Outdoor Curved Arm Lights
Frequently Asked Questions
An outdoor curved arm light is an exterior wall fixture whose shade extends from the wall on an arched arm, positioning light out and over the area below — a doorway, garage bay, or sign. The arc gives the fixture a traditional barn-light character while the extended arm ensures light lands on the threshold rather than washing down the siding. This collection offers curved arms in six shade families — Warehouse, Cafe, Deep Bowl, Radial, Atomic, and Homestead — from 8 to 20 inches.
Both throw light down from an extended arm, so choose by silhouette: a curved arm uses a single, gentler arc, while a gooseneck sweeps in the deeper classic curve. Goosenecks read the most traditional and are the strongest match for farmhouse and vintage storefront exteriors; curved arms sit slightly quieter and suit homes that want the barn-light character with less flourish. Many of the same shade families and finishes are offered in both, so the decision rarely costs you the look you wanted.
Yes — the fixtures meet UL requirements and are labeled for Wet, Damp/Dry, or Dry location use. The step that matters is matching the label on the specific fixture’s listing to how exposed your mounting spot is: an open exterior wall calls for a wet-location rating, while a covered porch wall is less demanding. Each product page states the rating the fixture carries along with a dimensioned drawing of its projection and overall height.
For a single garage bay, 12-to-14-inch shades are the typical fit; for a wide two-car face, move to 16-to-20-inch shades — the Atomic family in this collection reaches 20 inches — so the fixture reads proportionally from the street. Smaller 8-to-10-inch shades belong over entry doors, not garages, where they visually disappear. Compare the shade diameter and projection on each listing’s dimensioned drawing against your wall before ordering, and consider a matched pair flanking wider openings.
Six shade families: the Warehouse (flat-brim barn profile, 8–16 inches), Cafe (smooth dome, 8–16 inches), Deep Bowl (8–16 inches), Radial (rippled rim, 8–16 inches), Atomic (wide flat profile, 12–20 inches), and Homestead (12 inches). Each carries a different character, from classic farmhouse to machine-age industrial, on the same arched arm. Finishes include Bright Yellow, Vermillion, Barn Red, Navy, Light Blue, Bronze Matte, Architectural Bronze, Black, and Painted Galvanized, varying by shade family.
The dimensioned drawings show three numbers you need before mounting: the shade diameter, how far the arm projects from the wall, and the fixture’s overall height. Together they tell you whether the arc clears trim, gutters, downspouts, and door swings at your exact spot, and whether the shade will hang over the area you want lit. Because curved arms extend further than sconces, checking projection against the drawing prevents the most common exterior mounting mistake — a fixture that crowds the door casing.