The days are getting shorter and soon you'll be returning home from work or school in the dark, but how inviting will your home be? If you're already dreading the unsafe feeling of turning into a dark driveway, now is the time to update your lighting, but where should you start?

#1 Survey the problem
Walk across the street after dark and take a long, hard look at your front door. Can you see the door knob, how about the house number? If not, you have a poorly lit front entrance.

#2 Gather ideas
For ideas on how to improve your lighting situation, hop in the car at night and drive to a newer neighborhood with model homes and note what they've done; or pick up a home and garden magazine too see what's new. Keep in mind, the goal of outdoor lighting is to create a look that is comfortable, while at the same time providing a feeling of safety and security.

Among today's popular trends…
* Placing wall lanterns on either side of both the front and garage doors;
* Adding matching hanging fixtures or ceiling mounted fixtures above the door;
* Installing pathway lighting leading up to the house and along the driveway;
* Adding post mounted lights out front to help increase security and prevent people from accidentally driving on the grass or landscaping in the dark.

#3 Shop for fixtures
You don't need to spend a lot of time running from lighting store to lighting store to shop for fixtures. To get an idea of the latest looks available, just log on to www.lightingshowplace.com, click on the outdoor lighting link and you'll have access to an online catalog with hundreds of fixtures to choose from. Once you find a look you like, the site makes it easy for you to pair up matching pieces.

Source : ARA