Garage paint scheme
- Thread starter Gunner54
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bamawildcat
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- Jul 12, 2014
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- 152
Black is trendy, but you'll need a ton more light.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
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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- Mar 13, 2018
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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
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!
Great minds think alike...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.
Yankeefarmer
Well-known member
How many GJ’ers’ shops look as clean and neat as those pictured in this thread? No disrespect toward any who posted photos here, but they all look to me like a newly set up shop, not one in which work is regularly performed on multiple projects. Workbenches are too clear, etc.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I wouldn’t do black ceilings. ***** too much light. Shows dust like a diamond in a goats a$$
Love the analogy!!
So after reading all the "comments" which I do appreciate, paralysis by analysis set in .... and I'm changing the ceiling to Trout Grey 2124-20 plus extra $$$!!
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OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I think avoiding a black ceiling is a wise choice in a working shop. Being able to see details properly is usually a major concern as you age in life. Visual improvements become more important than a cool look in daily activities.
I think even dark grey is an improvement. I have dark grey semi-gloss and the only place I am lacking light is the under cars on the lift.
If you think black shows dust, white will show way more. that is ultimately why I went for an alternate.
If you think black shows dust, white will show way more. that is ultimately why I went for an alternate.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'll be the contriain here. I think the dark ceiling looks better than white. Only a little light is reflected from the ceiling, more is from the walls and floor. The light fixtures are directing their output downward, not up to the ceiling. When my shop interior metal is finally done one day, it will be charcoal ceiling with white walls and a light gray flaked floor.
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Smilodon
Well-known member
My shop was clean and neat after a project so I took a picture. I had to go back to 2020 to find that one. The subject of the thread was paint jobs and I wanted a picture that showed the ceiling and lights, which were a big lifestyle improvement when I redid my garage.
That said, my shop is normally pretty neat and clean. It I'm not a full-time mechanic or constant project under construction guy, but I do work on stuff. I get no where near what some folks do in their shop here, but I've done a few projects in this shop and others. I have always had access to my Dad's place which has bigger stuff.
I do spend time cleaning up the shop and putting stuff away because I don't see the two things (doing work/clean and neat) as incompatible. I try to model things after a race team or aerospace operation.
I also have a section of the shop that is not under air and unfinished I used for messier stuff (like painting, etc.). And working on cars. But I try to drag the car parts into the "motorcycle" part of the shop because it is well-lit and air-conditioned!
Don't really have many pics of work going on here, simply because I am busy and don't take many pics when that kind of stuff is going on. Here's one I dug up, but not all that messy of a job...
Craig Balzer
Well-known member
I posted this image of my shop. It was the best photo I could fund that showed the lighting, wall/ceiling color and floor
It was taken within a week of my car coming out of loooong-term storage to start its restoration in April 2021.
/
If it makes you feel better, this shot was taken 21AUG26.
I am in my shop 6-7 days a week -- retirement is GOOD
