Entry way lighting can make anyone’s home look immediately more welcoming and since there is nothing worse than fumbling around in the dark for the keys to your door installing some outdoor lighting is a fantastic home upgrade.

If your home features an overhang or front porch an outdoor ceiling light or pendant is the perfect addition to create ambient lighting. Often times, front porches already have an electrical fixture installed in the ceiling just wait to be hooked up to a light.

Light or Pendant?

The first step to shopping for outdoor ceiling entryway light is to choose which option is best for your home – pendant or ceiling light. The main difference being that a pendant will hang on a chain or down-rod while a ceiling light will hang flush against the ceiling. The key factor in this decision is the height of your ceiling. The rim of the pendant should hang about 7 feet above the floor. Aside from the problem with guests hitting their heads on pendants hung on low ceilings, the decision between flush and pendant can simply be made on style preference.

Dry, Damp or Wet?

Outdoor lights are typically labeled as suitable for dry, damp or wet locations. This is an important detail to consider when choosing your outdoor ceiling light. Most likely it is best to get a light suitable for at least damp areas because these lights can handle condensation, fog and lights mists. If your light will be in direct rain or snow you will need a light suitable for wet locations.