What is Facade Lighting?
The word “Facade” is defined as the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one. In simple words, it is the front side of your house that you see when you look at it from the street. As the facade is the prime welcoming spot of your house, it is imperative to make it super attractive. And the best way to do it is by lighting.
Why is Facade Lighting Important?
Well, no one reason backs the importance of exterior facade lighting; there are many. Here are some of the primary ones!
- Luxury and appeal
One of the key reasons for which facade lighting is important is the grace of the property. It adds to the curb appeal and makes your house look super luxurious, just like the mansions you see in the movies.
Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are popular primarily due to their lighting. Burj Khalifa and Eiffel Tower are prime examples of this.
For your home facade, outdoor lights like ceiling, wall, post, path, and many others will be perfect.
- Security
Another significant reason that supports the installation of outdoor lighting is security. The more illuminated your house is, the lesser the chances of any mishap or crime happening there.
As per stats, it has been found that well-lit houses are less prone to robberies than dark ones. So, if you install proper outdoor lighting, you can keep your house and family safe from any potential danger.
- High resale value
If you have a well-lit property, it will be the first attracting element for the buyer. As your property’s aesthetics get enhanced, your property’s resale value also increases to a great extent.
So, these were some of the significant reasons that make exterior lighting super important. Now that we know why it is essential, let’s see what factors to consider while choosing outdoor LED facade lighting.
Top Things to Consider While Choosing Outdoor LED Facade Lighting
Here are some critical factors you must consider while choosing outdoor LED facade lighting!
1, Type of Facade
The type of facade of the building has played a pivotal role in finalizing the lights used. There are various types of facades, such as:
- Solid facade: Solid facades are smooth surfaces with no designs. Hence, you can use various lighting combinations to illuminate your facade. For example, outdoor lighting fixtures like flood lights and wall lights can be easily used to lighten the building. As there are no designs, the designers can use different color combinations to form an immersive blend of lighting.
- Vertical division facade: Vertical facades have vertical divisions. These divisions are primarily seen in hotel buildings, educational institution buildings, and even mansions. If your home has vertical divisions, installing uplights or downlights with narrow beams will be best. You can use LED spotlight lighting fixtures or outdoor wall lights within divisions to light them up nicely.
- Horizontal division facade: Unlike vertical divisions, horizontal divisions can be used to provide a fantastic look to the exterior walls of your home. Though horizontal divisions can cast long shadows, LED strip lights can be fixed on the edges of the horizontal divisions to obtain a stunning look.
- Perforated Facade: Perforated facades are a unique type that opens a wide window of opportunities for designers. Different light fixtures can create immersive light patterns, textures, and highlights. However, remember that much planning is required regarding energy costs and maintenance.
2, Color and Style
After you have decided on the type of facade, it is time to consider the color and style of your building. The style and colors used in the building play a significant role in deciding what type of lighting will suit it best.
Some points that you need to consider here are:
The theme or style of your architecture
If your building has a particular theme or style, ensure the lighting you choose goes well. For example, if your home has an aesthetic modern look, traditional light fixtures will make it look odd. Always pick fixtures that gel well with the theme and style of your building. For example, if your house has a pathway leading to the main door, pathway lights or path lighting perfectly complement it.
The color of your architecture
Just like the style, even the color scheme used in the building is an essential factor to be considered while finalizing the lighting. If you have a light-colored building, using dark-colored lights will make it look weird. So, always pick the right color combination of lights and architecture to obtain a pleasant look.
To ensure maximum reflectivity, install white lights. Further, white LED flood lights can be useful to ensure security. To make the exterior of your house fun and bright, go for lights of colors like blue, green, or yellow.
3, Cost
The term cost here is not just the cost of the lights. It also covers the long-term cost of installing, running, and maintaining the lights.
While planning to install facade lights, one must remember that these lights will be used for an extended period. Hence, it is essential to factor in all the costs before finalizing anything. Doing so will help you save much money in the long run.
Some of the aspects where cost plays a role are:
- Installation: The installation cost generally varies according to the lighting fixture installed. The installation cost will be steeper if you choose more sophisticated fixtures like LED wall washers or cove lights. So, always make sure you have considered the installation cost while planning your budget for lighting. The average cost of installing outdoor space lighting varies from $2000 to $4500. If you’re installing solar-powered lights, the cost can go up to $6000.
- Running Costs: The electricity consumption of different light fixtures varies. For example, LED lights are more energy-efficient as compared to incandescent lights. So, while choosing the light fixtures, ensure you also factor in the running cost.
- Maintenance: The maintenance cost also needs to be considered while finalizing the lighting for your facade. Some lights require more frequent replacement of bulbs than others. So, always factor in the maintenance cost before making a decision. LEDs are the best in this case as they have a running time of over 100,000 hours. On the other hand, incandescent bulbs last for just 1000 hours.
4, Safety and Security
Always consider the security factor when choosing outdoor lighting for your home’s facade. The lights you opt for should be bright enough to deter any intruder. Further, they should also have a good beam angle to cover a larger area. In this case, some of the best options are LED flood lights and LED wall washers. These lights provide good illumination and have a wide beam angle.
So, they can cover a wide area and deter any intruder. Further, you can also go for motion-sensor lights. These lights turn on automatically when they sense any movement. These lights are ideal to be fitted at the main door, gates, and walkways. Further, you can also get Wifi-controlled LED bulbs. You can trigger other lights to turn on when you detect any movement.
Another innovative type of lighting is the one that can detect photosensitive lights. These lights detect the presence of light and turn themselves off automatically. These lights ensure that minimum power is used.
5, Types of Lights
One of the primary things you must consider is the type of outdoor lights you need. Based on your property’s facade, there could be several lights that could suit your house. Therefore, you need to check them to see what fits better.
Here are some of the most common facade lights available in the market.
- Wall lights: The most common type of lighting is wall light. It is classified under ambient lighting and is usually placed on the main facade of the building. The key motive for installing wall lights on the facade is to illuminate the dark areas of the facade with a comfortable level of brightness. Make sure that when you buy wall lights for your home, you go for a light bulb with lower wattage or lumen output.
They don’t produce much glare and allow the residents to walk safely. Wall lights are usually made of high-quality metal that can bear harsh weather conditions. You can change the beam angle from 8° and 120°.
- Step lights: Step lights are a type of task lighting. As the name suggests, they are placed on the steps or walkways to provide safety and comfort while walking. These lights are handy for a multi-leveled house as they help illuminate each level.
Further, they also make the property look more attractive at night. If the steps area of your property is exposed, look for weatherproof lights rated as outdoor lighting.
- Floodlights: Floodlights are a type of security lighting. They usually light up the property’s exteriors, like driveways, gardens, and patios. These lights are also used in commercial spaces like parking lots and warehouses.
The best thing about floodlights is that they come with adjustable settings. So, you can set them according to your requirements. Flood lights are usually ideal for houses that have vertical divisions.
- Strip lights: Strip lights are a type of accent lighting. They highlight the property’s architectural features, like arches, pillars, and cornices. These lights help create a focal point on the facade and make it more visible at night. If you want to highlight a specific property area, go for strip lights.
Strip lights commonly operate at 12V and 24V. You can also change the beam angle from 60° and 120°. To make it even better, you can add motion sensors to add security features to the light.
- Path lights: Path lights are a type of landscape lights. They provide safety and comfort while walking on the path or driveway. These lights come in handy when you have a long driveway or a big property.
Path lights help illuminate the area and make it more visible at night. These lights are small posts that have a built-in light and a diffuser. They can also be fitted with motion sensors to ensure security.
- Spotlights: Spotlights are counted under landscape lighting that is used to highlight the property’s unique features, like a fountain, trees, or sculpture. These lights are very powerful and can produce a high level of brightness. So, when you buy spotlights, ensure you get ones with adjustable beam angles. You can use spotlights to create different effects on the facade. For example, you can use them to highlight the entryway or the windows. You can combine flood, spot, and path lights to produce the perfect landscape look.
6, Durability
The outdoor LED facade lighting you choose should be durable enough to withstand all weather conditions. So, when buying lights for your home, make sure they are made of high-quality materials.
Further, the light should also have an IP rating of 65 or more. This will protect the light from dust, water, and other elements. The light should also be able to bear extreme temperatures.
7, Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, LED lights are very low maintenance. They don’t require frequent changing like other types of lights. Further, they also have a long lifespan. So, you won’t have to replace them for a long time. LED lights are also very easy to clean. You can just wipe them with a damp cloth to remove the dirt and dust.
So, these are some things you need to consider when choosing outdoor LED facade lighting for your home. Bear these factors in mind and choose the perfect light for your property.
Tips for Choosing the Best LED Facade Lighting
There are various types of LED facade lighting available in the market. So, choosing the right one for your home can be pretty confusing. But, with some knowledge, you can easily find the proper LED light for your needs. Here are some tips to help you choose outdoor LED facade lighting.
- Consider Your Purpose: The first thing you need to consider is the purpose of the light. You must decide why you want to install LED lights on your property. Do you want them for security purposes or to accentuate the look of your property? Once you have decided on the purpose, it will be easier to choose the type of light.
- Consider the Size of Your Property: The next thing you need to consider is the size of your property. You need to decide how much area you want to cover with the light. For example, you will need more lights if you have a big property. But, you can get away with fewer lights if you have a small property.
- Consider the Type of Lighting: You must also consider the type of lighting you want. There are various types of LED facade lighting available in the market. So, you need to choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, go for strip lights or path lights if you want accent lighting. But, if you want security lighting, go for floodlights or spotlights.
Conclusion
Outdoor facade lighting is a great way to improve the look of your property. It has several other benefits, including security, comfort, and easy maintenance.
Therefore, when you are choosing lights for your property, make sure that you keep all these factors in mind. Choose the perfect light for your home and enjoy its beauty for years to come.
If you are confused about choosing the ideal outdoor ceiling lights, we at R&C Lighting have the best people to assist you. Our expert staff ensures that each of our lightings is dust-free and is of optimum quality.
