Lighting
Let there be light: Tips on the perfect interior and exterior lighting for your garage
A large ceiling light in the living room. A discreet floor lamp by the reading chair. A retro table lamp on the desk. Home owners always look to install the right lighting in each room. And the same should be true of the garage. Apart from anything else, it needs to be adequately lit so as to avoid scratching or denting your car when driving in and out. But the right lighting will also allow you to see people or animals in front of or inside the garage sooner, and react accordingly. Not least, good lighting can deter thieves. And you’ll need more light in any case if you’re going to be using the garage as a workshop or for storage. In such a scenario, a more sophisticated lighting concept might be a good idea, so that all your equipment is easy to find at all times. We provide useful hints and tips on interior and exterior lighting for your garage.
Garage interior lighting
Whether in a small garage just for a car or a larger space for DIY and hobby crafting – some basic lighting is essential everywhere. One issue is that many garages have no windows, and so no natural light. As a result, most people tend to opt for ceiling lights with a wide beam throw, multiple wall lights, or even both. While a light installed in the centre of the garage's ceiling will mostly just shine down on your vehicle’s roof, wall lights will also illuminate the areas around the sides of the garage. And that can be very helpful when parking. Tubular fluorescent lamps are mostly used for this purpose. Their advantage: They consume little power, but light up quickly and brightly, and flood the space with scattered light. But be aware: You need to consider not just the available space, but also the movement of the garage door. If you have a one-piece door, for example, it will retract under the ceiling when lifted, leaving only limited room for lighting. Likewise, if you have a side sectional door, you cannot use the side where the door slides inwards for wall lighting. When selecting lights, always pay attention to the IP rating, because it can get damp or dusty inside the garage. IP44, for example, signifies that the light is protected against penetration of solid foreign bodies over 1 mm in size and against splashing water. An IP54 rated light, for example, can withstand even tiny amounts of dust.
Garage exterior lighting
You should pay attention to the outside lighting around and in front of your garage as well as inside it. Attractive mood lighting which matches your house façade will not only showcase your garage and its door perfectly, but also provide better security. You can install wall lights on the left and right side of the garage door or spotlights on the front canopy for example. Linking the lighting to a motion detector is a tried and proven method, enhancing both convenience and security. The light comes on automatically as you approach the garage on foot or in your car, allowing you to see obstacles immediately when parking or subsequently entering the house. It then goes out again automatically after a set time. The pathway to the garage should also be optimally lit. This can be done by means of pole-mounted or free-standing lights that should be at least two metres high so as not to be blocked by vehicles. Smaller bollard lights are also an option. If you don't have so much space, you can recess lights into the ground. Above all, make sure there is enough lighting of steps, flower pots or large decorative elements that might all too easily be overlooked.
More light for working and hobby crafting
If you also use your garage as a workshop, studio or hobby space, you will generally need additional lighting in order to be able to keep working after dark. Additional wall lights or recessed spots can provide more light in some corners, or you can use LED strips. A lamp above the workbench that you can turn to exactly where you need the most light can also be beneficial.
Decisions to make before buying
The first street lamps came into service in Berlin back in 1882. A lot has changed in lighting technology since then. So you now have plenty of options to provide optimal lighting for your house and garage. The most commonly used lighting systems include LEDs, fluorescent tubes, energy-saving lamps and halogen spotlights. Energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes are a good choice where a light is going to be left on for a protracted period of time. Equally energy-efficient and low-cost LEDs have become increasingly popular in recent times. And if you need a lot of light quickly – such as to scare away burglars – you should use halogen spotlights to illuminate dark corners. So before you buy – or even better, before you build the garage – think very carefully about what lighting you want to use, and what level of brightness and colour you need.
