08.30.23
 

How to Make House Numbers More Visible at Night

Many house owners want to display eye-catching numbers to match their aesthetic and taste. You can choose from many unique designs, but they can also enhance the overall look of your front yard. But how to make house numbers more visible at night?

Since visitors commonly use them to easily find your house, you should always ensure they’re easily visible regardless of location and time of day. Thanks to our experience, we want to guide you through the process of ensuring the visibility of your house numbers at night.

We’ll give you all the tips and tricks we’ve learned so you can implement them yourself. By having visible house numbers at any time of day, your guests can find your home without a problem. 

Continue reading to discover the process of maximizing house number legibility during nighttime and the best ways to do it!

A Guide on How to Make House Numbers More Visible at Night

How to Make House Numbers More Visible at Night

Having visible house numbers is a legal requirement in most countries. So, ensuring they can be clearly seen regardless of the time of day is the best way to avoid any issues. 

Furthermore, this can help you immensely when you’re in need of delivery or home services. By ensuring the hired personnel can find your house easily, you’ll be saving time for both you and the workers.

That being said, here are some of the best techniques for enhancing house number visibility at night:

  • Outdoor lighting
  • Solar-powered lights
  • Reflective paint
  • LED address numbers
  • Outdoor lighting

    The first simple way of enhancing address number legibility during evening hours is by installing proper outdoor lighting. Choosing the right lights will ensure the house numbers are visible regardless of their position and location. 

    Furthermore, if you want to create an aesthetic backyard look, such lighting can further enhance its appeal. You can create a soothing and alluring atmosphere by illuminating unique features, pathways, and patios. These seemingly irrelevant details can lead to further safety and security by protecting you from intruders.

    Moreover, you can choose from various options to find the perfect fit for your home. While some tend to go for the renowned string lights, others are satisfied with a simple ground light. 

    Some of the most common options for outdoor lighting used for improving house number clarity when it's dark are:

    • Wall lanterns
    • Bulkhead lights
    • Outdoor ceiling lights
    • Rope lights
    • LED lamps
    • Track lighting
    • Spotlights

    Solar-powered lights

    The second measure you can take to enhance the nighttime visibility of house numbers is relying on solar-powered lights. Such lighting systems include led lamps, solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries. The light is powered by the batteries that charge through the solar panels. 

    This eco-friendly lighting solution will save costs while improving house number visibility during dark hours. Even though the initial cost is a bit higher, they’re cost-efficient and durable in the long run.

    The most common garden-adapted forms these solar-powered lights come in are pathway lights and spotlights. These ground lights are prized for their easy installation process that doesn’t require wiring. But you should always check for any underground utilities before you install them.

    Furthermore, to ensure the solar-powered lights light up the house number, you should point them in the number’s direction. In most cases, this light is set up at least a foot away from the house’s foundation, so their light can shine uninterrupted. If it can’t stand up independently, you can place it into the ground.

    Many of these lights come with a timer you can set based on your needs. Some even have an automatic option that turns them off when the sun rises.

    Solar-powered lights

    Reflective paint

    The next option we see many of our customers choose for boosting house number visibility after sunset is reflective paint. This type of paint is the same as regular paint but with additional reflective qualities. 

    It makes such a feature possible by mixing small amounts of glass, crystals, or glitter material. So, the next time a light source comes in contact with the painted surface, it will bounce back and be reflected.

    While various online options are available, you can even craft such house numbers yourself. But before indulging in such an art project, always check if there are any permissions you need to take care of. 

    If you’re having trouble finding suitable reflective paint, try using reflective spray paint instead. We recommend you choose a warm sunny day with as little wind as possible to achieve fast and quality results. To further enhance the aesthetic appeal, you can try using contrast that matches your house.

    LED address numbers

    If none of the already mentioned ways suit you, the last step you can take for enhancing home address visibility after dusk is by using LED address numbers

    These house numbers are designed to provide illumination by themselves. In most cases, there’s a soft glow coming from their back that helps with ensuring house number visibility in low light conditions. 

    The way LED address numbers work is by applying flexible LED strips on the back of laser-cut numbers. Even though you can make these house numbers yourself, there’s a delicate and time-consuming process behind them. You’ll have to take exact measures, cut the suitable material, and consider the energy source.

    That’s why we recommend trusting a professional to bring you the best quality solution. Not only will you save time, but you won’t have to bother with any additional material expenses. Plus, a professional team will ensure the numbers are safely installed at the best location.

    LED address numbers

    Extra Tips for Making Home Address Visible at Night

    Now that you know how to make your house numbers visible at night, we want to offer several additional tips to help you out. 

    When you’re installing address numbers, here’s what you should look out for:

  • Location
  • Size
  • Font
  • Spacing
  • Durability
  • Location

    If you want to ensure that your address numbers are visible regardless of the time and weather, you must first place them in a visible location. 

    We’ve seen many clients invest in high-quality house numbers and choose an inappropriate place to install them. This won’t only hurt the aesthetics of your home, but the marvelous design may get lost in the surroundings.

    This is especially important if you plan on having lush greenery surrounding your house. It’s easy for trees and bushes to cover the address numbers or grow so tall that they’re not recognizable anymore. That’s why you should always take the time to plan out the layout before installing them.

    We often recommend our customers place the house numbers near the front door. This way, they won’t be covered by any other objects or plants. You can use the porch light to make them visible at night. 

    Size

    The next factor that affects the house number visibility is their size. This highly depends on the distance from the street to your house. The further your house is, the bigger the numbers should be. Even though you may think that large numbers can hurt your aesthetic, some mesmerizing designs are suitable for every customer’s style.

    You should also be aware that many states have a legal requirement for these numbers to be at least 4 inches tall. So, always check with your local governing bodies to ensure there aren’t any regulations you aren’t aware of. 

    Font

    The font also plays an important role in your address numbers’ visibility. While slick modern fonts may look more aesthetically pleasing to you, they are harder to read.

    Hence, many of our clients still prefer the more traditional-looking and bold designs. Not only are they more easily read, but they can also fit almost any style.

    Spacing

    Even though spacing may seem insignificant when dealing with address numbers, they still impact their visibility. Placing them too close to each other will make them indistinguishable and hard to read. 

    That’s why before you begin any installation process, it’s best if you plan out the location beforehand.

    In this case, you can simply trace the numbers and make a paper cutout. After arranging them in the wanted positions, you’ll have a precise image of how they would look mounted on the wall.

    Durability

    Lastly, always ensure you invest in quality home numbers to get a long-lasting and durable product. Remember that this item will be exposed to various outdoor effects that can damage them beyond repair. 

    So, if you don’t want to waste money on new ones, choose ones with suitable weather-resistant materials. 

    Extra Tips for Making Home Address Visible at Night

    Conclusion

    After discovering how to make house numbers more visible at night, follow this simple guide to ensure they can be seen regardless of any outdoor influences. 

    Whether you choose reflective paint or LED address numbers, it’s always best to consult a professional service. Not only can we help you plan out the design and positioning, but we’ll also guide you through each step of the process.

    If you’re thinking about investing in new house numbers, remember the tips we gave you in this article. With their help, your home will be recognizable from miles away!

    Picture of the Author

    brandy mclain, author

    Brandy is an urban planner and site designer with experience at private & non-profit organizations and has been responsible for land development and regional visioning projects. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona. Brandy is passionate about community involvement, anything handmade and holds fond memories of learning to sew at age five.

    You can learn more about Brandy on LinkedIn, at ShoutOut SoCal, or at the San Diego Voyager.

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