When choosing an outdoor porch light, think about the exterior of your home as the lights will set the tone for the rest of the building. A well-chosen fixture should complement your home’s architectural style, whether that’s traditional, modern, rustic or industrial.  

In the picture above, our Hackney Lantern in matt black draws your eye to this beautiful front porch. The lamp's silhouette perfectly reflects the traditional metalwork on the door, the black timber beams above and the ornate brickwork surrounding it. A lantern-style light with warm tones like the Hackney or our Canterbury lanterns, suit classic townhouse entrances and cottage-inspired homes alike. The key is cohesion—your exterior porch light should feel like an intentional extension of your home’s design rather than an afterthought. 

The Hackney is a longstanding customer favourite that was inspired by the carriage lanterns found on horse drawn Hackney carriages in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is available with chain to suspend from a porch roof, or as a wall mounted version that looks wonderful fitted on either side of a larger front door to create a sense of grandeur. 

Beyond style, scale plays a crucial role when considering exterior porch lights. Proportion is essential for porch lights as a fixture that is too small can look insignificant and might not provide adequate illumination, while one that is too large can overwhelm the space. As a general guideline, the light should be roughly one-third the height of your front door. If you have a wider entrance or double doors, consider flanking the doorway with matching wall lights to create balance and symmetry.

If you don’t have the height in your porch to suspend a hanging lantern, one of our flush fitting porch ceiling lights could be the answer. The handblown fluted glass of our Fulbourn family of lights makes it a top choice for front porches where the translucent beauty of glass allows you to enjoy all its reflective glory without encroaching on the sense of space. 

Porch lights play an important role in providing safety and security for your home – you need adequate illumination to be able to see your way in as well as to deter unwanted observers. The Wall Mounted Ship's Light does that. With the bulb housed in a glass seal caged in a brass frame, it has become a Jim Lawrence icon as its design manages to be both vintage and industrial, so that it sits comfortably above or beside a huge range of entrances.

With outdoor lighting, it is always worth considering adding a motion sensor that can deter intruders while also providing convenience when you arrive home after dark. Similarly, dusk-to-dawn sensors ensure your entrance is always lit at the right times without requiring manual operation. While we don’t make motion sensors, all our outdoor lights can be fitted with them.

Your choice of materials is also important when it comes to outdoor porch lights - particularly in the UK where weather conditions can be unpredictable. Opt for durable, weather-resistant materials such as our powder-coated matt black metals, stainless steel, or natural, non-corrosive brass that will weather down to a beautiful dull patina over time.

Our Georgian style Peacock Lantern is a top pick. Available in matt black for a smart, uniform finish, or antiqued brass for a classic, subtly aged appeal, its small details such as the Peacock emblem stamped on its hood, and the mirror on the back plate is what makes it stand out from the crowd. The mirror reflects the light from your bulb at night and the beauty of your surroundings during the day.

Remember, it is often the small details that make all the difference to your home. The right porch pendant or wall light should tie together other elements of door furniture, like your door handle, letter plate, or house numbers. Learning to be consistent with these details will help you creates a cohesive and thoughtfully designed entrance that feels both intentional and refined.

Our beautifully handblown glass Ava Porch Light is specially designed to hang in front porches. As part of our wider family of Ava lights, you can introduce its stylish teardrop shape inside your home as well as out, with single or multiple Ava designs created for walls, bathrooms, ceilings, kitchen islands and stairwells.