How to Upgrade your Garage Lighting
How to Upgrade your Garage Lighting

To upgrade your garage lighting to the perfect setup possible for your space, you need to figure out what you need that place to function as. Simply put, depending on what you use the space for, the optimum lighting setup will vary. To achieve the optimum lighting setup for your garage that is bright, durable, long lasting, and affordable; consider upgrading your light fixtures and using LEDs instead of conventional light bulbs.

Here are some things to consider depending on how you will be using your space.

For a Garage used for Parking and Storage

If your garage is used the way it was basically intended to, that is to park your vehicle and maybe store the occasional odds and ends in, you should opt for bright lighting that evenly illuminates the entire area. You can do this by utilizing what are known as "primary lighting options'. Primary lights are intended to be the main source of light in your garage, and should ideally light up the whole space. Normally, primary lights are installed on the ceiling and they are hanging fixtures such as high bays, shop lights, recessed lighting or LED tubes. You can peruse a variety of options for these at https://www.lepro.com/led-bay-light.

For a Garage used as a Recreational or Workshop Space

If you use your garage as a recreational or hobby space, like a workshop, a studio, a DIY den, crafting space, woodworking workshop, or car maintenance, you should opt for lighting options that give focused light to your workspace. You can do this by employing what are known as "secondary lighting options". Secondary lighting is also called "task lighting". These light options cast a focused light that allow you to see your workspace clearly. This is especially important when using power tools or other potentially dangerous or hazardous equipment. Examples of these include lamps, spotlights, and under cabinet fixture options.

Which light type should I go for?

Once you know whether you need primary or secondary lighting, you need to decide on which type of light source you want. You can choose from these four types:

While each option has its pros and cons, I am going to avoid going into a lengthy comparison of the four options to decide which type of lighting is best, since there is a clear winner here. LED is the only choice I will recommend since LED technology is far more advanced than any other bulb type.

Why LEDs?

LEDs have three major advantages over any of the older bulb technologies:

  • LEDs are Cost-Effective - Using LEDs instead of conventional light bulbs can reduce energy consumption, and consequently your electricity bills, up to 90%.

  • LEDs have Long Life Spans - LEDs are expected to last much longer than the average bulb. The life expectancy or life span of LEDs id anywhere between ten thousand to fifty thousand hours.

  • LEDs are a high-performance option- The crisp and bright light provided by LEDs comes as close to natural sunlight, as possible, which is ideal to light up tough spaces with shadowy spots.

  • LEDs work best in all weathers - LEDs work exceedingly well even in cold environments as they turning on instantly without your having to wait for the bulb to warm up. And since we are focusing on garages in this article, LEDs are particularly good for garages as most garage spaces in the winter can be very cold.

What lighting combo is best for my garage?

All the various types of primary lights will provide great illumination, and we have established that LEDs are the superior bulb choice, so next your consideration must focus on the overall ambience and visual effect you want to achieve in your garage.

To achieve a typical garage look, LED shop lights are an excellent and practical choice. They provide ample brightness for any number of activities. However since majority shop light options will need to hang from the garage ceiling on chains, ensure that your garage ceilings are high enough, otherwise you will be hitting your head on the fixtures constantly.

To achieve an industrial look, select LED high-bay lights. Bay lights are much like legacy fluorescent fixtures and work really well in spaces that have high ceilings.

The overall ambience and visual effect you achieve can work wonders for your garage space so choose wisely.