Lighting is an essential aspect of any space. It can aesthetically enhance a room, brighten workspaces, highlight focal points and even make a space safer. There are so many ways to use lighting in your favor. In the case of a garage lighting, you can use lighting to make navigating the space much more manageable. Additionally, you can transform your garage into a chill spot using just garage lighting. We will cover some common lighting ideas you may want to embrace as you work on your garage:
1. Focusing on more than overhead lighting
It’s easy to focus on what’s above and forget that lighting goes above what’s on the ceiling. If you want to make your garage lighting even more beautiful and practical, also focus on:
- Ambiance: Your light ultimately determines how the room will feel. With LEPRO LED recessed lighting, you can easily switch between warmer and cooler light tones. It helps you decide what you want to communicate to the people using the room.
- Tasks: What tasks will you handle in the room? For garages that also serve as workspaces, look into bright lights. A LEPRO light is ideal for work as well as storage areas. It helps highlight the most focal points and brings out the best aspects of the room.
Do not forget to add some accent garage lighting to help balance the task and ambient lighting. It also helps highlight some parts of the room. Lighting a garage should not be a dull task. Instead, you should feel free to incorporate some creativity in the process.
2. Using LED Lighting
LED lights, while costly at first, are hard to ignore when garage lighting. These lights are way more energy-efficient than their traditional counterparts. Additionally, they last longer and can burn tens of thousands of hours before you need to replace them. Also, they do not make noise, and their quiet operation makes them ideal for use in workspaces. Not to mention being kind to the environment and not emitting any harmful UV rays!
They have become one of the most popular ways of garage lighting and other spaces. To get the best out of them, you will need to install quite a couple of them. These lights are directional, and angling them helps you direct the light as needed. Once you get this right, your garage should look amazing.
3. Understanding your output needs
Do you know how much light your garage needs? It’s easy to overlook this when shopping for lights. However, doing so can hurt your efforts. For example, if you get fewer lights than you need, your room can end up looking dull. If you get many lights or higher lumens than necessary, it can feel like an operating room. The goal here is to strike a balance between these extremes.
Working with 50 lumens per square foot in your home garage should be enough. Please note that we have quoted lumens and not wattage. The latter refers to the power draw, while lumens indicate the level of brightness from the bulb. For spaces that need task lighting, e.g., workshops, 300 lumens per square foot should work. Figure out your type of space and needs, measure it and find bulbs that can afford you this lighting.
4. Incorporating recessed lighting
Do not ignore recessed lighting. While it may seem like decorative lighting suited for other indoor areas, it also works for garages. Yes, this might be what you need to help you sort your tools as you work on your car. By fitting into hollows and directing light downwards or outwards, recessed lights produce uniform light rays. The closer the lights are, the more the overlay will be, and the light will not have a spotty effect. This lighting wins in its subtlety. One can hardly tell the lighting fixtures are in the room but can see their effects. Please note that for this lighting to be adequate, you need to install several bulbs.
5. Choosing energy efficiency Garage Lighting
In the past, people often leaned on the brightest bulbs when lighting their spaces, especially garages. Over time, LEDs starting taking over. Not only were they energy efficient, but they were also as bright as their traditional counterparts. Additionally, they did not waste energy in startups, had less power draw, and were cost-effective in the long run.
Here’s an idea: switch your traditional bulbs for LED lights. You can lower your utility bills, enjoy a longer light life span and avoid constant repair and maintenance costs. You will use less wattage to get the same amount of brightness an LED can supply. It’s worth a thought.
6. Embracing Shop Lights
Most workspaces feature shop lights, and garages are not different. These have taken the place of fluorescent lights and boast fantastic lighting that transforms any space. You can use them in both small and large spaces for the same aesthetic effect. These lights don’t require much installation work, and you can fix them on existing structures. It’s this cost-effectiveness that has also propelled their popularity.
7. Fixing high bay lights
If you have a large garage with a ceiling or mounting position at 20-45 feet above the ground, this is the ideal option. It ensures that light reaches all parts of the room without pooling or becoming spotty. You can make it fancy by fixing it to the ceiling. Alternatively, you can use hooks and chains to suspend it. For ceilings at 20 or fewer feet, consider low bay lights.
8. Going for T5 or T8 LED tubes
Once again, this leans on energy efficiency. Gone are the days when T12 bulbs ruled the lighting industry. Now, we have T8 and T5 bulbs. The T aspect can be confusing, but all it refers to is the diameter of the tube. A T5 tube is more energy-efficient than a T8 bulb. However, if you already have G13 pins in place, you can go with a T8 bulb and avoid making extra fixture changes.
9. Adding some natural light
Relying on energy-efficient bulbs is great, but you can save a lot more money by incorporating daylight into the garage. You can try adding a new window, a skylight, a see-through door, or anything else that increases the lighting. Plus, it makes your space feel warmer and brighter without eating into your budget.
Whatever lighting idea you go with, ensure that you start by understanding the lighting needs of your garage. Otherwise, the concept may not work. All the best!
