This time of year people really notice outdoor lighting. We spend a lot more time outdoors and if you have poor quality lighting, it shows! If your guests are peering hard at their hamburgers to make sure about what they are eating, you know that you need some extra illumination.

Alice wrote a while back about outdoor sconces and it seemed like a good time to revisit the topic. Outdoor lighting doesn’t have to be painful — not if you remember to turn off the electricity first! Ha. But really, there are so many varieties of outdoor lighting fixtures that you will have no trouble finding the right one for your style of house. It is certainly easiest if you have a fixture that you just want to replace. You can spruce up the patio or porch with a new light, easy. You can spend about $50 and get a nice serviceable outdoor wall sconce at a home improvement store. You can spend more — if your pocketbook allows — and get an unusual design or even a custom made piece. I always say that if you can afford it, you should go for it! It’s nice to have a unique design gracing your home.

Whatever style you choose, there are a few key things to make sure you get the right outdoor sconce for your needs. As with any lighting design, think layers. Is this going to be the only source of light for the area? That is fine if we’re talking about the front porch or something like that. If you are wanting to illuminate the patio and have it be a functional outdoor room for the summer, you will need more than just one outdoor wall lights, my friend. If wiring and the cost of additional wiring is part of the equation for you, you may want to consider outdoor lanterns. What is nice about lanterns is the power source. Of course you can get wired ones, but in general you will use batteries or candles to power up the lanterns. If you entertain infrequently, this might be a viable option for you. After all, you won’t spend the equivalent of wiring costs in batteries if you use the lanterns three or four times a year.

If you are serious about using the patio or deck as an outdoor room, then think about getting a bid on wiring for the backyard. If you do it right, and plan it our carefully, it won’t cost very much and you can have a lovely spot to entertain friends or relax with the spouse.