A coach light is an outdoor fixture designed to mimic the lanterns that were mounted on horse-drawn coaches and carriages. In modern use, "coach light," or "coach lamp," refers to a decorative wall light that is mounted next to a door, garage, or other entrance. It provides an aesthetically pleasing way to add light to the exterior of a home. While coach lights have a historical element, they are not exclusive to a home with a traditional design. Today's designs range from carriage-style lanterns to sleek, minimalistic wall fixtures that are perfect for a modern home as well.
What Are Coach Lights?
When it comes to the design of modern residential outdoor lighting, there are countless wall fixtures that are designed to be mounted next to doors, garages, porches, and other entrances. While comparing these designs, many homeowners ask, "What are coach lights?" Coach lights are wall fixtures designed to mimic carriage lanterns and are made in a variety of shape styles, from traditional to modern.
Common Design Features
Coach lights have a variety of design features to ensure they are safe and practical for outdoor use. These features include:
· A wall-mounted backplate that covers the electrical box
· A weather-resistant metal frame
· Clear, frosted, seeded, or patterned glass panels
· Lantern-shaped, rectangular, tapered, or open-frame bodies
· Black, bronze, brass, copper, or brushed metal finishes
· Replaceable bulbs or integrated LED lighting
Functional and Decorative Purposes
Coach lights are useful to illuminate the home exterior after dark while making it look better. It helps residents and visitors see the access points of the home, including the doors, steps, and the house numbers. These lights are designed to look attractive and help support the home's design. Coach lights make the various access points of the home look balanced and more visually appealing to welcome residents and visitors.
Exterior Residential Use
Homeowners install coach lights in a variety of places. You can find them next to front doors, side doors, back doors, garage doors, covered porches, patios, and even next to garden gates. You can have a design theme throughout your property with matching coach lights. The size of the exterior coach lights can be different. The main front door coach lights can be bigger than the side door and porch lights.
Why Is It Called a Coach Light?
The name "coach light" comes from the lanterns that were attached to horse-drawn coaches and carriages. Coach lights were some of the first lights to make vehicles visible to other travelers and to help people see the road after dark. As lighting technology advanced, this design style of the lamps was used for fixed outdoor lights that are installed at entrances to buildings such as doors and garages.
Horse-Drawn Coaches
Before the advent of the automobile, passengers travelled on poorly lit roads in horse-drawn coaches. Each coach was equipped with a lamp to provide a small amount of light and allow passengers to be seen by other travellers. This connection between coaches and lamps created the familiar name.
Carriage Lanterns
Carriage lanterns were designed to provide light while the vehicle was in motion. The strong, light weight, metal frame structure had glass panels with a wind shield and a reflective back. Their practical design influenced the traditional lights placed on the exterior of coaches and later on houses.
Oil and Candle Lighting
Early carriage lamps used flames instead of electricity. Depending on the time and design, they used candles or lamp oil. The glass panels were used to protect the flame against the wind. Owners of the carriage lamps were responsible for cleaning the glass and replacing the fuel.
Evolution into Modern Exterior Lighting
With the advent of electric lights, the design of the carriage lantern was used by manufacturers for fixed exterior coach lights. The appearance of these wall lights remained the same while the technology evolved. Modern coach lights may include light sensors and motion sensors.
Where Are Coach Lights Used on a House?
Coach lights can be installed in several areas around a home to provide light and help guide movement in a safe manner after dark. The placement of coach lights should suit the style and size of each entrance.
Garage Coach Lights
Garage coach lights are mounted on the outer sides of the garage door. For homes with two separate garage doors, a light may be mounted between them. It enhances the visibility of the entire walkway, marks the opening of the garage, and gives the appearance of symmetry on an otherwise large, blank space.
Coach Lights Beside the Front Door
Coach lights beside the front door illuminate the lock, the steps, the house numbers, and even the delivery packages. When installed on a wide doorway, a pair of lights may be more appropriate, while one light may be sufficient for a narrow doorway. The light should be installed in a way so it doesn't block the trim, shutters, or door movement.
Porches, Side Doors, and Other Entrances
Side doors, back doors, covered porches, and patios may all benefit from the use of coach lights. A consistent design for these lights at multiple locations may enhance a cohesive exterior design. Larger lights may be used for main entrances, while the smaller lights may be used for all other doors.
Coach Light vs. Outdoor Wall Light vs. Coach Lantern
Coach light, outdoor wall light, and coach lantern are related terms, but they do not always describe the same fixture. Understanding differences between coach lights, coach lanterns, and outdoor wall lights can help homeowners select the product that best suits their needs.
|
Lighting term |
Meaning |
Common design |
Typical locations |
|
Coach light |
An exterior fixture inspired by historical carriage lamps |
Often has a frame, glass panels, and lantern-like shape; modern versions may be simpler |
Garages, front doors, porches, patios, and entrances |
|
Outdoor wall light |
A broad category covering any fixture made for an exterior wall |
May be a lantern, cylinder, box, barn light, wall washer, or another style |
Any suitable outside wall |
|
Coach lantern |
A more specific name for a fixture with a clear carriage-lantern appearance |
Usually has a defined lantern body, visible frame, and glass sides |
Traditional entrances, garages, porches, gates, and posts |
An outdoor wall light is the broadest term. A coach light is one style within this group. A coach lantern has some historical shapes of lanterns, although sellers often use "coach light" and "coach lantern" interchangeably. The name of a product does not necessarily indicate where the fixture can be placed. Homeowners must check the outdoor rating, installation instructions, dimensions, light output, and approved bulb type.
Traditional vs. Modern Coach Lights
Both traditional and modern styles of coach lights enable homeowners to choose a fixture appropriate for their property’s style and architectural aesthetic. Modern styles offer minimalistic and clean designs, while traditional styles offer decorative metalwork and lantern details. Both styles of fixtures serve the purpose of exterior lighting and provide a design element to the exterior of your home.
Traditional Coach Lights
Traditional coach lights mimic the style of old-world carriage lanterns. Decorative flourishes such as metalwork, roofs, glass panes, and candle-style bulbs are all characteristic of this style.
The traditional coach light comes in a variety of finishes such as black, bronze, copper, and aged metals. Additionally, seeded glass is an option because the air bubbles in the glass add to the vintage and handcrafted appearance.
These fixtures look stunning on a variety of architecture styles such as Colonial, Victorian, farmhouse, Mediterranean, and other homes with detailed exterior features.
Modern Coach Lights
Modern coach lights serve the same purpose as traditional carriage lights, but with more simplistic design elements. They may feature a rectangular frame with a flat roof, clear glass, and a hidden or built-in LED light.
Modern finishes include matte black, charcoal, brushed nickel, and other metallics. Some even forgo glass panes to create an upward or downward directional lighting fixture.
These lights work well with contemporary and transitional style homes. By choosing more straight lines, and an overall simplistic design with a finish that matches the home, the lights will never look outdated.
How to Choose Coach Lights for Your Home
Selecting coach lights means considering more than just the appearance of the lighting fixture. Coach lights must be appropriately scaled to the entrance, complement the exterior of the house, and contain an adequate level of illumination. The exterior and lighting controls must also be considered when selecting a fixture, as it must be rated for the outdoors. Bulb styles also vary and should be considered when selecting a coach light fixture.
Consider Size and Scale
Design a balanced look by choosing appropriately sized coach lights. A common design guide is about one-quarter to one-third of the door’s height; however, it is important to consider wall space. Be sure to consider all of the dimensions of the fixture (height, width, and depth) as well as backplate size.
Match the Exterior Style
Match the lighting fixture's shape with the style of your home. More ornate designs look great on a vintage style home, while sleek and straight designs look much better in modern style homes. Choose from metals and a range of finishes such as black, bronze, brass, and brushed.
Check the Outdoor and Weather Rating
Each light is approved for a specific area of installation. Protected areas that are not subject to the elements use damp rated lights, while lights that can be subject to the elements use wet rated lights. Always install as indicated on the product and in accordance with local electrical codes.
Select the Right Brightness
Choose the desired level of brightness based on lumens, not watts. Consider the dimensions of the area that the light will illuminate, the type of light, and the height at which it will be mounted. Warm colors (2700K) are more inviting, while shielding helps limit glare and unwanted light spill.
Compare LED, Sensor, and Dusk-to-Dawn Options
If you care about how much energy is being used, choose LED lighting, as it is available in a variety of styles. Lighting that has integrated motion sensors will light up in response to movement, while lights with dusk to dawn sensors will light up when it's dark. Be sure to check for the ability to change the bulb, the range of the sensor, and the placement of the sensors.
Conclusion
Coach lights are the modern style of lighting that are inspired by the look of the lanterns that were once installed on horse-drawn carriages. They are most commonly installed on residential front doors, garages and porches. Traditional styles of coach lights have decorative metal and glass panels, whereas the more modern styles are more minimal.
Your coach lights should match your home's aesthetic and be sized appropriately. They should provide appropriate visibility and be rated for their placement. To see your options for size, finish, glass, and lighting, homeowners can browse the Outdoor Wall Lights collection.
FAQs About Coach Lights
What are coach lights?
Inspired by horse-drawn carriage lights, coach lights are a style of outdoor lighting that are commonly installed around the perimeter of residential buildings, such as beside the garage, front door, or porch.
What is a coach light on a house?
Coach lights are wall mounted decorative lighting installations that provide illumination for a building's entrance and enhance the overall aesthetic of the building.
Are coach lights only used on garages?
While garage coach lights are the most common, coach lights are versatile and can be installed anywhere, including beside front and side doors, patios, porches, back doors, and even garden gates.
Is a coach light the same as a coach lantern?
While both terms describe the same style of lighting, a coach lantern is more specifically used to describe fixtures that are of an actual historical lantern design, whereas a coach light can describe a more contemporary lighting fixture.
Can coach lights look modern?
Absolutely, modern coach lights are actually quite minimal in design with straight lines, a matte finish, and built in LED technology. They offer the purpose of a traditional coach light without heavy decoration.
