Farmhouse Exterior Lighting Fixtures for Porches, Garages & Barndominiums

Front door and porch lighting, farmhouse style

A front door gets either one gooseneck centered above it or a matched pair flanking it. For a pair, size each shade to roughly one-quarter to one-third of the door's height; beside a standard 80-inch door, that lands at 10 to 12 inches. Hang them so the shade sits just above eye level, about 66 to 72 inches above the threshold. A single centered shade should be about a third of the door's width and clear the storm door.

On a covered porch ceiling, a Shallow Dome on a short stem or cord spreads light wide under a low ceiling. Keep 7 feet of headroom and space fixtures 8 to 10 feet apart on a wraparound porch.

Garage lights, exterior farmhouse style

Size garage lights to the door width. Over a single 8- to 10-foot door, center one 12- to 14-inch shade, or flank it with two 10- to 12-inch shades. Over a 16- to 18-foot double door, center one 14- to 16-inch shade, or use a 12-inch pair. With several doors in a row, put one fixture between each pair and keep every shade the same size, as the Dennis residence does. Set the shade's lower edge 6 to 12 inches above the door trim. The GNX-1004 gooseneck comes in 12- or 17-inch projections so the shade clears gutters and deep trim.

Barndominium exterior lighting and detached shops

Tall steel walls and 12- to 14-foot doors call for a bigger shade. A 16- to 20-inch Standard Dome or an 18- to 24-inch Step Neck Dome holds its own on a gable end or over a roll-up door. Pole barn exterior lighting on a detached shop follows the same rules, scaled to the doors.

Driveway, walkway and house number

At the end of the drive, the 902 Island Light sets a 27-inch spun reflector on any post with a 3-inch O.D. tenon. For a house number or ranch sign, aim an Emblem Sign reflector down at the lettering.

A porch light that lasts ten winters and one that rusts out in two often look alike on the shelf. The difference is in these details.

Finishes that suit a farmhouse palette

Black is the modern farmhouse default against white board-and-batten. White blends into white trim, so the shade reads as part of the house. Red or Oxblood picks up a barn-red door or wall. For a weathered silver look under a metal roof, the Galvanized Step Neck Dome is spun from zinc-coated steel. We offer 38 standard powder-coat colors. Order swatches before you commit.

Wet or damp listing

A deep, fully covered porch is a damp location. Any wall that takes rain, from a garage front to a gable or an open porch, is a wet location. The Standard Dome, Step Neck Dome, Shallow Dome, Lanterna and 902 Island Light all carry wet-location listings, so you buy once and can use them anywhere. Seal outdoor threaded top mounts with Teflon tape.

Neighbor-friendly and dark-sky considerations

Point the light down and keep the lamp above the rim of the shade. Skip clear globes that glow sideways, choose 2700 K to 3000 K, and use a lower-lumen lamp at a door than on a shop wall. Many towns and HOAs require full cutoff or fully shielded fixtures. Tell us your code and we'll confirm which configuration meets it.

Photocells and dusk-to-dawn

The simplest dusk-to-dawn setup is a photocell, timer or smart switch on the circuit. Ask us about fixture-mounted photocell options for your configuration.

For residential builders and developers

Builders can standardize one package across elevations: a part number each for entry, garage and gable, plus one finish code. Save each build in our configurator so repeat orders match, and talk to a rep about program pricing and scheduling for a new community.