Alternatives to the Typical Outdoor Lantern

For over 200 years, lanterns have illuminated the exteriors of homes with an instantly recognizable look: a square shape with glass panels. “Traditional lanterns” dominated the outdoor residential lighting category for centuries, but not everyone has a traditional-style home.

Since the 1950s, more midcentury, modern and contemporary homes have become fashionable, yet the selection of non-traditional outdoor lighting fixtures was limited. Times have changed and the assortment of contemporary and transitional-style outdoor lighting fixtures has broadened considerably beyond the design-agnostic jelly jar light many builders used to install.

There’s another very important reason some homeowners might want to replace the traditional lanterns that came with the house: personal style. If you live on a street where each home looks nearly identical except for color, replacing the outdoor lighting is a subtle design differentiator. Or perhaps a contemporary light would be more aesthetically aligned with the décor you have established for your property and interior. Unique outdoor lighting helps you express yourself!

Fortunately, there are a plethora of design alternatives to the basic outdoor lantern. The number one decorative option most lighting designers choose is a pair of low-profile, outdoor-rated wall sconces positioned at the front and back doors. These sconces have a slimmer silhouette, a fresh modern appearance, and do not extend out from the side of exterior walls like a typical lantern does. They also do not distract from the home’s architecture.   

Just as with traditional lanterns, outdoor sconces are available in several finishes to blend with any exterior. There are styles that are highly contemporary and sculptural in shape, models that blend well in coastal environments with hardy finishes that can stand up to the elements, and those that are more transitional in style, able to beautifully suit homes that are neither traditional nor ultra-contemporary.

Those reluctant to give up the look of a traditional lantern can still update the look of their home with today’s new half-lantern wall sconces that are flatter than a typical lantern, but offer a modern flourish through the finish or fine details.

Whatever your style, you can find a unique outdoor lighting fixture that suits your design personality perfectly at LightsOnline.com.

Here are some unique outdoor lighting recommendations for you:

• Hinkley Atlantis outdoor sconce in bronze
• Kichler Rockbridge outdoor sconce in black
• Craftmade Luna pocket wall sconce in satin aluminum
• Modern Forms Vitrine outdoor sconce in bronze
• Allegri Lucca Esterno outdoor sconce in matte black
• Craftmade Vault outdoor lantern in midnight
• Z-Lite Quadrate outdoor sconce in silver