20 Front Entrance Outdoor Lighting Ideas With Lanterns, Pendants and Pretty Path Lights

Looking for front entrance outdoor lighting ideas that make your doorway look a little more inviting? Think black lanterns, glowing steps and a pretty pendant above the porch.

These entrances give you plenty to choose from, whether you love simple shapes or something with a few extra curls.

You can keep things simple or go all out. I especially love the little lights tucked into the steps.

Start with your doorway, then look at the path and plants around it.

Front entrance lighting ideas worth saving

curled bracket and black lantern

We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous black lantern. I love the curled bracket above it and the horizontal lines across the clear panels.

It looks so pretty beside the dark doorway.

Try a similar tapered shape if you want a traditional light with a little extra detail.

simple lights along the path

Don’t want to go overboard with decorative fixtures? No problem!

These dark, angular path lights keep things simple. Each short overhanging top sends a pool of light onto the walkway beside the planting bed.

Read also: 20 Cape Cod Front Yard Garden Ideas With Flowers, Paths and Pretty Borders

a big porch chandelier

How gorgeous is this porch chandelier? The curved brown ribs and candle-shaped lights make it hard to miss.

There’s a smaller black lantern beside the door too.

If you have a covered porch with enough clearance, consider an outdoor-rated chandelier for a similar look. I’d keep the surrounding decor simple and let that big rounded shape stand out.

little square step lights

I am obsessed with these glowing steps. Small square lights sit near the edges of the risers, with more lights continuing up the long staircase behind them.

If your entrance has several flights of steps, take inspiration from the repeated square fixtures rather than adding a different style at every landing.

black gooseneck lights

If you are looking for something simple with a little curve, this one is for you. The black lights have long bent arms and broad shades, with the bulbs peeking out underneath.

I love them against the white siding and pale green door.

lanterns around the doorstep

This entrance may just be one of my favorites here. There are tall lanterns, short lanterns and matching rectangular lights beside the black door.

The big wreath is such a pretty extra touch.

To try a smaller version, group a few floor lanterns beside your doorway. Choose outdoor-rated flameless candles and leave the walking space clear.

golden light on the columns

If you are looking for a true eye-catcher, then this one is for you. Light runs up the columns and picks out the carved details at the top. Those glowing arches are gorgeous too.

For an entrance with columns, consider highlighting the existing details instead of adding a large hanging fixture.

string lights above the seating

How pretty is this porch at dusk? Strings of round bulbs swoop across the ceiling above the chairs.

I love how their reflections show up in the windows.

Try outdoor-rated string lights above your own porch seating if you want this look. Keep the strands high enough to leave plenty of headroom.

a black cylinder sconce

Don’t want a lantern or an exposed bulb? This simple black cylinder is a lovely alternative.

Light spreads both above and below it on the pale wall, with no extra decoration around the fixture.

Read also: 16+ Garden Lighting Paths Ideas That Glow All Night

a lamp among the flowers

I love this tall black lamp beside the front path. The flowering plants surround its base, with a square planter sitting around the bottom of the post.

Read also: 20 Garden Design Plans With Pretty Paths, Flower Beds and Seating Spots

If your search for “outdoor lighting ideas house entrance” has mostly turned up wall fixtures, this is a pretty alternative to consider. A post light brings the lighting out into the garden.

pendant lantern and matching sides

There’s so much to love about this entrance, from the large hanging lantern to the smaller lights beside the door. Even the steps have little square lights.

The paired cone-shaped shrubs are my favorite finishing touch. Try matching planters if you want to follow the same arrangement.

small lanterns and white columns

This is another pretty way to light an entrance with steps. The wall lanterns are smaller here, with little ceiling lights tucked beneath the porch roof.

I love the black door between those white columns. You don’t need an oversized fixture to make this kind of entrance look lovely.

gold-tone curved sconces

These gold-tone lights are so pretty! The tall curved arms sit above flared shades and rounded clear covers.

Their mottled finish gives them a different look from the plain black fixtures.

Try this shape if you like a curved bracket but want something without all the lantern scrollwork.

a square ceiling light

If you’re looking for a porch light that doesn’t hang down on a chain, go with a close-to-ceiling style like this one. The dark grid around the glowing pale panels looks so good with the dark door and white trim.

matching candle-style lanterns

I am obsessed with this classic pairing. The black lanterns have curled tops and candle-shaped bulbs inside, with one on each side of the door.

Keep your planters dark too if you want to follow this look. The green shrubs are lovely against all that white trim.

crossed frames and brown finish

The crossed bars are my favorite part of these lanterns. Their brown, mottled finish looks gorgeous beside the textured walls and dark doorway.

There’s a matching fixture farther along the entrance too. Repeating the same lantern is a pretty option when you have more than one wall to light.

a trio of floor lanterns

How cute is this little lantern group? One tall lantern sits behind two smaller ones, with pale glowing candles inside all three.

For your own version, choose different heights with similar dark frames. I’d place them beside the landing rather than in the walking line and use outdoor-rated flameless candles.

glowing house numbers

Don’t want another decorative lantern? Give your house numbers a little attention instead.

These oversized digits run vertically down the wall, with a bright halo around each one.

This is a lovely idea for a narrow wall beside your entrance. Keep the surrounding area uncluttered so the numbers stay easy to pick out.

ornate lanterns by arched doors

If you love scrollwork, this one is for you. The black lanterns have curls above, below and along their brackets.

I especially love them beside the arched brown door.

The white flowers in tall planters are gorgeous here too. Try a similar pairing if you want some greenery without hiding those decorative lights.

glowing step edges and tree lights

Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous modern entrance. I am obsessed with the golden lines beneath the step edges!

Small lights among the plants and beams running up the wall carry the glow beyond the doorway.

Read also: 20 Landscape Lighting Ideas for Pretty Paths, Patios and Garden Beds

The lit tree trunk is another favorite detail. If you’re planning a similar entrance, consider lighting one tree alongside the steps rather than stopping at the front door.