From Campfire to LED Outdoor Light

Bringing light to outdoor spaces is something that has occupied humankind since the very beginning of our existence. From the campfire that gathered everyone around it to electric outdoor lighting was a very long road. Accordingly, the range of outdoor lights available today is remarkably diverse: outdoor lights exist for different purposes and applications, and come in a wide variety of designs, materials, and styles.

Outdoor Lights for the Wall

We've organized wall-mounted outdoor lighting into one main category and four sub-categories. In the main category Outdoor Wall Lights you'll find all wall-mounted outdoor lights, regardless of size, design, or style. Within the four sub-categories, we've grouped the four most important types of outdoor lights:

• Wall lanterns – i.e., four-sided, six-sided, or cylindrical lights with a wall bracket.
• Barn lights, also known as reflector lights or shade lights – i.e., outdoor lights with a shade and a wall bracket or swivel joint.
• Wall globe lights – i.e., real-glass or acrylic-glass globes with aluminum or brass wall brackets.
• Flush mount wall lights – i.e., outdoor wall lights mounted directly to the wall without a bracket.
• Industrial wall lights – a style category for the currently very popular factory- and workshop-style outdoor lights.

Small and Large Outdoor Wall Lights

In the main Outdoor Wall Lights category, you'll find a full listing of all small wall lights. This includes small, simple wall lanterns and attractive globe lights with a small globe diameter, small flat brass outdoor lights, elegant courtyard lights with a small shade diameter, as well as classic ceramic outdoor lights and refined outdoor wall spotlights from our manufacturers in Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium.

Under large wall lights we've gathered all the large lanterns, such as imposing Schinkel-style lights and magnificent glass-cased lanterns for late-19th-century buildings, as well as reflector outdoor lights with large shades and long brackets, and large factory-style outdoor lights.

Lighting for Entrances and Pathways

Outdoor lights serve to keep pathways safe and act as a widely visible calling card for a homeowner's refined taste. At their best, they create a look that is both stately and decorative, provide proper lighting for entrances, stairs, and paths, for driveways, gardens, and parks, for terraces, balconies, and outdoor seating areas, and as street lanterns they illuminate entire streets.

So today, outdoor lights are available to suit anyone's taste and preference: as an understated Bauhaus-style light, an imposing Art Nouveau lantern, a playful Schinkel-style light, a practical factory-style outdoor light, or a delicate outdoor light in country-house style.

Outdoor Light Types and Materials

You can find more on the different designs of outdoor lights, lanterns, shade lights, spotlights, and globe lights under Outdoor Light Types; we cover the materials used under Materials for Outdoor Lights. Examples of outdoor lighting styles can be found within the individual categories, for instance under Art Deco Lights.

Ship's Lights and Ceramic Wall Lamps

Under Ceramic Wall Lights we present outdoor lights made from the tried-and-tested materials porcelain and ceramic, often fitted with reflector shades in enameled steel, copper, brass, or powder-coated aluminum. The Ship's Wall Lights subcategory is home to distinctive maritime-style outdoor lights – that is, high-quality cabin lights, unusual deck lights, and exclusive captain's lights, mostly made of brass or copper, with or without a wall bracket. Our articulated outdoor wall lights from Germany or Italy are outdoor lights made of aluminum, brass, or copper that are suitable for mounting on both walls and (sloped) ceilings.

Special Outdoor Lights

The Art Deco Wall Lights category showcases a wide selection of striking Art Nouveau and Art Deco outdoor lights. Also worth a look is our selection of corner outdoor lights, where we show a few examples of well-designed corner-mounting solutions. We also feature a number of attractive aluminum wall brackets for all outdoor lights from our manufacturer Schlesische Laternen, as well as classic outdoor lights with a built-in LED bulb.

Lantern-Style Outdoor Wall Lights

Our timeless, stately outdoor wall lanterns are sorted by origin and material. On one hand, we present exquisite German wall lanterns from our experienced manufacturers in Berlin, Potsdam, Munich, and Südlohn/Westphalia. The manufactory Berliner Laternen specializes in Schinkel-style lights in various sizes and designs, as well as impeccable Art Nouveau arched outdoor lights.

Specialist Outdoor Lighting Workshops

The down-to-earth workshop of Münchener Laternen produces exclusive, masterfully crafted outdoor lanterns in brass and copper. Our Potsdam-based manufacturer Preussische Laternen specializes in Schinkel-style lights, while Robers-Leuchten from Südlohn is regarded worldwide as a leading specialist in wrought-iron outdoor lights. Robers presents beautifully forged, lantern-style outdoor lights in a range of designs, with or without a wall bracket.

Wrought-Iron Wall Lanterns

Wall lanterns in zinc, bronze, brass, and copper are among our specialties. We present them from manufacturers in Germany, England, Belgium, and France. Thanks to their materials and craftsmanship, these outdoor lights are not only especially elegant and attractive, but also extremely durable and suitable for decades of use even near the sea.

This listing also includes the world's only Schinkel-style lanterns made of brass and copper. The same holds true for the wrought-iron lanterns from Robers, to which we've dedicated a subcategory of their own within our wall lanterns. These handcrafted, one-of-a-kind outdoor lights impress not only with their exceptional design, but equally with the antique-style finishes Robers uses to paint its lanterns.

Courtyard Lights in Copper, Brass, and Bronze

The quintessential classic outdoor light, as known from historic courtyards, is the courtyard light with an enameled metal shade and cylindrical glass. We present this type of light in an enormous range and variety under Classic Shade Lights. There you'll find a curated selection of courtyard lights in steel, cast iron, copper, brass, zinc, and bronze from outdoor lighting manufacturers in Germany, England, Italy, France, and Belgium. Under Arched Wall Lights, on the other hand, you'll find large factory-style outdoor lights with an arched bracket, such as the legendary arched light by architect and designer Peter Behrens.

Country-House Style Outdoor Lights

Under Country-House Lights you'll find superb outdoor lights in a rustic style. These country-house lamps come from first-rate manufactories in Germany, France, Ireland, England, and Italy. We also present distinctive shade-style outdoor lights sorted by material – aluminum, copper, brass and bronze, as well as steel and grey cast iron – to suit every taste and budget.

Globe Wall Lights

Wall lights with real-glass or acrylic-glass globes are very popular, as they blend well into a wide range of settings and cast their light in every direction. Outdoor lights with globes and attractive aluminum wall brackets are available facing upward or downward, in various globe sizes, and with aluminum brackets in different colors – with some manufacturers also offering custom RAL colors on request.

Whether real glass or acrylic glass is used is nowadays purely a matter of taste, since the real glass used by, for example, our manufacturer from Tuscany consists of thick-walled, specially mold-blown glass that withstands temperature swings and hail. The high-quality acrylic glass used by our manufacturers, in turn, comes from Germany, is UV-stabilized, and doesn't tend to yellow the way early acrylic glass used in outdoor lighting once did.

Flat Outdoor Lights

Flat outdoor lights and half-lanterns are indispensable wherever space is tight and the fixture can't project into the room. Among the flat wall lights you'll also find some fine ship's and cabin lights, made from sea-air-resistant materials such as brass, copper, or bronze. A special type of half-lantern outdoor light is the so-called house-number light – a flat outdoor light fitted with opal glass that can be equipped with a backlit house number.

Half-Lanterns in Brass, Steel, Copper, or Bronze

We carry flat wall lights in brass or steel from manufactories in Berlin, Potsdam, and Tuscany. In these classic outdoor lights, the materials are either anodized or galvanized to provide lasting protection against corrosion. The same applies to the wrought-iron half-lanterns from the fine forge Robers-Leuchten, whose first-rate galvanizing and coating protect the outdoor lights from rust over the long term.

Even more corrosion-resistant are our half-lanterns in brass, copper, or bronze, which we present from exemplary, sustainably operating manufacturers in Germany, France, England, and Belgium. These masterpieces, made in small workshops, are often faithful reproductions of antique outdoor lights and match their historical models in quality of craftsmanship as well.

Factory-Style Outdoor Lights

Outdoor lighting in industrial or factory style has become very popular in recent years, as it not only reflects the raw charm of old factories and workshops, but is also enormously functional. We present factory-style outdoor lights from manufacturers such as Bolich-Leuchten, whose Ebolich collection features a large selection of original industrial-style outdoor lights.

Bolich's outdoor lights are made of aluminum and powder-coated in a variety of colors, but every Bolich outdoor light is also available in raw copper as well as gloss- or matte-lacquered copper. Exclusively at Terra Lumi, we also offer all Bolich outdoor lights in a pre-weathered copper-patina finish.

Our Italian, Belgian, British, French, Danish, and Dutch manufacturers also present industrial-style outdoor lights in various materials. The Mediterranean models from Aldo Bernardi and Italienische Hofleuchten are made of brass and copper, while the other manufacturers offer their factory-style outdoor lights in anodized aluminum.

Helpful Tips for Outdoor Lights

Before we turn to other types of outdoor lights, from ceiling lights to street lanterns, we'd like to point out a few helpful resources on the subject of outdoor lighting:

• Custom RAL Colors for Outdoor Lights: notes on the special colors offered by our manufacturers.
• Bulbs for Outdoor Lights: information on proven bulb types for outdoor lights.
• Installing Outdoor Wall Lights: a step-by-step guide for DIYers.
• Foundations for Post Lights: installation tips for garden lights and floor lamps.
• Protection Ratings for Outdoor Lights: what to know about rain protection and IP ratings.
• Care Tips for Outdoor Lights: cleaning painted and patinated surfaces.
• Motion Sensors for Outdoor Lights: internal and external motion sensors for outdoor lights.

Outdoor Lights for High Ceilings

Our ceiling-mounted outdoor lighting is divided into outdoor ceiling lights and hanging or pendant lights. As with outdoor wall lights, ceiling lights come as lanterns, shade lights, and globe lights, as well as flat ceiling lights. We also carry so-called pendant-rod outdoor lights, i.e., ceiling lights with a short or long rod connecting the canopy to the light body. Our outdoor ceiling lights come from small European manufactories and are available in ceramic, porcelain, enamel, brass, copper, zinc, aluminum, and sheet steel.

Lights for Low Ceilings

By hanging lights we mean outdoor lights that hang from the ceiling on a chain or steel cable. These outdoor lights are likewise available with shades or globes, or as lantern-shaped light bodies, to which we've dedicated a category of their own called hanging lanterns, as well as the timeless pendant outdoor lights with shade.

Suitable for balconies and low ceilings are practical ceiling globe lights, which, unlike most lanterns, also illuminate the ceiling itself. A special feature is our functional articulated outdoor lights, which are also suitable for wall mounting and can even be used on sloped ceilings.

Outdoor ceiling lights also include basement and damp-room lights – flat outdoor lights, usually fitted with a protective grille, made of brass, copper, or cast aluminum, which are often too handsome to hang in a basement, not least because they were originally inspired by historic ship's lights.

Garden Lights and Ground Spotlights

Path and terrace lights, small floor lamps, pedestal lights, and garden lights are outdoor lights that need to be mounted on a small foundation. They come as small lanterns and garden globe lights, to which we've given a listing of their own, and which are also often used as wall lighting. These outdoor lights, like our wall and ceiling lights, are also available in fine materials such as brass, copper, and zinc. Large lantern bodies or large globe-style outdoor lights on short pedestals are also known as gate lights, since they were traditionally mounted on gateposts to light driveways. A special category of outdoor garden lights is spotlights, ground washers, step lights, stair lights, and floodlights, which can, for example, illuminate buildings or trees, or provide safety along pathways.

Exclusive Garden Lighting

We carry Italian garden lights in lantern form, in various sizes and colors, as well as so-called bollard lights in copper or brass, which once frequently lit harbors and quaysides. Our German outdoor lights for gardens are either forged one-off pieces from manufacturer Robers-Leuchten, brass and copper lanterns from Munich, or Berlin Schinkel-style lanterns.

Our French garden lights from Roger Pradier are made from corrosion-free aluminum, while the pedestal lights from Lumin'Art are made of brass or copper. An enormous selection of various historic lantern heads in aluminum and copper is also shown by our outdoor lighting manufacturer Schlesische Laternen: classic lanterns, round-bodied lanterns, and Schinkel-style lanterns for the garden.

Floor Lamps and Street Lanterns

Floor lamps, street lanterns, old-town lanterns, and park lanterns are freestanding outdoor lights starting at roughly 1.8 meters in height. With small floor lamps, this type of outdoor light overlaps with garden lights: there, too, we show small freestanding outdoor lights around one meter tall. Things go much higher — up to four meters and beyond — with large floor lamps for outdoor use. These outdoor lights, too, are available as lanterns, shade lights, or globe lights. The poles of these outdoor lights are mostly made of cast aluminum, with a few models in grey cast iron or steel. Even more so than with wall lights and other outdoor lights, careful priming and powder coating are essential. Since freestanding outdoor lights are usually fully exposed to wind and weather, this is a point we pay particular attention to across all our outdoor lighting manufacturers.

Italian Freestanding Outdoor Lights

The freestanding outdoor lights from our manufacturers Italienische Hofleuchten and Aldo Bernardi are made of brass and copper. These Mediterranean-style lights are mounted on slender poles and mostly carry single- or multi-flame courtyard-style light heads. Our French manufacturer Roger Pradier shows freestanding outdoor lights already assembled as complete units. His models range from a two-meter floor lamp to a large château lantern topped with a copper light fixture.

Our Italian cast-aluminum post lights are likewise available in single- or multi-flame versions. We show outdoor lights already assembled with pole and light fixture, but also as freestanding lights in a modular system, under the category Freestanding Light Systems. Also available either fully assembled or freely combinable by lantern head and column are the cast-aluminum outdoor lights from our manufacturer Schlesische Laternen. This manufactory offers a huge variety of lantern heads and cast poles for outdoor lights, which can be combined with one another depending on size and style.

Modern Designer Outdoor Lights and Bauhaus

Under Manufactory Lights we present a selection of outdoor lights we want to highlight in particular, since their craftsmanship, material, or originality deserves special mention. These are mostly brass outdoor lights or copper lanterns from small German or French manufactories. Since we carry an extensive selection of Bauhaus-style outdoor lights, we've also dedicated a category of its own to this branch of outdoor lighting. There you'll mainly find austere outdoor-light designs from the first half of the 20th century, but also industrial-style outdoor lights as well as outdoor wall lights with a modern design, such as the exclusive rp design line from Roger Pradier, and retro-future outdoor lights from the Belgian manufactory Authent.

Spare Parts and Garden Accessories

We also show, under Spare Parts for Outdoor Lights, replacement glass and accessories for installing the Bernardi surface-mount system, and under Special Offers, one-off pieces we offer at special prices to clear out stock. Also worth a look is our Garden Accessories selection, currently ranging from garden thermometers and mailboxes to garden benches and a freestanding fountain from Robers.

As specialist retailers of outdoor lighting, we're happy to advise you by phone or email on your outdoor light.