Lighting the exterior of your home properly can help to make your property safe and more secure, but you'll need to know where to place the lighting fixtures to create an effective safety lighting scheme. With the right placement and lighting choices, you can make your home look beautiful at night while helping to keep your family safe. Here are just some of the ways you can light your home for safety and security.

Walkway Lighting

If you have a long walkway leading up to your home, adding lights on either side of the path can help to increase visibility at night. You can opt for LED lights embedded in stone pavers for a modern look, or you can use path lights with stakes attached, which can be placed into the grassy area on the sides of your walkway. Consider adding these lights to the front and back walkways leading up to your home.

Garage Lighting

For homes that do not have an attached garage, exterior lighting can provide an added layer of safety and security. An outdoor lighting fixture can be placed above the garage door to illuminate the area as you pull your car up, and sconces on either side of the pedestrian door can help to increase visibility as you leave or enter the garage. You may also want to add a motion-sensing light to help deter any intruders who might attempt to gain entry into the garage.

Patio Lighting

Patio lighting comes in handy when you are hosting a party at night, but it can also help to prevent burglars from attempting to enter your home. If you have a door leading into your home from the patio, consider adding outdoor wall lighting fixtures on both sides, and have your electrician connect the lights to a timer and switch that can be operated from inside the home. With the patio illuminated at night, potential thieves won't be able to rely on the cover of darkness to gain entry into your home.

Pool Lighting

If you have a swimming pool on your property, you've likely taken some security measures to ensure no one enters the pool when you aren't present. Adding exterior lighting to the area can also help to increase safety around the pool. The lighting can make the pol visible at night, which can deter people from sneaking into the pool. It can also make it easier for you to see if someone is struggling or drowning in the water at night. LED rope lighting offers an easy way to illuminate the pool on your own, or you can have your pool installer add lighting for you.

With the proper exterior lighting, you can help to make your home more visible at night. Inspect your home after dark to determine where your home is most vulnerable, and create a lighting plan that eliminates dark corners and blind spots.