A dimly-lit garage can be a difficult place to work. Poor lighting can also make it difficult to effectively use the garage space for storage or find things that you’ve stored in there. And even if you only use your garage for storing your car, you will still want decent lighting so that you can do basic car maintenance tasks like checking tire pressure or fluid levels. Good lighting can also help prevent injuries from trips and falls. Take a look at some tips that can help you find the right lighting for your garage.
Ambient Lighting: Fluorescents
Your basic unfinished garage usually doesn’t come with a lot of ambient lighting. It may have just one bare bulb in the center of the ceiling. To improve your overall garage lighting, fluorescents are often your best bet. When choosing fluorescent lighting fixtures, you may want to look for the ones that take 4-foot fluorescent tubes, rather than 8-foot tubes. The 8-foot tubes can be harder to install and remove, and more likely to accidentally get broken in the process.
You also need to take the temperature of your garage into account. Some fluorescents won’t work properly in cold weather, so choose fixtures that are capable of lighting in the coldest temperatures that your garage is likely to reach. Fluorescent fixtures with electronic ballasts are capable of starting even when the temperature is 0 degrees F and below.
Spot Lighting: LEDs
While improving your ambient lighting can improve general visibility in your garage, it may not be enough for certain tasks. If you use your garage as a workspace, you should also consider installing lights that can function as task or spot lighting – targeted light that allows you to see especially well in a small space. For example, you may want spot lighting over a workbench that you use for building, crafting, or repairs. Or you may need a movable spotlight that you can position over your engine when you’re working on car repairs.
LED light bulbs are ideal for spot lighting fixtures. LED bulbs produce bright light without generating a lot of heat or using a lot of electricity. They also tend to have a long lifespan, so you won’t have to replace them often even if you use them on a frequent basis.
Accent Lighting: Strip Lights
Accent lights are used to highlight a particular feature of the room that you want to stand out. For example, if you store a trophy case in your garage, you may want to install lights on it so that the trophies stand out.
Strip LED lights can make a fantastic choice for this kind of lighting. Highlight your trophies, install lights around a plaque or sign on the wall, or line your shelves with lights to make it easier to find small parts and tools. Adhesive strip lights can be easily installed by any homeowner.
Good lighting is important in all areas of your home, and the garage is no exception. For more ideas about how to light up your garage, schedule your free design consultation. 
