Good outdoor lighting is never one bright fixture. It is three quiet layers doing different jobs — guiding feet, marking boundaries, and washing walls. Here is the method, with the spacing numbers.
Layer one: the path
Bollard and path lights guide movement. Space them 6 to 8 feet apart, alternating sides of the walk rather than facing pairs — alternation reads as rhythm, pairs read as a runway. Keep them low (under 30 inches) and warm (2700–3000K); their job is pools of light on the ground, not glare at eye level. Solar versions make sense where trenching wire is impractical, hardwired where you want guaranteed brightness in winter.
Layer two: the boundary
Pillar and post-cap lights mark where the property begins — gate columns, fence posts, drive entrances. One per column, matched in finish, and dimmer than you think: boundary lights are seen from far away, so 300–500 lumens each is plenty. This is the layer that makes a house read as composed at night from the street.
Layer three: the walls
Up-down wall sconces are the drama layer. Mounted at 5.5 to 6 feet, they throw twin beams that turn a flat facade into texture — especially on stone, brick, or timber. Space them 8 to 10 feet apart along a wall, and always align their height in a perfect line; misaligned sconces are the most visible outdoor lighting mistake there is.
Keep one temperature everywhere
The single rule that separates designed from installed: every outdoor fixture on the property should share one color temperature. Mixing a cool-white flood with warm path lights breaks the composition instantly. We standardize on 3000K warm white across the Outdoor collection for exactly this reason.
The short version
Path lights every 6–8 feet alternating sides, one pillar light per column at modest brightness, wall sconces at 5.5–6 feet in a ruler-straight line, and one warm color temperature across everything. Every outdoor fixture we carry is weather-rated, ships free in the US, and carries a 2-year warranty. We sell final sale, so tell us the run length and we will confirm spacing and quantity before you order — free.