Outdoor lighting

The selection is almost entirely LED, mostly rated IP65, from warm white 2700 to 3500 K to cool white 4500 to 6500 K.

What are the outdoor lighting solutions?

For an entrance, a wall light illuminates the threshold and the faces of visitors. Along a path, a facade light guides the steps without dazzling. On a terrace, lower and more diffuse outdoor lighting creates a soft light for meals. The collection mainly offers LED wall lights in aluminium, often rated IP65, from warm white to cool white.

LED outdoor lighting, with no bulb to climb up and change

On most models, the LED is integrated: nothing to screw in, nothing to change after two winters. A few models keep an E27 socket so you can choose your bulb. The stated wattages range from around 4 W for discreet marking to 60 W over long facade runs, with a common level around 18 W for an entrance or a terrace. The collection can also be browsed by lamp type (wall lights, wall sconces, terrace, facade) and by light families (wall lights, wall-mounted, terrace, sensor, design, LED).

Outdoor lighting for the home, from the threshold to the terrace corner

Near the door, a compact wall light such as the round Halo wall light, 17 x 10 cm, handles the threshold without taking over the wall. On a wide facade, the Terralux terrace wall light at 26 x 12.5 cm takes up more of the wall and lights further. The rest can be explored in our full range of lights.

Which outdoor lighting should you choose for the terrace?

On a terrace, you want a light that illuminates faces and the ground without dazzling: a downward-facing wall light near the door, complemented by a low, diffuse light. The models are made of aluminium, glass or acrylic, most often IP65, in warm white 2700 to 3500 K, some dimmable with a dimmer.

The outdoor terrace wall light, facing downwards

A 26 x 12.5 cm model at 18 W covers the dining area without climbing high on the wall: the light flows downwards, the table stays readable and no one has the source in their eyes. A more compact wall light, such as the Lumina terrace wall light at 32 cm, suits a short wall or a corner.

Outdoor terrace lighting for long evenings

A low model at 5 W, such as the Sylva at Ø 5.5 cm, gives an ambient light that does not carry over to the neighbour's. The dimmer, available on only a small number of models, lets you lower the intensity late in the evening. To complete a seating area, a matching bedside light also works outdoors in a sheltered spot.

What is the difference between IP44 and IP65?

The IP rating notes two resistances: dust for the first digit, water for the second. IP44 protects against splashes: a wall light under a canopy is fine. IP65 resists water jets, so it suits a facade exposed to rain and hose cleaning. In this selection, IP65 covers most wall lights, IP44 a few sheltered models, and one light goes up to IP67.

How many lumens do you need to light an outdoor space?

There is no single figure: it all depends on the surface, the distance between the light and the wall, the shade of the surface and the use, decorative or for security. You look at the wattage stated by the manufacturer and above all the direction of the light. In this selection, wattages range from around 4 W for discreet marking to 30 W for a facade, with a few models up to 60 W.

Outdoor ground lighting

A light wall reflects much more than a dark one: it is better to undersize at the start. To mark out a path or a wall corner, 4 to 7 W stated is enough. To genuinely light a walkway area, aim for 10 to 18 W, facing downwards. A facade light is judged by the distance it throws, not by the number of watts.

Warm white or cool white outdoors?

Warm white from 2700 to 3500 K is the most common setting in the selection: it extends the indoor mood and suits an entrance or a terrace. Cool white from 4500 to 6500 K gives a sharper, more reassuring feel, useful on a path or a large facade. Neutral white, around 3500 to 4500 K, remains available on several models.

Which outdoor lighting with a motion sensor?

Lighting with a sensor is installed where you want light only when someone passes: entrance, path, gate, facade corner. The Sentinel wall light has a built-in sensor, at 18 W, IP65, with a body in metal, glass, aluminium and acrylic, measuring 26 x 12.5 cm, available in black or white, in warm white or cool white.

Outdoor lighting with a sensor, for the path and the gate

On a route you take with your hands full, light that comes on by itself saves you hunting for a switch. The Sentinel wall light with sensor is fitted directly above the walkway, facing the ground. On a facade or a long wall, the LuminEclat rectangular wall lamp finds its place in a fixed version, without a sensor.

Sensor or dimmer?

The sensor switches on and off according to movement: it is a security and energy-saving function. The dimmer adjusts the intensity and is controlled deliberately: it is a comfort function, available on a minority of models, including the Eclat light. On an entrance that is lit only briefly, a simple 18 W wall light is often enough.

How do you choose the material and format of an outdoor light?

Aluminium dominates because it resists corrosion and stays light; metal and iron bring finer lines; glass and acrylic diffuse the light. The format is chosen according to the wall: a compact wall light near a door, a longer and shallower model for a facade. The most common finishes here are black and white.

Aluminium or metal for outdoors?

On a wall exposed to rain and wind, aluminium is the default choice: it does not rust and stays easy to maintain. Metal and iron are chosen for the design, a square frame or a very fine line, provided you keep an eye on the fixings over the years. An old house sometimes calls for a black model, more discreet on a stone wall.

Why do glass and acrylic come up so often?

Glass lets light through without tinting it and is cleaned with clear water; acrylic diffuses more softly and reduces reflections, which avoids the bright point effect on a terrace. Many models combine both in the same body. Shapes are divided between tube, square, round and oval: the Eclat outdoor light rated IP67 comes in long lengths.

E27 outdoor bulb: what solution for a screw socket?

An E27 outdoor bulb is chosen together with its light: the E27 screw socket is fitted on some of the models in the collection, the others being integrated LED. Outdoors, it is the light that protects the bulb, through its IP rating. You then keep a colour temperature consistent with the rest of the home's lighting.

E27 socket or integrated LED?

The E27 socket lets you choose the bulb and replace it without changing the light. Integrated LED cannot be replaced, but it saves climbing a ladder and ages with a stable light output. Both options coexist here, with a clear lead for integrated LED. For a complete project, E27 socket lighting kits simplify the connection.

Replacing a bulb on an outdoor wall light

Switch off the power at the circuit breaker before opening the diffuser, put the gasket back in its groove, then screw it back without forcing. The gasket provides the seal: if it is put back badly, it lets in moisture and the light loses its protection. The other installation solutions are detailed in ready-to-install lighting kits.

Lighting for WC and toilets: which light should you choose?

In a WC or a small water room, a wall light does the job: directed light, little shadow, and a model rated IP44 is fine for water splashes. An IP44 outdoor wall light such as the Urbano Brillante can therefore also light a WC. Keep a warm white light, from 2700 to 3500 K, for a room with no window.

LED ceiling lighting in a small room

On a short wall, a square or round model at 4 to 7 W stated is enough and does not overpower the room. A wall light avoids the shadow cast by a ceiling light placed behind you, which darkens precisely the area you are looking at. The same principles apply to recessed spotlights when a false ceiling is present.

Toilet lighting, a directed light

You want a grazing light on the wall facing the user, never in the line of sight. A model in glass or acrylic diffuses more softly than a bare diffuser. For a small, damp room with no window, recessed LED kits usefully complement a wall light.

How do you install and maintain outdoor lighting?

A wall light is installed at hand height, out of the glare zone, with a cable entry protected by a gasket. The connection is made with the power off. After that, a soft cloth is enough: glass and acrylic are cleaned with clear water, aluminium simply needs regular wiping to avoid marks.

At what height should an outdoor wall light be fitted?

Near a door, it is placed at hand height, around 1.80 m to 2 m from the ground depending on the size of the wall light, to light the threshold without dazzling. On a wide facade, two medium points spread out are better than a single very powerful one. Always aim the light downwards or towards the wall, never towards the street or neighbouring windows.

How do you clean an outdoor light?

Switch off the power, wipe the body with a soft cloth, and keep abrasive products for surfaces that can take them, which is none here. Never alcohol on acrylic. Checking the fixings and the gasket once a year is enough to maintain the protection over time.

Designix reassurance: secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service to support you from choice to installation. The selection brings together wall lights, a facade light, models with a sensor and a terrace wall light. Compare the Sentinel outdoor wall light with sensor and the Urbano Brillante wall light and its 60 to 120 cm format depending on use, then browse our full lighting catalogue to finalise the whole facade.

Frequently asked questions