Front Porch & Entry Lights

In one line: the porch is the one lit area every visitor sees — light the edge above the door, put a warm accent beside it, and keep the floor clear so people can walk in.

Three heights do the work: the eave or fascia (a horizontal line of light), the door itself (a shape or a sign at eye level), and the step (a low, soft accent). Pick two of the three and the entry reads as designed rather than decorated.

What belongs here

• Under the eave: icicle bars and cascade strands — see icicle & cascade lights.
• Beside the door: a wall fixture, for light without a cable across the render.
• At eye level: a marquee sign or a seasonal motif, for the thing people photograph.
• On the door or window: a shaped net or a curtain — net lights and curtain lights.

Practical notes

Keep the run at 2.1–2.4 m so nobody ducks. Fix strands so wind cannot slap them against the render, and keep plugs above ground level — a porch socket is usually the easiest place to hide one. For an exposed, unsheltered porch, check the rating with IP ratings explained.