Garage Lighting Recommendations

[larsek]

Hey,
I will be renovating my garage this spring.
For the floor I am either buying Ribtrax floor tiles similar to this style (click!) or paint it with anthracite floor paint.
The walls will be painted anthracite or dark grey, similar to the walls you see in this video (click!).
Now I am unsure about the lighting... Do you have any recommendations/ ideas?
The layout of the garage is as follows:

 

[kbuhagiar]

Hello larsek,

Your garage plans sound very nice, but keep in mind that with respect to lighting, the dark walls do you no favors.
Lighter coloured walls will help reflectivity and make everything more visible.

My last two garage builds have had white walls, and I break up the monotony with pictures and/or posters and petroliana.

Good luck!

 

[larsek]

Thanks for your response! I thought about that as well. Maybe I paint the walls in white or a brighter grey. But I think I stick to anthracite for the ceiling.
Do you have any suggestions for the lighting (LED vs non-LED; type of lamps/bulbs; positioning; ...)? I also tried to find some foto stories here from which I can take ideas, but I haven't yet.

 

[cybrdyke]

I watched the video. Even with the lighting, the place still looks like a cave. To me, it still looks dark. I wouldn't want to work in there.
Lighting works best when it's bouncing all around, reflecting off of the floor, walls and ceiling. Dark colors dont reflect light, so all you get is the direct light from the fixtures. That will ultimately result in an uneven and contrasty project. Also, since you have little or no reflecatance, you'll need a much larger amount of fixtures, which only exacerbates the problem. Light walls, white ceiling and glossy floor will give the best results.
CD

 

[MattGarage]

If color temp isn't adjustable in lighting - I only like soft white (which is a warm white). Daylight or other bright whites are horrible to look at - but ymmv

 

[kbuhagiar]

Do you have any suggestions for the lighting (LED vs non-LED; type of lamps/bulbs; positioning; ...)

I've built a few garages, and my preferences are LED, 4000K color temperature, and rows of tubular-style fixtures running the length of the garage over the parking bays (i.e. perpendicular to the garage door wall), with additional task-light fixtures for dedicated work areas (work benches, staging/prep area, etc).

Full disclosure: I tend to err on the side of more light is better, especially as I am 64 years old and for some strange reason my eyesight keeps getting worse!

 

[dave*99]

Most of my work in the garage involves working under the hood, or on my 2 post lift in a wheel well or under the car. So lighting is best along the sides of the car and front and back of the car.

I don't get any benefit from lighting down the centerline of the car. But the lighting from the ceiling along the sides does both --- lighting the centerline and the sides of the car.

And I do agree with the other comments about light walls and white ceilings. Provide as much opportunity for light to reflect and soften shadows. A dark room with bright ceiling lights is not a good work environment.

As for working on the car finish........ have you ever seen a paint booth with dark walls?

 

[Swisstrax_Official]

Will be interested to see how this turns out.

 

[Zeke]

OP looking to promote his videos. Germany my ***.

 

[larsek]

Thx so far, guys

 

[larsek]

OP looking to promote his videos. Germany my ***.

sure dude...