Help with lighting a low ceiling office

[killahog]

I was all set to remodel my basement office with recessed lights unit i discovered the ceiling is actually a concrete slab covered with a thin sheet of panel board . The overall height of the room is 6 feet 5 inches. I am 5'6 I am looking for recommendations

 

[Shiftless]

I was all set to remodel my basement office with recessed lights unit i discovered the ceiling is actually a concrete slab covered with a thin sheet of panel board . The overall height of the room is 6 feet 5 inches. I am 5'6 I am looking for recommendations

Home Depot and others have edge lit LED panel lights that are 24 inches square but only half an inch thick. Sure, they cost a lot of money compared to ordinary light fixtures but you have a special case requiring special solutions.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Home Depot and others have edge lit LED panel lights that are 24 inches square but only half an inch thick. Sure, they cost a lot of money compared to ordinary light fixtures but you have a special case requiring special solutions.

I was going to say that too, but keep in mind that the driver protrudes from the back of the panel about 2". A possible solution to that is to remove and relocate the driver.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Do you absolutely need lights in the ceiling? What about some standing lamps and some task lighting where you need it instead?

Would that work? My father made an office/craft room in his basement for my mother years ago, and his ceilings are low also.

He put two lights in the ceiling but they are so low they don't really light up the room other than what is pretty much directly below them.

My mom went out and bought some standing lamps and some desk lamps to use for task lighting and that really did more for lighting up the room than the ceiling lights.

Just my .02.

Jim

 

[simpler=better]

Get the 1/2" thick ones from these guys:

http://www.lotusledlights.com/

 

[CJ7VFR]

Get the 1/2" thick ones from these guys:

http://www.lotusledlights.com/

Those are cool lights, but it says the junction box for all their sizes are 1 1/8 inches thick. So you need a bit more room to install them above the ceiling than just a half inch unless you want the junction boxes exposed.

But they are nice!

Jim

 

[cybrdyke]

I agree with CJ7VFR. I dont think ceiling lights are appropriate for a 6' 5" ceiling, especially with the mounting limitations that you have.
You can easily light the space with wall sconces, an LED tape around the perimeter of the ceiling, and task lighting. Use "uplighting" to bounce light off the ceiling so that it scatters throughout the space.
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

Get the 1/2" thick ones from these guys:

http://www.lotusledlights.com/

Lumens per $1 is likely prohibitive. I'd expect the 2'x2' flat panel edge lit to be more cost effective and a thinner end result solution (after relocating the driver) since they don't require additional heat sinks.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Use "uplighting" to bounce light off the ceiling so that it scatters throughout the space.
CD

That is exactly what my mom did. The standing lamps she had were the kind that had a shade that was open on top so it would not only bounce the light off the ceiling, but also put out some light from the sides.

My dad also put some lights under the cabinets for additional task lighting. Back when they did the room in 1990, there was no such thing as LED lights yet, and they put in the short 18 inch fluorescent under cabinet lights.

What is funny is that 26 years later, almost all of those original fluorescent light bulbs still work! I think they only had to replace one or two of them in all these years.

Jim

 

[ForceFed70]

Do you absolutely need lights in the ceiling?
Jim

Another person agreeing with Jim.

They've got all sorts of lamps designed like this, and wall sconces are a great option as well.

With a ceiling that low you don't want anything hanging down as people will hit their heads on whatever is hanging down.

 

[cg81]

Recessed can lights?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Recessed can lights?

Won't work per original post.

I was all set to remodel my basement office with recessed lights unit i discovered the ceiling is actually a concrete slab covered with a thin sheet of panel board.

 

[ForceFed70]

Recessed can lights?

I was all set to remodel my basement office with recessed lights unit i discovered the ceiling is actually a concrete slab covered with a thin sheet of panel board

Ummm? I assume you didn't read the post? Or are you suggesting he somehow break up the concrete to install cans?

 

[simpler=better]

Ummm? I assume you didn't read the post? Or are you suggesting he somehow break up the concrete to install cans?

6" coring bit and you can use a rework can!