A full exterior lighting scheme fitted to a newly renovated property in Camborne, Cornwall - up/down wall lights positioned across the front, sides and rear, all controlled via PIR sensors with manual override switches.
There’s something satisfying about seeing a renovated property come to life after dark, and this project in Camborne was no exception. The house had undergone significant work – new render, modern cladding, fresh windows and bifold doors – and the brief was to match the exterior lighting to that standard. Not just functional, but considered.
The scope covered the entire perimeter. Three lights were fitted to the rear elevation, two to the side, and three across the front. All of them are bi-directional wall-mounted fittings – casting light both upward and downward against the rendered walls. It’s a style of fitting that works particularly well on flat render; the wash of light picks out the texture of the surface and gives the whole elevation a clean, architectural feel rather than a purely functional one.
Control-wise, the rear lights are on a single PIR sensor with a wall switch override, so they come on automatically when there’s movement but can also be operated manually if needed. The front and side lights share a 2-way PIR arrangement – one sensor covers the front, the other the side, but they’re linked, which means activity on either elevation can trigger both. Again, there’s a manual override switch in place throughout. That kind of flexibility matters – nobody wants their front lights blazing all night because a cat walked past, but equally, you want the option to have them on permanently when you’re expecting guests or doing work outside.
The fittings themselves are finished in black, which ties in well with the dark window frames and garage door on the property. It’s worth thinking about that when choosing exterior fittings for a renovation – the colour and profile of the light needs to sit comfortably alongside whatever aluminium or timber detailing is already on the building. Chrome or brushed nickel can look dated against contemporary render; a matt black fitting tends to disappear during the day and do the work at night.
All of the cabling was run back and connected as part of the wider electrical installation on the property. An IP-rated outdoor socket outlet was also installed as part of this scope, giving a weatherproof power point for use outside.
The property is still at the tail end of its build programme, with groundworks ongoing, but the exterior lighting is now fully operational and tested. Once the landscaping and driveway are finished, the full effect of the scheme will come together properly.
