Outdoor Copper Lighting: Everything You Need To Know
Outdoor lighting is more than just providing a well-lit area for your entryway or patio.
Outdoor lighting is more than just providing a well-lit area for your entryway or patio. It can be functional so that it provides an easy way to navigate around your home, increase security, and enhance architecture. And, exterior lighting on a home can completely transform its appearance and give your home, even more, curb appeal.
Finding the perfect lighting fixture is often easier said than done with all of the options available. Copper outdoor lights have long been one of the most elegant and popular types of outdoor lighting. But with so many different shapes, sizes, and styles, how do you know which one to choose? And, when in doubt, you can always reach out to an expert, like American Gas Lamp Works, for help.
Here’s everything you need to know about outdoor copper lighting for your home.
Table of Contents
Outdoor Copper Lantern Styles
There are no shortages of outdoor copper lanterns to choose from. Whether you like a simple fixture, something big and bold, or anything in between, the perfect option awaits.
Selecting the right copper lamp or lantern comes down to personal preference. However, you can also consider the architecture of your home, what style your neighbors have, the color of your home’s trim, and more.
With so many different types of exterior lighting options, it’s helpful to consider them all. From post mount and flush mount to ceiling lights and wall sconces, it can be a bit overwhelming, but thinking about the purpose and location of the lighting is a great starting point.
The size of your outdoor wall light is another important consideration to make. If you have a small front porch, you don’t want an oversized light. The goal is to provide enough lighting to see the entryway without being distracting.
When it comes to copper gas lanterns, you need to consider the clearance on all sides of the fixture. Having a professional take these measurements can give you peace of mind and confidence when selecting outdoor lighting. In some situations, having two smaller lights is more effective than one large light.
But, don’t forget about an electric lantern, as well. They’re just as beautiful and are incredibly eco-friendly.
Benefits of Outdoor Copper Lighting
Outdoor lighting serves multiple purposes. It provides a clear path for walking at night, enhances security, outdoor entertainment lighting, or even landscape lighting to highlight your shrubbery. There are hundreds of different styles and options to choose from at various price points. So why would a homeowner choose outdoor copper lighting over any other material? The answer is in the details and the overall appearance.
With outdoor copper lighting, homeowners can enjoy an authentic and timeless finish they can enjoy for many years. The copper material is durable enough to withstand outdoor elements and will look great with little maintenance for decades. In fact, many people believe copper outdoor lights look better as the years go on! No matter what the current trends are with outdoor lighting, copper lighting will always be in style.
Arguably the biggest benefit of outdoor copper lighting is the weather-resistant properties it has. No one wants to buy an outdoor light they have to replace every few years because of rust. Outdoor copper light fixtures are different because of the oxidation process. When copper oxidizes, it can slightly change the color of the finish to a blue-green color. This is nothing to be alarmed about, and it actually helps protect the finish in the future. The protective outer layer prevents corrosion so you can continue to enjoy the beauty of your outdoor copper lantern.
When you’re thinking about outdoor lighting options, copper provides several benefits. From an aesthetic perspective, there’s nothing better than the distinct color that copper offers. And when you match it with the perfect style, it can seem like the outdoor light was made exclusively for your home. In fact, customized copper outdoor lanterns are popular among homeowners to ensure a perfect fit. If you’ve searched for outdoor lighting and can’t seem to find what you want, then customization could be the way to go – and all American Gas Lamp Works’ gas and electric lamp and lanterns are customizable. View our assortment of copper lighting.
What to Consider When Buying Copper Outdoor Lights
When buying outdoor copper lighting, spend some time evaluating all of your needs and desires. You may be considering installing them for entryways, path lights, deck lights, security lights, and more. Matching your lamps in each area with the same type of copper fixture can provide consistency and a cohesive, well-thought-out feel inside and out of your home. You can even take it one step further and match your outdoor wall lighting with the decor inside your home.
Determining the Appropriate Wattage of Outdoor copper lights
In addition to copper lantern aesthetics, you’ll need to calculate how large or small of a space that you want lit with your outdoor copper lanterns. Generally, you can take the square footage of the area and multiply it by 1.5 to determine the appropriate wattage. So if you’re covering 200 square feet, you’ll need 300 watts of lighting.
Walking your soon-to-be-lighted space will help you to gauge the size, type, and amount of light needed. In doing so, you may find that choosing multiple smaller fixtures rather than a single large one will not only be more effective, but will also look better.
Once you have the wattage configured, measure the area for the placement of the copper light fixture itself. The last thing you want is to select a hanging lantern or outdoor sconce that overpowers the space.
Inside Looking Outdoors
Another great tip to choose the perfect copper outdoor lighting is to look outside from the inside of your home. This will give you a great viewpoint of which areas you want to illuminate or add ambiance to so that you can choose accordingly. You might want a large light to cover your front porch. But you also might want smaller lights to illuminate a pathway, garden, shrubbery, or other aesthetics. Consider what lighting requirements you have for entertaining as well. And, when in doubt, American Gas Lamp Works is happy to provide you their expert opinion
Consider Security When Choosing Your Copper Lanterns
Finally, security should be a top priority for homeowners when selecting copper outdoor lanterns. Be sure to light every entryway as well as the perimeter of your home for ultimate security. Potential intruders like operating in darkness, so the more lighting you have, the more you will deter them. Consider numerous small lights under your eavesments or on exterior walls. When your exterior is lit up effectively, you will naturally secure your home so you can have peace of mind.
How to Care for Your Copper Lantern
When it comes to copper lamp maintenance, there will be times when you need to clean the fixture. Over-the-counter cleaning products can contain harsh chemicals not suitable for copper, but natural cleaning methods are just as effective. One of the most common methods is to mix one tablespoon of salt with one cup of white vinegar. Rub this solution onto the fixture gently and then rinse it off to restore its shine.
Lemon juice is another effective natural cleaning method for your copper fixtures. One way is to cut a lemon in half and sprinkle salt on it. Simply rub the cut lemon onto the copper fixture and rinse it with warm water. If needed, you can buff out the copper to fully restore the natural appearance.
In some situations, ketchup can be an effective cleaning agent for copper. It contains salt and acid, which help dissolve the oxidation your copper fixture might have experienced. Simply rub a small amount of ketchup onto the copper, rinse it, and let it dry. The natural luster should appear shortly after it has dried.
If your copper lantern becomes tarnished, baking soda is a great way to bring back the shine in your copper. Mixing baking soda with lemon juice provides a subtle abrasion that’s tough enough to remove the tarnished layer. Depending on how badly the copper is tarnished, you may need to scrub it a couple of times. Once you rinse the lemon and baking soda mixture, you should have a clean and shiny fixture again.
Proper maintenance and cleaning techniques can prolong the lifespan of your copper outdoor lanterns significantly. Copper is one of the most durable materials you can use for outdoor lighting. And, by following these care and maintenance tips, you can keep yours looking beautiful and elegant throughout the years.
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