Share This Article
Illuminating your garage is not only an issue of practicality, it is also about making the possible space fit for all its intended uses, be it working on some projects, parking your car, or merely reaching for the tools if need be. Garage lighting is the subject of this article, and we will examine everything you need to know about it!
Planning Your Garage Lights
Prior to making any purchases, do give it a moment to consider planning. You should also consider the garage size, the functions it will serve and the general feel you wish to create. Is it a workshop that one wants brightened or is it simply space only for storing items?
Planning wise here is how to go about it:
- Space Quantification: Do some calculations in regards to the size in square footage to determine how many lumens would be required.
- Lighting Layering: Use ambient, task and accent lighting to lighting the area in a balanced manner.
- Think of Locations: Refrain from causing shadows by lighting, in particular work area, in a very careful manner.
- Going Green: Naturally, LED lights would be the smartest option in terms of energy consumption and cost saving.
Types of Garage Lighting Fixtures
Now that you have your strategy ready, it is time to explore the numerous types of light available. Be it something functional or a more sophisticated installation, there are garage lighting options that will satisfy. So, let us analyze:
Shop Lights
Shop lights are linear fixtures—most commonly LED or fluorescent—that are designed to produce high and even illumination. They are my go-to for garages and workrooms that require visibility for close detailed work. Hang them or for some types, mount them directly on the ceiling, the installation is easy, most shop lights are suspended from chains.
Triburst (3-Panel LED Lights) / Upgraded Light Sockets
Wish to improve the lighting of your garage or workspace without making any structural modifications? Triburst bulbs make it easy to upgrade existing light rigs with simple standard E26 sockets. These three-panel LEDs have the feature that enjoys moving around the panels to direct the light where it is most required. Installing these is a no-tools-required procedure that involves simply screwing in the fitting to a standard electric socket. These two and a half-foot fixtures are extremely powerful, consume way less energy than a regular incandescent bulb and are very easy to use.
Light Fixtures (T5, T8, T12)
The use of this style of lighting comes in different sizes and efficiency factors.
T5: Very slim and of high efficiency.
T8: An energy-saving and bright option at the same time.
T12: Bigger and more inefficient but still suitable for big garages. These are meant for large areas and provide adequate light in every nook and cranny, without fail.
Wraparound Lighting
This type of fixture, unlike the others, spreads out light uniformly in every direction, thus they can be used even in garages that have high ceilings or are broad. The lights do not just perform the task of illuminating very well—they also enhance the look of the whole set-up, making it very professional.
High-Bay Lighting
Should your garage have high or vaulted ceilings, you need to get high-bay light luminaries. This is often found in warehouses, and it consists of huge power fixtures with excellent light output that is highly useful for oversized garages and helps when dealing with high ceilings.
Editor’s Choice
Choosing light fittings will be easy as you will have basic changes and far brighter industrial type of lights that will fit the garage well!
Recessed Lighting
When it comes to a simple yet elegant design, recessed lights are the best option. These lights which are bu
ilt right into the ceiling do not occupy any extra space and hence eliminate mess. They work well inside modern garages or used as decorative small lights.
Hexagon Lighting
Looking for a space-age aesthetic for your garage? Hexagon lighting systems comprise interlocked LED panels placed on the ceiling and form a glowing geometric design. Such structures can be found in show garages or by car fanatics who wish for something extraordinary and up to this level.
Wall Lighting
Lights that are fixed on walls serve to enhance illumination and may also direct focus on certain spots such as work benches or shelving units. They are also remarkable for garages that serve as a corridor leading to the house.
Garage Door Lights
They are these lights fixed around or on the door of the garage. They add both protection and aesthetic appeal mainly if the garage serves as an external feature of the house. Purchase motion sensors controlled ones for more efficiency.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
In the event that you have cabinets such as storage ones or even benches around the garage area, the installation of under the cabinet lighting comes in handy. The tiny, strong light aids in enhancing the focus of the work areas while maintaining the overall ambience of the space.
Strip Lights
Most of the indoor LED strip lights can be mounted in many ways and some of them do not even require mounting. They can be used to enhance the visual appearance of the superior parts of the cabinets, edges of the tables, or even beautifying the interiors of the garage. They can be used for the provision of lighting in small areas and corners where there are restrictions of space.
Emergency Lighting
Safety comes last but it is also a very important aspect! Come with lights to be used even in an emergency as they have rechargeable batteries. It’s crucial especially when you reside in a region that experiences a lot of storms or blackouts.
Types of Lighting
As for the light in the garage, which many people think contributes to this provides not only illumination but brightness, efficiency and cost extreme can be achieved with the choice of any. The most common types of lighting and their distinct features are summarized here.
LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
LEDs possess all the advantages that modern garage lighting requires. And the reason being; they consume little energy, are very bright, and last for almost a lifetime. Additionally, they do not emit too much heat, thus making it safe to use in confined places.
- Lifespan: Approximately 50000 hours and above, which are years longer than the rest types.
- Energy Use: Up to 75% lower in energy use compared to incandescent light bulbs.
- Best For: Task lighting, general overhead lighting and strip lighting.
- Extra: LEDs come in different color temperatures meaning that you can either get cooler daylight simulation type brightness or warmer and softer colors.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent bulbs provide strong illumination and are inexpensive, thus preferred in the garages. Lamps of this type are mostly associated with the T5, T8, T12 fittings. Although not economical as LEDs, they are better than incandescent in value-for-money lighting.
- Lifespan: Estimated 10,000-20,000 hours.
- Energy Use: Lower than incandescent but higher than that of LEDs.
- Best For: Shop lighting ,as well as general overhead use.
- Caution: These lights can be prone to flickering when it’s cold so they are not recommended for use in frost-free garages during the winter season.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)
CFLs are basically miniature versions of standard fluorescent tubes and are in the shape of spirals. They consume lesser power when compared to incandescent bulbs but still do not beat LEDs when it comes to efficacy and life span.
- Lifespan: Approximately between 8000-10000 hours.
- Energy Use: Ineffective as an incandescent but efficient than an LED.
- Best For: Simple overhead sockets or temporary reading light arrangements.
- Downside: CFLs can take a couple of seconds to achieve maximum brightness and have a little mercury which means they should be disposed off carefully.
Incandescent
The lantern that is an incandescent bulb is the oldest of all thanks to its existence in the past century and more instead of the development of newer types of bulbs. However, this kind of bulb is not the best choice for a garage because it is cheap, however, it has a much shorter lifespan and its energy consumption is considerably high.
- Lifespan: Only about 1000 hours
- Energy Use: The most wasteful of all types of bulbs.
- Best For: Light applications which are rarely employed and or used for aesthetic purposes.
- Why Skip It?: The problem of excess heat generation and unavoidable bulb change several times a day renders this unsuitable for most garages.
Halogen
Halogen bulbs are fundamentally incandescent lights in a slightly different design. They have a more efficient technology and are bright. They emit a clear white light suitable for detail oriented jobs, but they also tend to overheat therefore making safety issues in enclosed areas.
- The life span: about two thousand to four thousand hours.
- Energy Use: Considerably improved as compared to classical incandescent bulbs.
- Best For: Task lighting where brightness is necessary.
However, They are not so easy to use for prolonged periods due to excessive heat they emit and shorter lifespan than that of LEDs.
In most cases, there is no other type of lighting for the garage that would be better than LEDs. Light bulbs however, are not the only consideration in a garage, in case there is a need to cut costs or for light that is only required temporarily, compact fluorescents or fluorescents may do. For the vintage themed look, anything available would do, so long as it includes the light bulbs. Do not use too many halogens and reserve them primarily for the core of the work.
How to Shop for Garage Lighting: Important Features
These days, when people try to add different lighting designs to their garages, they do not just focus on the type of bulb used but other essential features that will enable the garage space to work perfectly for them. This is what you should consider before going to the stores to buy:
Lumens (Brightness)
It is important to note that in garages, brightness is of great importance. Forget about watts – lumens are what indicate how much actual light a bulb output emits.
General Rule: 50-75 lumens per square foot of the room is preferable.
Task Areas: Need more brightness? Whoever works in such areas as workbench or assembly stations should expect at least 300+ lumens.
Tip: Owing to their superb lumen production, low wattage LEDs, as would be expected, provide the required brightness effectively without shocking the user’s energy bill.
Color Temperature (Warm vs. Cool)
Color temperature is indicated in K unit’s more specific in Kelvin, and such temperature gives a sense of how the lighting brightens the surrounding atmosphere.
Warm Light (2700K – 3000K): Jolly and fluffy looking, however such lighting is inappropriate for garages unless it is a multipurpose one.
Cool Light (4000K – 5000K): Ordinary looking white light suitable for most of the garages.
DayLight (5000K – 6500K): Bright clear light, used for detailed works or for lighting up big areas.
Pro Stylist Tip: While using several tools or paints, bathrooms and general crafts have frankly daylight which is the best as it makes colors sharper and more vibrant as well as the vision of intricate details.
CRI (Color Rendering Index)
The purpose of the Color Rendering Index (CRI) is to assess the color representation ability of a light source in comparison to the sunlight (it is measured in a range of 0-100).
- High CRI (80+): Great for enclosed spaces such as garages where color reproduction is crucial like in painting or detailing vehicles.
- Low CRI (<80): This is also good for general applications and will not usually give an accurate representation of the actual colors.
- Why It Matters: Consider investing in a high CRI especially if your garage also serves another creative or professional purpose.
IP Rating (Ingress Protection Rating)
If you have a garage that is subject to any wet or dusty conditions, consider also the IP rating, which indicates how well the fixture is sealed from these adverse conditions.
- IP44 or Higher: Appropriate for garages where there may be dell drop or a limited amount of dust.
- IP65 or Higher: Required for entirely wet and carried outside areas, like lights fitted on the garage door.
- Key Takeaway: The higher the number, the better the protective features.
Wrapping It Up
Shopping for garage lighting isn’t rocket science! Just know the major aspects – brightness, color temperature, CRI, and the IP rating. Ensuring these are in line with the requirements of your garage ensures that you have an adequately lit and usable space.
