Outdoor Lights with Glass Globes
Globe Lights Offer High Light Output
The classic globe light is one of the most popular shapes for outdoor wall, garden and post lights. Two well-established materials are available for the translucent diffuser: real glass and acrylic glass – each with its own strengths. Glass allows for a clear, unadulterated light output without casting shadows. Thanks to the transparency of the glass, globe lights can illuminate evenly and intensely, without the light being absorbed by other materials. This means glass lights often offer better light output than, for example, lanterns, making them particularly effective for lighting paths, entrances or garden areas.
Real Glass or Acrylic Glass for Outdoor Lighting?
Real glass impresses with its high-quality appearance and scratch resistance. It stays permanently clear and colourfast, does not yellow from UV exposure, and gives the light an elegant, brilliant glow. However, since real glass is fragile, it is best suited to locations where direct impact or breakage is unlikely.
Acrylic glass, by contrast, is significantly lighter and far more shatter-resistant – a clear advantage in high-traffic locations such as garden paths, driveways, or households with children and pets. Modern, UV-stabilised acrylic glass barely yellows any more and is visually a match for the brilliance of real glass.
Which material is the right choice therefore depends above all on where the light will be installed: real glass is often recommended for prominent, sheltered areas, while acrylic glass is generally the better choice for heavily used or accident-prone locations.
Clear Glass or Diffused Glass – What Suits Where?
With outdoor globe lights, the choice of glass essentially comes down to a trade-off between light effect, glare and aesthetics. Because of their open appearance, clear glass globes look lighter and less conspicuous.
Clear glass leaves the light source visible and shows off the bulb itself – appealing if, for example, you want to display a decorative LED filament bulb or an attractively shaped light bulb. Mouth-blown or shape-blown real glass often contains small air bubbles that reinforce a light's historic appearance. Light output is unfiltered, so it is somewhat brighter and more efficient (no scattering loss), but the light appears more like a single point, casts sharper shadows, and can cause glare from unfavourable viewing angles, since you are looking directly at the light source. Insects that collect inside, as well as any dirt, are also more clearly visible.
Diffused glass such as satin-finished glass, opal glass, ribbed glass or holophane glass scatters the light, so the whole globe glows evenly rather than appearing as a single bright point. The soft, glare-free light feels more pleasant over seating areas, terraces or paths. It also conceals the bulb itself, as well as any insects or dust inside. The downside is a slight loss of light through scattering and a somewhat less brilliant appearance. Antique-style glasses such as holophane glass or crackle glass contribute to an antique look just as much as mouth-blown clear glass does.
More information on antique-style glass →
Where to Use Glass Globe Outdoor Lights
Outdoor wall lights with a glass globe are the first choice when the goal is less about directional light and more about broad, all-round illumination of an entrance area or façade. Glass globe lights are available with classic or modern wall arms, with porcelain bases, and with articulated arms for adjusting the direction of the light.
Garden globe lights can be used, thanks to their various bases and posts, as wall and gate lights, path lights, small pedestal lights or terrace lights. Garden globe lights are highly adaptable and provide even light distribution.
Globe post lights with posts in cast aluminium or steel are available as single- or multi-headed versions. Thanks to their timeless, adaptable design, globe lights fit harmoniously into both classic and modern outdoor settings, lighting gardens, parks, courtyards and paths.
Globe pendant lights come with chain, rod or cable suspensions, and sometimes with a flat shade that directs the light specifically downward. They are suitable for tall driveways and other covered outdoor areas where the ceiling height allows a pendant light to be installed.
Ceiling globe lights are a good choice wherever even light distribution in all directions is desired and the ceiling height does not allow a pendant light to be installed. For dark ceilings, globe lights with a white reflector are recommended, as this improves light output.
Selected outdoor lights with glass globes
by Schlesische Laternen
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