Finding the right size for exterior lights - and saving your sanity in the process

We are in the process of choosing lights with one of our Newburyport clients, and a question that folks often wrestle with is the size of exterior lights to purchase.

Problem is - when you’re in the lighting showroom, these lights look enormous, but then you get them on a house, particularly if you are using 8’ doors, they shrink down and you get an Alice in Wonderland thing happening and they look crazy. 

For exterior sconces that go by your front, side or back doors, we like going with something no smaller than 14” for an 8’ door, and 12” for a 7’ door. Again- this is totally preferential.

These top pics show 8’ exterior doors with 14” and 15” sconces. You can see e everything looks in proportion, no Alice in Wonderland on this Windward project!

Now if you look at these barn style lights - here is where folks usually go too small and it looks bananas.

If you live anywhere near the coast and you are going with full brass or copper to stave off rusting, these things can get pricey. And the smaller the light, the cheaper the price. But I’m telling you, don’t do it. Tiny lights over garage doors will ruin your day every time you pull into your driveway.

Go with nothing smaller than 12” for the barn lights. If you live in Newburyport and are lucky enough to have a garage and it’s a one-stall, like many of our projects are, go with a 16” over the one garage door. It will spill enough light and look in proportion with the structure.

Top pic is a 16” barn light. Perfect.

The second garage pic (this is my house, our lights have been back ordered for approximately 26 years, so these are placeholders so we could pass inspection) is an example of how crazy it looks with teeny tiny lights.

Do you feel my pain?

Want to talk about exterior lighting? Interior lighting? Anything home related? Shoot me an email at lyndsey@windwardshaw.com.