Have you ever noticed how certain houses look lit up like Christmas trees while others appear pitch black? Surprisingly, the wattage of your external lights dramatically influences the appearance of your home from the street. Using outdoor lighting is one of the simplest methods to improve your outside atmosphere. Lighting fixtures help you achieve the desired mood, whether you intend to enlarge your garden or make your patio a cozy event place.
Excessive amounts of anything, including outdoor lights, are never a brilliant idea. You want lighting fixtures to draw attention to your surroundings, but not so much that they are unpleasant or glaring. At 40 Watts or less, your outside space should be suitably lighted.
Why is Wattage Important
Wattage is crucial since it can significantly impact your monthly expenditures. Wattage is the unit of power used to calculate your electricity use. Regarding the light that bulbs generate, higher wattage does not always imply brighter illumination. The amount of light that various lighting types can create will most likely vary based on energy consumption. Check for lumens to see which product gives a softer or milder glow.
What Factors Would You Consider When Picking the Right Wattage for Outdoor Lighting?
There are a few elements to consider when choosing the wattage for your outdoor lights, whether you want to illuminate a porch, a driveway, or an entire yard:
- The purpose of the light: Is the light employed for accent lighting, security, or safety? The more specific the goal, the easier it will be to determine the correct wattage.
- The area you are lighting: a more extensive site requires lighter; hence a higher wattage is required. A smaller room, on the other hand, may function with less power.
- Your preferences: While some people prefer a gentler light, others prefer their gardens to be quite bright. Consider your ideal brightness level while making your selection.
Watts and Lumens
In general, the higher the wattage of outdoor lighting, the brighter the light. Yet, this is not always the case. Lumens, not watts, are the units used to measure the brightness of a light.
So, what distinguishes watts and lumens from one another?
Lumens measure the amount of light produced, whereas Watts represent the energy a bulb consumes. One lumen is the amount of light produced by one candle.
Lumens are used to assess brightness, whereas watts are used to measure energy usage. When choosing outdoor lighting, both lumens and watts must be considered.
If you want incredibly dazzling outdoor garden lights that are also energy-efficient, look for bulbs with low wattage and high lumens. If you want a softer light, pick a bulb with a low wattage and a low lumen output.
The Optimal Wattage for Various Brightness Needs
Low-Wattage Bulbs
Low-wattage bulbs are commonly used in remote locations such as decks, sheds, porches, and backyards. Generally, 4-watt bulbs are suitable for little accent lights, but 15-watt bulbs may illuminate a flight of stairs. Low-wattage light bulbs generally vary between 1 and 40 watts. These light bulbs are becoming increasingly popular due to their high energy efficiency.
Mid-Wattage Bulbs
Mid-range wattage lighting, described as illumination between 40 and 80 watts, is commonly used in pathways, driveways, and garages. The majority of home light bulbs have a power rating of 60 watts. Mid-wattage lights are popular because they provide a good brightness level without being unduly harsh. These bulbs do not provide much light, but they are bright enough to increase the safety of the areas you and your visitors will use.
High-Wattage Bulbs
High-wattage lights should only be used in highly particular situations. These lights are brighter than standard light bulbs but consume a lot of electricity. Such effects are terrible for the environment and expensive.
High-wattage bulbs typically produce 80 watts or more and use more than 100 watts on average. They provide a lot of light, perfect for lighting commercial premises and roadways. These light fixtures are commonly found in parking lots, shopping malls, stadiums, and roads.
Final Words; What is the Optimal Wattage for Outdoor Lighting?
As a general rule, the best wattage for outdoor lighting is 40 watts or less. This will provide enough light to securely and efficiently illuminate your outside space.
Although you should consider the number of lumens. You may need to increase the wattage of your outdoor lights if your outside space is more significant. Nonetheless, it is critical to avoid going too high since this may jeopardize your safety.