Learn how to enhance your home with outdoor lighting tips and tricks. From inexpensive string lights to higher end copper lanterns, there’s an idea to work for every home and every budget!
One of our priorities when we purchased our current home was to have a large, flat driveway. We succeeded! In fact, we joke that we have an airport landing strip with our double circle drive and another that leads to the garage doors.
While I don’t love asphalt, it is perfect for this season of our lives. We spend countless hours on our driveway watching the girls use the runway/race track with their bicycles, tricycles and scooters.
Psst… check out this post with 10 easy steps to create an outdoor living room if you love your outdoor spaces as much as we do!
Outdoor Lighting Ideas
I wanted to pull into the driveway and feel a sense of peace, so we used outdoor lighting and seating to add charm and function to our driveway.
First, a before and during. I didn’t think to take a photograph of the side of the house before we painted it, but you get the idea!
After:
All of the garages in our neighborhood are on either side of the home. Our garage is the first thing you see when you turn the bend on the street approaching our home.
Let’s face it, garages and driveways can be boring. We opted to replace our garage doors with basic doors rather than carriage doors to save on cost and painted them the same color as our house.
All I could see when we pulled into the drive was old, dated black light fixtures which only seemed to highlight the blacktop.
We selected custom Copper Wall Lanterns to make our garages more of a feature than an eyesore, placing them between each door. Natural metals are timeless and I just love the details of these!
I used candle light bulbs to mimic gas lanterns encompassed in a hurricane. The new lanterns draw your eyes up away from the asphalt. It’s almost like they’re calling me home!
I also added planters between the garage doors to compliment our home and filled them with gardenia topiaries, distracting from the drive.
It makes the area feel more like a relaxing patio, especially when paired with weathered wood chairs for Chris and I to enjoy a glass of wine while the girls play.
Day and night, our new outdoor lighting has transformed the side of our home and adds so much ambience! It’s amazing what a little lighting can do.
You may recall that we also used these fixtures on our deck and created a similar, but larger style for our front porch. It’s fun to watch them weather over time and add character to our home.
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Would you mind telling me the exact lantern brand and name? Your link is no longer current, and the lantern cannot be found on that site. I would love to find it somewhere else! It’s exactly what I’m looking for.
Hi Ashley!
You can find our Copper Wall Lanterns here: https://rstyle.me/+cURsOuo70CCM7jbKhMyC9Q
Look for a post about with more info about copper lanterns later today, actually!
Julie
Hi! So very lovely! Did you have these made? or buy from the site you linked? I’m having trouble finding this size lantern in raw copper. Thanks!
Oh no – purchased there. Let me see what I can find. Unfortunately I have no control when they update their products and links.
What color did you paint the exterior of your house?! I love it and we are repainting in just a few weeks.
You can find the two colors we used here, why and what we love about them. Hope it helps!
Can you tell me where you purchase your lights?
Of course – they’re available in my shop, enjoy!
can you please tell me where you got these out lanterns
Hi Paul!
I apologize, I missed your comment somehow. If you’re still interested in these copper lanterns you can find them here: https://rstyle.me/+cURsOuo70CCM7jbKhMyC9Q
Enjoy!
Julie
Gorgeous!!!
Do you think the copper lights will oxidize and turn green or did they come already protected/sealed?
You could choose a number of Cooper finishes, I chose raw so they’ll oxidize.
Do you mind sharing if you purchased raw copper or antique copper? LOVE them!! Looks absolutely adorable!
Raw, thank you!
Could you let me know what paint color you used on your garage? Love your style!
Thanks! The exterior? https://julieblanner.com/goodbye-yellow-brown-house/
So neat, clean and simple, yet very elegantly done. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! I hope you’re having a great weekend!
Beautiful! Love those chairs and table. Is there a link for purchasing?
At the bottom of the post – they fade, which is what makes me love them so much! The table was a random find at Home Goods in the bathroom section.
beautiful ..love the stairway.
Thank you!
Hi Julie –
What a nice update, the copper will only get better looking with age. Love the molding on each garage door. It is a nice touch. It all looks so welcoming.
Thank you, Diane! I hope you’re having a great summer!
I love the lights and the planters! You’re driveway is awesome!
What a gorgeous transformation! I love the light and airy paint color, light fixtures…..well, I love it all!
So so pretty, Julie! I love it!! (Can you come decorate my house for me? Kidding…not kidding! 🙂 )
Uh, of course!
What a difference lighting can make! Gorgeous finish on the lights, the copper adds a warmth to the glow. I love how enticing and inviting they are, and along with the paint and the planters, they truly make a beautiful first impression!