It’s the middle of summer, and we’ve both been spending our fair share of time enjoying our outdoor spaces. And it’s when you’re out there lounging around (often with a cocktail in hand) that you begin to notice all of the tiny details on the outside of your home. Weeds that need to be picked…paint that needs to be touched up…and outdoor lighting that makes your home look like it’s from the 80’s. Yikes. 

Honestly, neither of us ever gave much thought to our homes’ outdoor lighting situations until this summer. We realized that most exterior fixtures are incredibly affordable (we’re talking less than $100!), and they can dramatically improve the curb appeal on your house. So in June, we both swapped the outdoor lighting on our homes for more modern and classic fixtures. 

Bridget chose this fixture (from Amazon!) for the outside of her black mudroom door…

While I chose this barn light for my small balcony space…

Both projects were simple and made us wonder why the heck we waited so long to do anything?!

Outdoor Lighting Options We Love

If you want to make the outdoor lighting switch, we’ve got you covered with today’s post! Here are 9 outdoor lighting options that will make your home look more contemporary, and better yet…they’re all under $200!

[From L to R, top to bottom] 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Why We Love Black Light Fixtures

Clearly, we have a thing for black light fixtures. It’s probably because we think black can go with the style of just about any home, and it works well with brick, siding, cinder block, etc. If you have a home that is painted black, then you might want to opt for a brass or nickel fixture instead to give it some contrast. But for the most part, you can’t go wrong with black!

As for actually installing an outdoor fixture, it’s the same process as an indoor one. Just be sure to turn the power off to that fixture and you may want to recruit a buddy if you’re on a ladder or the fixture is heavy. #trustus

It’s not too late to improve the look of the outside of your home. Order a new fixture, hang it in a few hours, and enjoy staring at it for the rest of the summertime.

Casey