The typical garage has two lights – an overhead light and the light built into the automatic garage door system, which only comes on when the door is opened or closed. This means that if you are going to want to do anything in there, you are probably going to have to come up with some garage lighting ideas.
The overhead light is frequently a single bare bulb or a basic fluorescent light, which isn’t very effective when it comes to lighting a large area. Fortunately, garage lighting isn’t limited regular bulbs and if you have some good garage ideason how you want to use the space, you might have to come up with some better lighting options.
If there are electrical sockets in your garage, installing new and improved lighting will be much simpler. Many garage owners prefer to use special shop lights that illuminate the areas over workbenches.
These lights are hung from the ceiling by chains, and the cord is put into a power outlet in the garage. Lights like these are suitable for any part of the garage that needs additional light.
For small spaces, you may consider battery-operated tap lights, which usually aren’t used on a regular basis. These lights are mounted to walls or shelving using screws or adhesive; they’re activated when you press on them.
Since they’re battery-operated, small and have weak wattage, these lights aren’t used often and won’t be able to illuminate the entire garage. But a tap light is especially useful for lighting shelf areas in dark corners and under workbenches.
By simply upgrading the primary light fixture in the room, the lighting in the garage can be improved dramatically. If you currently use a fluorescent light fixture on the ceiling, consider replacing it.
This can be done easily; in fact, you can get second-hand lighting fixtures at yard sales or from online ads, or you can buy a new one at a home store or hardware center.
Before you begin the installation, remember to switch off the circuit breaker that controls power to that part of the house, and continue the project according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you use your garage frequently, it may be wise to buy track or recessed lighting for the ceiling. If you have experience in light installation, you can do the work yourself; otherwise, find a good electrician. Your local home improvement store will carry a variety of track lighting models, which can be installed without difficulty.