The Real Meaning Behind Different Porch Light Colors Explained

Porch light colors mean different things around the world. In the U.S., residents typically adopt red, purple, blue, green, orange, or pink to acknowledge and convey support for various movements. Nevertheless, many people still use conventional porch light colors such as pale yellow or warm white to create a welcoming entry point for guests. To make a difference, consider switching to colored lighting now and then to support and promote the causes you value. 

As you may know, lighting and color can impact our moods and emotions. This explains why lighting systems are the perfect mediums to advance crucial movements. Not only do they catch your attention, but they can make you feel something. Since you may not use colored light bulbs on your porch all year round, we recommend purchasing low-cost LED bulbs. As SitelogIQ explains, they have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs, as well as a higher performance efficiency. Let us explore the possible meanings behind various porch light colors.

Purple expresses royalty, power, nobility, and luxury. But when it is transmitted through a colored light bulb, it highlights a serious cause that surpasses the aesthetic. Purple porch lights symbolize domestic violence awareness. In 2007, The Covington Domestic Violence Task Force incorporated purple in their fight against domestic abuse, as per Home Decor Bliss. The campaign was termed Purple Light Nights, and its sole mission is to eliminate domestic abuse through collaborative leadership, education, and advocacy for healthy relationships and victim support. 

So, how does the campaign work? Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, people often change their porch light color from the traditional yellow or white to purple. This small action offers support to the campaign and its mission. It also honors those who have lost their lives to domestic violence, supports survivors, and gives hope to those who are unfortunately living in abusive relationships.

If your neighbors change their porch lights to red in February, it most likely has nothing to do with Valentine's Day. February is American Heart Month, a time when people are advised to check on their cardiovascular health. Though the movement is inclusive, it shines a special focus on women. 

According to Crafts & Bolts, The American Heart Association, which uses red as its official color, encourages people to bring awareness to heart health through their Illuminate Your Home Red movement. This has resulted in many homeowners and renters changing their porch light color to red during this time. Others use red lights to illuminate the exterior of their buildings or use red bulbs to accent landscapes, gardens, or architectural components. The red bulb movement is not new. For over a decade, landmarks around the country, including Niagra Falls and the Seattle Great Wheel, have turned red to highlight and support this crucial issue.

A blue porch light can mean a few different things. It could represent anything from autism awareness or respect for the police force. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared April as Autism Awareness Month and April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, Homenish explains. To advance autism awareness, Autism Speaks started a campaign known as Light It Up Blue. 

The organization adopted blue as its official color and encouraged people to turn their porches blue to show support. In the month of April, particularly on April 2, it is common to see blue porch lights around the country. Now that you know what it is about, you can join the movement, too! Conversely, blue porch lights can also convey messages of support and respect to the police force and their families. It can be adopted at any time of the year to honor the police for their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to keeping everyone in the country safe.

Similar to the above, a porch that illuminates green often highlights a variety of subjects. For example, you can use green light bulbs in support of Veterans Day on November 11. During this day, U.S. residents pay tribute to all military veterans, living or dead, specifically acknowledging those who served the country honorably. They do this by engaging in memorials, festivities, and turning on their green porch lights. 

A green porch light can also be used to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Per MaterialSix, your neighbors may turn on green porch lights on March 17 to honor Ireland's most popular holiday. Note that some people maintain this color for the rest of the month. Lastly, green porch lights can also be used to spread Lyme disease awareness. Green porch lights typically make a reappearance in May for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Through the green light campaign, people are beginning to understand the struggles associated with living with this incurable disease. You can show support for the movement by turning your porch green.

Orange porch lights convey a community message of support and justice that originated in Delphi, Indiana. Following the murder, and ensuing investigation, of Liberty German and Abigail Williams in 2017, their local community lit their porches with orange light bulbs to show support for the victims and their families, per WRTV.

A Lowe's in Lafayette, Indiana, donated 1,000 orange bulbs for local retailers and store owners to distribute. Many gave bulbs out for free, but any money received was donated to the victims' families. While it was a way to show support in Delphi originally, it became a way for people nationwide to bring attention to the tragedy, with homes all over the country swapping their porch lights for orange bulbs. Westinghouse Electric Company donated another 2,500 orange light bulbs to the Delphi community in September 2017 (via WRTV).

Orange porch lights could also be associated with Halloween festivities or the fall season, explains Clever Patio, especially in brighter shades.

In October 2022, three Advent Health branches in Gordon, Murray, and Redmond, Georgia, asked local community members to install pink bulbs in their porch lights to support and bring attention to those affected by breast cancer, per Advent Health. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the company was able to give away 20,000 pink light bulbs.

The campaign, titled "Light Your Porch Pink," was launched in hopes that people would share their personal stories dealing with breast cancer to raise awareness, as well as to encourage people to get screened and examined for breast cancer (via Advent Health).

Pink porch lights as a symbol of breast cancer awareness are not unique to Georgia or AdventHealth, though. It's similar to decorating your home with pink ribbons during October. Even then, you don't have to limit yourself to just one month — you can use pink bulbs on your porch lights year-round for constant breast cancer awareness and support.