Garage paint scheme
- Thread starter Gunner54
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bamawildcat
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- Jul 12, 2014
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Black is trendy, but you'll need a ton more light.
Stuart in MN
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I agree that while black ceilings are popular right now but they aren't the best for lighting, you need to factor that in when choosing fixtures. Also, a 14' ceiling is on the low side for using high bay light fixtures, I'd think about using regular fixtures - otherwise the light distribution won't be very even and you'll get 'hot spots' under each light.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Did you do a lighting plan for that or just pick the brightest fixtures out there and go with 3x3?
Is that going to be just for parking? Mostly a man lounge space party room? Mechanical work being done regularly?
I agree with Stuart that the high bay bulbs at that level will result in bright spots which are much less comfortable to live with compared to more even lighting achieved with more fixtures of lower lumen levels.
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WisJim
Well-known member
My garage has pale grey walls and white ceiling, and I can't imagine working in there if the ceiling was black.
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
I agree with the others - I'd re-think that black ceiling.
My electrician recommended wide angle hi bay fixtures to eliminate hot spots. They will be on 3 individual row dimmer switches.
Garage will be storage (BendPak HD-9XW / 220V lift going in shortly), some light mechanical work.
Too late, first coat of flat black was installed this morning...
MileHighRover
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Looks great for a showroom or man cave, but for actual work? Heck no.
95% storage for some pretty cars (1967 VW Beetle, 1986 Merc 560SL and an incoming Porsche Turbo S T-Hybrid), with some oil changes and tire swaps thrown in.
Did I mention I'm old...?
Shiftless
Well-known member
Let me add on to my previous post and say that you don’t necessarily need more than 9 fixtures but instead of having a one foot diameter fixture yielding 15,000 or more lumens you can have a bigger fixture like an edge lit flat panel that is 2x4 feet giving off the same amount of light (measured in lumens) but more spread out.
Nice soft lighting like you see outside in a bright overcast day.
My 20x20 garage is primarily lit by 9 four foot twin tube LED fixtures.
Nice soft lighting like you see outside in a bright overcast day.
My 20x20 garage is primarily lit by 9 four foot twin tube LED fixtures.
Craig Balzer
Well-known member
The main bay of my Hobby Shop has 14' ceilings. I used these fixtures. Great light; no hot spots
This photo shows two of the three rows of light fixtures. I am standing under the 16' wide garage door; there are two more lamps above my head.
Also - note the white ceiling and walls. With the light grey floor covering, I have lots of reflected light.
- 7x HB 150001 50
- LED: 18” x 30” 150 Watts
- 18,500 Lumens
- 5,000° K
- $150 each (in 2019)
This photo shows two of the three rows of light fixtures. I am standing under the 16' wide garage door; there are two more lamps above my head.
Also - note the white ceiling and walls. With the light grey floor covering, I have lots of reflected light.
I painted my ceiling black in my last shop. Went back and forth a bunch of times, but eventually committed to it. No regrets at all.
Shiftless
Well-known member
If you’re looking for input and suggestions, next time give us more than 3 hours from initial question to going ahead with what was apparently already scheduled,
After working on cars for 40 years, I can tell you, I've never worked in a shop that I thought needed a dimmer for the lights.
Had you taken the time to actually read my original post, you’d have noticed I asked for thoughts or comments... not suggestions or input. Thank you for your comment.
Shiftless
Well-known member
I can see if a garage did double duty as a lounge, that dimmers might be needed to better see the big screen TV for your 10 friends to watch the Super Bowl etc.
Good point
Quickstep192
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- Aug 16, 2025
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- 101
When I was much, much younger, I made kitchen cabinets for my first house. I wanted to use hardwood plywood for the carcasses, but economics dictated melamine flake board.
Wow did that ever work out!
The white melamine made everything in the cabinet easier to see and find.
Since then, If it’s going in a place where seeing is important, it white, white and white. (Until something lighter comes along : )
Wow did that ever work out!
The white melamine made everything in the cabinet easier to see and find.
Since then, If it’s going in a place where seeing is important, it white, white and white. (Until something lighter comes along : )
Dagny
Well-known member
I have wired many farm shops but am doing my first black ceiling right now. I need to take my flashlight out to look in the sidebins on my lift.
Sorry it's dumb.
I always recommend some type of linear highbay the bigger the better. but most of the time ufo's go in they are cheap,hot and harsh but it's not my money.
Sorry it's dumb.
I always recommend some type of linear highbay the bigger the better. but most of the time ufo's go in they are cheap,hot and harsh but it's not my money.
rsparks64
Well-known member
Your choice for black, but flat black will be even less reflective.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Yeah
But ceilings need flat paint unless they are finished to level 5.
Smilodon
Well-known member
I wanted a bit of color (and a lot of light), so I went for light gray, red stripe, medium gray. With a gray urethane floor and drop ceiling with restaurant kitchen washable tiles and drop in LED panels. No shadows in my shop!
I wanted a bit of color (and a lot of light), so I went for light gray, red stripe, medium gray. With a gray urethane floor and drop ceiling with restaurant kitchen washable tiles and drop in LED panels. No shadows in my shop!
I did a very similar paint scheme in my garage. I went with 4 high bay lights and am pretty happy with the amount of light. Only change I would make is to the floor. Flakes are far from ideal. I'm constantly searching for anything small that I drop.
FJ 432
Well-known member
Well, I like your choice.
johnre
Well-known member
Garage and shop walls, and even ceilings, get bumped into a lot - people, equipment, stuff leaned up on them, etc. And in my book they then get patched and touched up, so it can all look like new again.
The best color to take a touch up and not show it is white. I use a flat white for walls and ceiling, and a semi gloss white for wood trim, for ease of cleaning.
The best color to take a touch up and not show it is white. I use a flat white for walls and ceiling, and a semi gloss white for wood trim, for ease of cleaning.
DaveAndStuff
Well-known member
Had you already painted it I would say it looks great. But since you haven't, I will say I think the black ceiling looks awful.
And I agree with everyone else about the light.
My favorite shop color combo is:
White ceiling
Medium dark grey bottom 4' of the wall
Mint (or any light color you like) from the grey to the ceiling
And I agree with everyone else about the light.
My favorite shop color combo is:
White ceiling
Medium dark grey bottom 4' of the wall
Mint (or any light color you like) from the grey to the ceiling