Choosing outdoor wall lights for your home is an important task. Nobody wants to install an eye-sore on the outside of the house, but also taking into consideration security, motion sensors, weatherproofing and, of course, cost can be confusing.
We’ve all been in the garden waving madly to trigger a floodlight sensor, or fumbling around in the darkness to put the key in the lock because the automatic timer hasn’t worked — finding a good-quality light is half the battle and can massively impact the enjoyment of your outside spaces.
So, we’ve rounded up the best options for every priority to make sure your home stays beautiful, safe and secure. Take a look at our top-rated choices to suit you, your outdoor areas and your budget.
(MORE: Want to give your home a more extensive facelift? Check out our exterior makeovers guide)
What is the Best Outdoor Wall Light?
If you’re searching for a sleek light with a warm white hue and a motion sensor for a reasonable price, look no more.
Boasting a solar panel along the top and an integrated sensor, the Chioma outdoor wall light can be simply installed outside an entryway without the need for any electrical work.
The Chioma offers three different modes (four if you include off), allowing the solar energy to be reserved when not required, but a bright and powerful automatic illumination to deter unwanted visitors:
- Automatic light output of 75 lumens after dark
- 75 lumens after dark, plus when a movement is registered an increase to 400 lumens
- Dormant which can output 600 lumens when a movement is registered
Something for the design-oriented bunch, the Maze light creates a clean, warm illumination which would be perfect to increase kerb appeal by the front doors, or beside a patio area for entertaining.
However, before purchasing, perhaps weigh up the importance of visibility versus style as the metal rods which form the design might impact how much brightness the light provides.
Made of a robust die cast aluminium with a corrosion-resistant grey slate finish, this contemporary yet fuss-free wall light creates a warm wash for great ambiance.
What's more, this neat wall light is able to be surface mounted without any wiring required while achieving a rating IP54 so it's ready for anything the UK weather might throw at it!
Homes are more automated than ever before so including your outdoor illumination with your smart home design is a natural step.
As well as the usual voice control abilities Philips Hue range offers (compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apply HomeKit) the Welcome Home feature of the Philips Lucca can automatically light up your drive or porch to greet the family's arrival.
Also, if you're planning to go on holiday for a few day, and don't want to ask the neighbours to turn of the lights so it doesn't look empty, the Lucca can mimic regular routines to warn off unwanted guests.
(MORE: Smart Home Tech for Every Budget)
Steinal's XSolar will help keep your energy bills in check and your outdoors illuminated. Though it requires no fiddly wiring, as with all solar powered models, this wall light works best with a direct view of the sun which might impact where you choose to install it.
Handily, Steinal have come prepared for winter when solar gain is at a minimum and have included a micro-USB port meaning the batter can be charged all-year-round — win win!
Sleek, simple and timeless, the Henni wall and ceiling light has a white polycarbonate cover which cannot be seen once installed, leaving only the grey painted aluminium surface on display.
The warm yet bright light will work wonderfully in both areas which need good visibility – like a front porch – and entertaining spaces like patios where a comfortable, consistent illumination is required.
Unlike more basic floodlights which can struggle with being too harsh to use as an ambient light, the Philips Hue enables users to adjust brightness and hue warmth to set the right atmosphere outdoors.
Set schedules, activate with your phone, voice-control with a device inside or do it the old fashioned was with a physical indoor switch — the Hue Floodlight is unparalleled for its low-maintenance and high-performing qualities.
If the last year or so has taught homeowners anything, it's the value of enjoying your space outdoors. Extend your home's style with the beautiful metallic finish of the Strom wall light.
Offer a warm welcome home with the stylish, industrial-inspired Vejers wall light.
The black galvanized steel casing and tiered design does nothing to dampen the bright light while providing a characterful appearance but the model does require being wired directly into a wall so best to keep it near an entryway, rather than down the garden or driveway.
How to Choose Outdoor Wall Lights
When deciding on which outdoor wall light is best for you, the most important consideration to make – aside from budget, of course – is what function it will provide. As with all lighting design, different models cater for different tasks:
- Task lighting: do you have an outdoor kitchen which requires a clear view of the job at hand or a long garden which necessitates a brighter path? Floodlights provide a strong and direct illumination.
- Ambience lighting: would you like to illuminate a section of the garden for dinner parties, or will the wall light be placed near a porch or entryway? A warm wash down the wall is ideal for setting a cosy environment while a model with a motion detector or security sensor is perfect for wall lights situated outside entryways.
- Accent lighting: is there a specific feature which you would like your outdoor wall light to highlight? A beautiful designer or contemporary wall light might be just the ticket where practicality isn’t the priority.
Which Power Supply is Best for an Outdoor Light?
While mains lights are the most reliable, solar powered options are low-maintenance and demand less energy.
Think about where and how the wall light will be connected. If along the wall of the main house, adjoining to the existing electrical lines might not be too difficult (although this option almost always requires professional installation), but if you want to light up an unconnected garage or along a fence, solar might be the way to go.
What is an IP Rating for an Outdoor Light?
All outdoors lights are given an IP protection rating to ensure they are suitable for all kinds of weather. The minimum rating is IP44 which means the seals between joints are small enough that water and moisture cannot easily penetrate and ruin the light.