Salt air, sunshine, and stunning coastal views—there’s nothing quite like life at the beach. But when it comes to selecting your beach home’s exterior lighting, there’s one crucial factor to consider: rust resistance.

We use two types of exterior finishes for our exterior lighting; solid brass that has been oxidized and composite. I’m excited to showcase some of my top picks featuring these finishes along with their pros and cons. Let’s shed some light on the best exterior light options for your coastal retreat!

Composite

Pros: Composite lighting comes in many different styles and colors and is a less expensive option than solid brass. We like Hinkley Lighting and Kichler for exterior composite lights.

Cons: Most composites have a five-year warranty, so you may need to replace these over time.

           

My Recommendations

Hinkley Atwater Medium Wall Light Lantern.

Hinkley Republic Medium Wall Mount Lantern.

Kichler Suri Outdoor Wall Light.

Hinkley Winnie Small Mount Lantern.

Troy Lighting Soren Wall Mount Lantern.

Minka Shore Pointe 1 – Light Wall Mount

Kichler Allenbury Outdoor Wall Light 

Visual Comfort Boynton Medium Lantern

Solid Brass that has been oxidized

Pros: Solid brass is used on ships and will stand the test of time. We like Northeast Lantern because of its lifetime warranty (except for glass).

Cons: This option is more expensive and can be twice the price of composite.

My Recommendations

Northeast Lantern Onion Light.

Northeast Lantern Coplin

Northeast Lantern Concord

Northeast Lantern Ellis

Pro Tip: Another option to consider is aluminum, and while this material will not rust, the paint can peel if exposed to direct sunlight. For this reason, we always stick with composite or solid brass that has been oxidized for all of our Marnie Custom Homes.

I hope this was a helpful resource for you and be sure to share this with a beach house-loving friend.