A lot of homeowners start the permanent-lighting conversation the same way: “I don’t need the whole house. I just want the front to look good.”
That’s a smart place to start. The front of your home is the side neighbors, guests, and you see every night when you pull in the driveway. For many houses, lighting that side well delivers most of the look for a smaller project.
This guide covers what front-only permanent lighting usually includes, when it’s the right call, when more coverage makes sense, and how to make a front-only install look finished instead of partial. LightXP is an Authorized Gemstone Dealer · Cincinnati/Dayton area, based in Maineville.
What “front-only” usually means
Front-only means we light the front elevation of your home: the side that faces the street. On most houses that’s the front roofline plus the peaks that give the house its shape, like the entry gable, garage gables, and any dormers that face the road.
What it doesn’t mean is a cheaper product. Front-only uses the same Gemstone track, the same lights, the same app, and the same warranty as a whole-house install. It’s simply fewer runs. Every house is different, so the exact layout comes from looking at yours, not a template.
Why front-only is often the smart buy
- It covers the view that matters most. Most people see your home from the street. The sides and back are mostly seen by you, from the yard.
- It keeps the project smaller. Fewer runs of track means a smaller job. Roofline length is one of the biggest things that moves a quote, and front-only is the coverage choice you control most. We cover the rest in what moves your quote.
- It still does everything. Warm white every night, a Halloween or game-day color when you want it, and holiday scenes in December, all from the app. Our guide on how permanent Christmas lights work explains the app side.
- It’s a real home upgrade, not just décor. Warm white architectural lighting is what most homeowners live with on ordinary nights. Read warm white every night for why that matters more than color.
When front-only might not be enough
Front-only isn’t right for every house. More coverage may make sense when:
- You spend your evenings out back. If the deck, patio, or pool is where you actually live in the warm months, lighting the back can matter more to you than the street view.
- Your house sits on a corner. A side elevation that faces a street can look unfinished if it’s dark while the front is lit.
- The front roofline wraps the house. On some homes, the front and side rooflines are one continuous line, and stopping partway looks odd.
- You want the whole house to read as one shape at night. Some people want that, and that’s a fine reason too.
We’ll tell you honestly if we think front-only will look cut off on your house. We’d rather recommend a bit more or a bit less than install something you’re not happy with.
How to make front-only look finished
The difference between front-only that looks premium and front-only that looks partial usually comes down to a few design choices:
- Finish at natural stopping points. Runs should end at a corner, a peak, or a clear break in the roofline, not in the middle of a straight line.
- Light the peaks. Entry and garage gables are what give a front elevation its shape at night. They’re often the most important runs on the house.
- Keep the spacing consistent. Even spacing reads as architectural. Our crew lays the track out to match your roofline.
- Plan the power and controller location. A clean install hides the hardware. We work that out during the measure.
- Tell us if you might add more later. If you think you’ll want the sides or back someday, say so at the proposal stage so we can plan the layout with that in mind.
Front-only vs temporary lights on the front
Some homeowners compare front-only permanent lights with hanging temporary lights on the front each year. The ladder, the clips, the storage bins, and the November weekend all still apply with temporary lights, even on one side of the house. Permanent track goes up once and stays up, with low daytime visibility. We go deeper in temporary vs permanent Christmas lights and permanent outdoor lighting vs a yearly hang.
What it means for price
We don’t post prices, because a number online would be wrong for most houses. Front-only is usually the smaller project because it covers less roofline, but height, pitch, roofline complexity, and power placement still matter. The only accurate answer is a custom proposal for your house.
What doesn’t shrink with front-only is what you’re paying for: genuine Gemstone product, a local crew, app setup with you, Gemstone’s lifetime product warranty, and LightXP’s 1-year labor warranty. Read what you’re actually paying for and how your Gemstone warranty works for the details.
Next step
- Request a custom proposal through the proposal form, or
- Text a front-of-house photo and your city to (513) 480-8377, or call. Tell us you’re thinking front-only, and we’ll show you what that covers on your house.
Fall is our busy season. If you want lights up before the holidays, ask now and we’ll give you the real next install date we can keep.
Authorized Gemstone Dealer · Cincinnati/Dayton area.
FAQ
Can I get permanent lights on just the front of my house?
Yes. Many homes start with the front elevation. We’ll show you what front-only covers on your house so you can decide.
Is front-only a different product than a whole-house install?
No. Front-only uses the same Gemstone track, lights, app, and warranty. It’s fewer runs on the side people see from the street.
Will front-only look unfinished?
Not when it’s designed well. Runs should end at corners, peaks, or natural breaks in the roofline. If we think front-only would look cut off on your house, we’ll tell you.
Does front-only still do colors and holiday scenes?
Yes. You get warm white every night plus color and holiday scenes from the Gemstone app, the same as a larger install.
Can I add more of the house later?
Tell us at the proposal stage if you might want more coverage someday, so we can plan the layout with that in mind. Ask us how adding runs later would work on your home.
How much do front-only permanent lights cost?
It depends on your house: how much front roofline there is, how tall and steep it is, how complex the roofline is, and where power can go. We give you a custom proposal instead of a chart that doesn’t fit your home. Text or call (513) 480-8377 to start.
