External lantern – under the arch or facing the street

[Poppie2023]

Hi Musnetters,

Hoping for some opinions please. I’m having an electrician round and need to decide where to place an external lantern light.

It’s a Victorian house with the classic arched front door, and I’m torn between having the lantern on the outer wall facing the street, or tucked under the arch by the door.

What do people think looks best on this type of property?

Anyone please?

When you say under the arch I assume you mean on the ceiling of the porch, essentially? If so I’d do under the arch, then the light is more useful for letting you see where you put your key in. If it’s behind you then your body will block the light.

^ This really.

If it is to help you while you are in the alcove near the door, getting keys out etc then site it so that it illuminates that.

If it is to help provide light to get in the car or walk up the path to the house probably site it higher up and further away.

If it is just for decoration put it anywhere it doesn't matter.

Do you want to light the path or the door?

Omg, simple things like lighting up the area for the key entry, I didn’t think of. Thank you @yonem and @GasPanic. It is partly decoration as well as practicality, and security, so I like the key idea.

That would be nice too. I do intend on getting the tiled path design.

It might not be suitable looks wise, but if theres room I'd put it over the door so it would light up path and keyhole. If that would look daft, then under the arch I think!

Dangling from the centre of the porch ceiling, as a lantern, and high enough that nobody could bang their head on it. Most of the time it will illuminate the door and the path. If the porch ceiling is painted whitish, there will be enough scattered light when you are fumbling with your keys.

Have a large house number on the door, if you do not have an illuminated one on the outside wall

Not facing the street if there’s houses opposite. Those things are pretty powerful and go right through thick curtains without a blackout lining.

It's a lantern light, not a floodlight.

Thanks for the advise. I think the ceiling under the porch would achieve the same. I think this option is winning 😀

Thank you PIABJ. I’m going to have the door number on the outer wall. I’d love to have had it displayed on the fanlight but not much point as you can’t see much of the fanlight under the arch.

What have your neighbours done?

@Mum5net they don’t have any light.