Looking to add some curb appeal to your home? A lamp post is an excellent way to elevate the aesthetics of your front yard. Beyond being an affordable and a visually-pleasing upgrade, lamp posts provide the benefit of safety around your home by offering additional lighting.

Installing a lamp post is a DIY-project anyone can take on. Design House recently teamed up with landscape contractor and designer, Sara Bendrick, (@sarabendrick) to shine a light on the process. Utilizing a few of Design House’s wide variety of outdoor lighting products, Sara explains how “it’s actually not that hard to install and it’s also not going to break the bank.”

To get started, you will need a post, a light, and a mounting option. For this specific installation, Sara used a Design House Black Lamp Post with Cross Arm and Photo Eye, Mayfield Outdoor Post Light, and an Outdoor Pier Base Accessory Mount. This combination creates a stylish and classic design with a sleek finish, mimicking a modern-day lantern, but there are countless options when it comes to adding a post to your yard.

Sara took on the lamp post install by following these steps:

1. Start by digging a hole that is 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide for the post and then trench out for electrical.

For this lamp post, Sara had her friend (and electrician) help pull power from the house so she could attach a photo eye, allowing the light to automatically turn on when it is dark.

2. Attach and connect the lamp post top. After all, a lamp post needs a lamp!

3. Add gravel to the bottom of the post hole to help with drainage.

4. Adjust the height and add concrete to secure the post in place. For this project, Sara used a fast-setting concrete so that the post would stabilize quicker.

5. As the concrete is setting up, check all sides to make sure that it is plum and also that the cross arms are in the direction that you want.

After the cross arms are inserted, make sure to use a little bit of waterproofing silicone to lock them in place but keep water out as well.

Beyond the inherent curb appeal of a lamp post, this creates another unique setting to incorporate landscaping design choices to your front yard. To add an additional flourish, Sara planted a handful of drought-tolerant plants around the post. Of course, you can select whatever greenery fits best for your yard.

Installing a lamp post is a DIY project that anyone can take on, but we are here to help you along the way! Design House can be a resource when it comes to selecting the lamp post that is right for your yard, whether it is determining the right height post or what to look for in weather-resistant and wet-rating features. In addition to being an affordable and accessible upgrade, a lamp post can enhance your home’s curb appeal space, while providing some added safety.