DIY Lighting Tips – Illuminate the Garage

An often overlooked area is garage lighting. Most people just throw in a few incandescent bulbs or a fluorescent fixture and call it a day. Considering the many tasks that take place in the garage, maybe we should think about it a bit more.

Poor lighting can make even the most simple tasks, such as parking the car and walking to the door, difficult. Lighting the garage correctly will prevent you from bumping into things and tripping over toys or tools that may be laying around.

But how can you achieve that?

Knowing the difference between wattage and illumination is the most important step to getting started. The wattage on an incandescent bulb refers to the amount of wattage it draws from the outlet. This is how much wattage is consumed by the bulb. The amount of light it produces is measured in lumens.

About 1,740 lumens are produced by a standard 100 watt bulb. Compare this to the 5,000-8,800 lumens produced by a pair of four foot, 54 watt fluorescent bulbs. This difference in efficiency is one of the reasons that fluorescent bulbs are more cost effective.

A 2-bulb fluorescent fixture may be just enough for some garages, if there is nothing else in them. This won't be nearly enough, though, if there are numerous shelves, benches, and corners in the garage.

The three types of lighting (ambient, task, and accent), apply in this area of the home as well. If you have some item you want to highlight or draw attention to, you would use accent light. The overall illumination is known as ambient light. Light that assists you in doing certain things is known as task lighting.

Task lights will be of great importance for doing simple tasks, such as hanging tools, putting away gardening supplies, and others. It will also prevent you from grabbing the weed killer instead of the plant food. It will save you time and a lot of hassle. Anytime you need to find the right tool for the job, task lights can assist you.

This does not lessen the importance of good ambient lighting. This provides the means for navigating your way around the garage. Injuries from slipping and tripping are more common in the garage than anywhere else. Having sufficient ambient lighting will prevent you from suffering potentially serious injury, making them well worth the investment.

Most people don't think about it, but mood and atmosphere are equally important in the garage. Take a look at a well lit and professional looking garage and compare it to the dark and depressing look of many home garages. Obviously, safety is a factor, but a brightly lit room brightens the mood as well, even if it is just a garage. Another reason is that garages normally do not have many windows.

Your garage should get as much attention when it comes to lighting as the rest of your home, especially if you spend a considerable amount of time there.

         

Lighting Installation Tips and Guide