How to Get Your Home Trick or Treater Ready

It’s that time of the year when trick-or-treaters are going to be making their rounds in the neighborhood. Lighting is a crucial aspect to getting your home Halloween-ready. Whether you decide to go with path lighting, exterior wall mounts, or outdoor lanterns, we’ve got you covered with all the lighting tips.

A properly lit porch makes guests feel welcomed, and helps trick or treaters feel safe walking up to your home with a well lit front porch! Wall mount lights or hanging lanterns are a perfect addition to your front porch! They provide a good amount of light to liven up the home and give it that welcoming feel. Be sure to consider the sizing of your outdoor lighting and refer to our “Tips for choosing the right size outdoor lights” to make sure your light is the perfect fit.

Outdoor lighting should be placed in key areas around the front yard that typically have a lot of movement such as the garage, front door, side doors, and walkways. Pathway lights should be placed six to eight feet apart to avoid the runway feel but still give the path a soft, continuous glow, these lights should be a guide to show your guests where to go and pull visitors along the path all the way up to the front door. Staggering the pathway lights on both sides of the path creates a more balanced look. It's important not to create bright spots but a line of light following the path. Pathway lighting should point downward and be just slightly taller than plants so they don't distract from the light. Here are some links to our favorite pathway lights:

-One Light Post by Kichler

-One Light Path & Spread in Bronze by Kichler

-LED Path Light in Satin Black by Hinkley

-LED Path Light in Bronze by W.A.C

In addition to a safe feel outdoor lighting adds value to a home and can increase the property value making it look welcoming and warm to potential buyers. The National Association of Home Builders actually reported over 40% of home buyers surveyed it as “essential” when buying a home. Well-placed and classic lighting silhouettes up the home curb appeal. What better time to up the curb appeal when you’ll have a plethora of visitors stopping by your home!

In addition to a welcoming atmosphere proper lighting also helps warn away unwanted intruders. For this we recommend motion lights such as these

Two Light Flood with Motion Sensor by Generation

One Light Flood with Motion Sensor by Generation

One Light Motion Sensor Wall Light by Vaxcel

One Light Motion Sensor Outdoor Wall Light by Vaxcel

Even though it's important to have the front of your home well lit from dawn to dusk, you can have too much light. Dark sky fixtures can offer a good amount of light while preventing light pollution. You might also consider warmer color temperatures for outdoor lighting so as to not seem too bright. We recommend 2500K or 2700K for a warm, glowy feel. 

Lastly, make sure your selected lights are outdoor/wet-rated. Selecting non outdoor/wet-rated lighting can result in ruined fixtures and money lost. Wet-rated fixtures can be used in locations with direct water exposure--most outdoor lights will be exposed to water at some point. Wet-rated fixtures use waterproof seals to protect the internal components that could be damaged from water and moisture. They also often have special finish paint to prevent them from rusting or corroding over the years. Be sure to shop our outdoor section to get your home Halloween ready!