Working with chandeliers, sconces and post lanterns allows you to get just the right ambiance. Also consider whether you would like fixtures that reduce glare and light pollution, in which case opaque shades with downward illumination are a good choice.

“Placement and the size of the fixture are key,” advises Atlanta-based interior designer/florist, Amanda Lankford, of Amanda Jewel Floral Design (@amandajewelfloraldesign). “You want the fixture to complement the house, not overpower it or even look too small.” For her house, she chose the Braden 3-light Outdoor Wall Lantern in Black Finish.

Close up of the Braden Lankford Outdoor Lantern from Capital Lighting black metal fixture mounted on brick
Photo Credit: Four Corners Photography

“We have a brick home and brick tends to be hard to match well with exterior fixtures at times,” she explains. “Also, in our neighborhood, we needed to adhere to the HOA’s guidelines and get their approval. So, going with a funky fixture was not going to fly. I suggest picking a subtle exterior fixture that complements your home’s style and your taste.”

Placing Your Porch Lighting

She notes that in addition to the style of the outdoor lighting fixture, the placement is equally important. “Flank your front door to create an inviting entrance for your guests or position a single light for the outside patio to stand on its own because it has lots of personality to show off,” she suggests. “Fixtures that are done well can stand on their own and look beautiful without the help of any other design.”

Braden Lankford Lanterns Hanging on the front porch of a brick home
Photo Credit: Four Corners Photography

Think about geometry and balance. For the Busenitz’s front porch, there’s a triangular shape, and the three lighting fixtures accentuate that with their placement. In another example, the Howell creates a stately, yet up-to-date look, at this front entrance. Note how the fixtures’ curves echo the window over the door and the brick arched shape above that, tying everything together in a pleasing visual rhythm.

Ellsworth Lanterns lit and hanging beside the front door of a contemporary brick home
Good lighting is the key to polished curb appeal. Think symmetry for a no-fail way to give your house a well-edited look.

No matter which outdoor lighting style you choose—from sleek and polished, to rustic country, global and boho—using it properly can add to the curb appeal of your home, and make your friends and family feel welcome.

All of the designs used in the C+B Project Home, and many more outdoor options from Capital Lighting, can be seen here.

Want more simply beautiful ideas? Check out this post on 5 Tips for Designing Your Own Front Porch.

Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration! 

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  • Busenitz
  • capital lighting
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Kathryn Drury Wagner with Capital Lighting

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