Post lamps, or lampposts, are gorgeous ways to illuminate your outdoor property with a classic yet magical feel. Evoking rainy streets in London and children's storybooks through the years, post lamps are timeless and classy as well as quite useful. In this handy guide, we'll go through the different options you have to choose a post lamp that fits your home's unique aesthetic.
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Even though post lamps are classic, that doesn't mean that every style is best for every home. You'll want to choose something that works with the architecture of your property, as well as the specific aesthetic that you're going for with your home.
Let's start by discussing the different types of post lamps on the market, and which might be best for different aspects of your location.
Full Post Light
These types of lamps come with everything you need to install a lamp post in your yard - a head, a base, and a post. They usually have the traditional cage head and do not require any extra accessories for installation. This is a good choice if you have the grounds to place a post light, and you're looking for a prefabricated version that you don't have to accessorize or specify in any way. These are also the most common types of post lights, so yours will certainly be in good company.
Pier Mount Light
A pier mount light is a shorter post lamp that only comes with the very top part of the lantern - the lantern head - mounted on a petite post that's meant to be affixed to stone, wood, or brick pillar. These are very commonly seen on gate posts and old-fashioned fences, and they're a good choice if you're looking for a way to add light to your property, but you don't have clear ground to install one.
Lantern Head
If you're thinking about attaching just the lantern part of a lantern to a more DIY or unconventional base for a more eclectic look, you're in luck - you can purchase just the lantern head. However, do know that this is not a post lamp that you can purchase and install as it is; you will need additional accessories. These may include the following items:
Post: You can choose a post of your choice in the color and finish you desire to achieve a truly custom look for your home. The post will not come with a base or a lantern head; it will just be the middle part that determines how high the lantern is from the ground or post.
Pier Mount Base: If you're looking to purchase just the part of a lantern kit that connects the post of a post lamp to a stone base, use one of these. You can also find pier mount bases that are vertically mounted, so you can affix a lantern head to a wall instead of a post.
Post lamps come in lots of varying colors, which you can use to match the exterior accessories of your home for your own unique aesthetic.
The overwhelming majority of lampposts are finished with a weather-resistant iron or metallic coating. This means that they're going to be - in most cases - brown, black, or gray. However, you might be interested in knowing that that doesn't have to be the case!
If you're going for a natural, classic look on the exterior of your home, getting a true neutral such as brown or black is likely a good idea. However, if you like modern pops of color, deciding to purchase a lamp with a bright blue or red finish will ensure that you'll have a focal point in your yard!
One color choice that you should likely avoid is anything light in color - white, beige, yellow, or cream. As chic as an all-white post lamp might seem, they're likely to get discolored and dingy-looking because of natural elements. It's in your best interest to choose either a dark or bright color for lasting good looks.
