Frequently Asked Questions
Outdoor wall lights fall into five main types: gooseneck lights, curved arm lights, straight arm lights, wall sconces, and large-format wall mounts. The three arm styles extend a shade away from the wall to throw light down onto doors, signs, and walkways, differing mainly in arm shape. Sconces mount close to the wall and light the surrounding area, and wall mounts scale the arm format up for large surfaces. This collection includes all five, in shade families from Warehouse and Cafe to caged Vaportite designs.
Yes — the fixtures meet UL requirements and are labeled for Wet, Damp/Dry, or Dry location use, so the deciding step is matching the label on a specific fixture’s listing to your installation spot. An exposed exterior wall calls for a wet-location rating; covered placements are less demanding. Each product page states which rating the fixture carries, and the wall lights are designed to wire directly to a standard 4-inch octagon junction box, which suits exterior mounting.
Beside a front door, a wall sconce is the standard choice — it sits close to the wall, lights the entry area at eye level, and doesn’t project into the doorway. Above the door, an arm-style fixture works better because it throws light down onto the threshold. Many homes use both: sconces flanking the door and a gooseneck or arm light above the garage. Compact 8-to-12-inch shades suit most entries; check each listing’s projection so the fixture clears trim and door swings.
The difference is the arm’s shape: a gooseneck rises from the wall in a curved sweep — the classic barn-light silhouette — while a straight arm extends on a rigid, squared-off line. Both hold the shade away from the wall and direct light downward, so the practical job is identical. Choose gooseneck or curved arm for farmhouse, vintage, and traditional exteriors; choose straight arm for modern and industrial buildings. Both styles are offered across largely the same shade families and finishes in this collection.
This collection runs from compact 7-and-8-inch shades up to 24-inch fixtures, with most everyday exterior lights falling in the 8-to-16-inch range. As a rule of thumb, 8-to-10-inch shades suit single doors and porch walls, 12-to-14-inch shades fit standard entries and single garage bays, and 16-inch-plus shades hold their proportion on wide garage faces and commercial frontage. Every product listing includes the shade diameter and the fixture’s projection from the wall so you can verify scale before ordering.
Outdoor wall lights can absolutely carry color — this collection includes Barn Red, Vermillion, Bright Yellow, Navy, Light Blue, Sea Green, Forest Green, Mauve, and Cantaloupe alongside Black, Bronze Matte, Architectural Bronze, Slate Gray, and Painted Galvanized. Because exterior fixtures are visible from the street, their color becomes part of the building’s identity: Barn Red on white siding reads classic farmhouse, Sea Green suits coastal homes, and galvanized finishes keep a workshop character. Neutrals remain right when the door or siding already leads.