Let’s agree that providing lighting for your shed is not only just another option but also a necessity. Whether your shed is a workplace, a storage solution, or a cozy place for isolation from time to time, shed lighting options may differ but still exist in most cases.
There are two basic types of lighting you can provide your shed with:
a) Natural light
b) Artificial light
Natural light is of course the light provided by the sun during the daytime. It is free, ecological, with benefits for our health and mood, and plenty depending on the weather and the orientation of your shed.
Table of Contents
Natural Light
The orientation of the shed
You can use sunlight to illuminate your shed during the day.
To take full advantage of sunlight you need to know how the sun’s orbit is shaped during the day and in all seasons.
Unless we live on the equator, the sun’s orbit is not vertical above our heads. For the inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere, the orbit of the sun from East to West has a slope to the South which grows and becomes maximum in winter.
If we live in the Northern Hemisphere, that is, we see the sun orbiting low in the sky in the South. Summer is higher in the sky but again in the South.
For the inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere, Sun is still moving from east to west, but to see its orbit they must turn north.
We have light from all sides. But if we place large windows on the South Side, in addition to plenty of light we will have direct sunlight which may prevent us from working inside the shed. We will also have increased flows of thermal energy that may be undesirable.
For example, if we use the shed to keep wine barrels, we would like low temperatures all year round, so we would not want any windows for light, especially on the south side of the shed.
Having the above in mind and depending on our needs and the usage of the shed we can put as many openings and windows as we want, in the right place and with the right size.
It is wise to determine the openings before you complete the structure of the shed in order to avoid opening holes in the walls afterward.
Artificial light
Shed lighting is made simple: artificial lighting options to brighten your shed.
It’s crucial to have ample lighting in your shed because you need to be able to find whatever you’re looking for at any time of day or night. If your shed’s not properly lit, you could hurt yourself or cause an accident! Shed lighting is made simple: artificial lighting options to brighten your shed:
What type of light do I need?
There are three main types of artificial shed lights. The first is incandescent, which uses a tungsten filament in a glass bulb. These lights give off heat as well as light and are not very energy efficient—you’ll be paying more on your electricity bill than you would on gas or LED lights.
Halogen is another option and it creates a brighter glow than incandescent with less energy usage, but it also produces a lot of heat; therefore, most halogen sheds don’t come with a fan. And finally, LED (light emitting diodes) can produce crisp and clear illumination without any of these drawbacks.
It’s also one of the safest options because there’s no open flame or toxic materials involved. However, keep in mind that even though LEDs use up to 90% less energy than other forms of light, they do cost more initially. But once you factor in their long lifespan and low maintenance costs over time, they’re actually cheaper overall.
If you’re trying to decide between LED and halogen for your shed lighting needs, consider how much time you spend inside your shed versus outside; if it’s mostly an outdoor space where you store things like gardening tools and lawn mowers then LED might be a better fit for that particular application.
How many lumens do I need to light my shed?
If you’re looking for a way to light up an indoor or outdoor area, chances are you’ve heard of lumens; and if not, it’s time for a refresher! Lumens are units of measurement used by scientists, engineers, and electricians alike as a metric for brightness from lamps, light bulbs, and other types of light sources.
They represent how much visible light output (measured in terms of candela) that any given device is capable of emitting. For example, a 100-watt incandescent bulb emits about 1,600 lumens; while a 60-watt fluorescent bulb emits about 2,000 lumens.
The higher the lumen rating of any given lamp or light source – whether incandescent or fluorescent – means more brightness overall. So how many lumens do you need to light your shed? It depends on what type of space you’re trying to illuminate. As a general rule, however, experts recommend between 500 and 5,000 lumens per square foot when choosing artificial lights for sheds.
Of course, if you have larger spaces to cover with artificial lighting – such as garages or workshops – then it might be worth investing in brighter bulbs with correspondingly higher lumen ratings.
How do I install my shed lights?:
You have two choices when installing your new shed lights: you can either mount them directly to the walls or ceiling or hang them from cables. The latter option allows for greater flexibility since it doesn’t require any modifications to your existing structure; however, mounting them directly will provide a cleaner look and make future repairs easier.
No matter what type of installation method you choose, remember that you need at least 20 watts per square foot of floor space in order to create adequate lighting conditions.
This will ensure all corners are lit properly so there are no dark spots lurking around while deterring insects from building nests near your expensive equipment.
Where should I put the lights?
Installing shed lights is as easy as putting them in the correct spots. Choose a location for the light that is close to your usual route when you enter the shed, but not so close that it would impede on working in the back of the shed. While you should leave plenty of clearance around the fixture to avoid accidental damage, don’t skimp out on wattage.
The best bulbs will give off at least 1000 lumens per foot, and if possible opt for LED or fluorescent bulbs. These types of bulbs will provide even illumination without any hot spots or dark areas.
It also helps to have an assortment of different bulb colors available; white and warm yellow are great choices for most sheds since they closely resemble natural sunlight. Blue or red can be used to highlight certain items within your shed, such as tools.
If you’re looking for ways to add color to your garden while providing some extra light, try installing some low-wattage colored bulbs into your existing fixtures.
What kind of power source do I need?
Choosing a power source for artificial shed lights is important because each offers a different set of benefits and drawbacks. The most common options are solar power, generator power, and main power—and choosing one over another depends on what’s best for you, both environmentally and monetarily.
Solar power sheds light on a greener environment by avoiding emissions that come with grid-supplied electricity; however, it can be difficult to keep up in areas where sunlight isn’t abundant or when clouds obscure sun rays.
On top of that, batteries can degrade quickly depending on how often they’re charged. Generator power is more expensive than other forms of lighting but also more reliable; generators don’t require sunlight and are less likely to run out of charge than batteries during extended periods without use.
Finally, using main power involves plugging into an outlet like any other electrical device—but unlike other methods, it doesn’t need an additional battery pack or generator as backup.
Can I use natural and artificial lighting together?
Since natural lighting is best for plants and allows you to put plants close to windows, combining natural lighting with artificial lighting can be a good choice.
Also, if you have many small artificial lights and use them in addition to natural light from one window, you will get even better results. The most efficient choice is, of course, if you have some orchid species that require strong light intensity for successful cultivation.
In these cases, you must use an artificial light source as supplementary lighting. You should also consider how much time each day you want to spend on keeping up with your plants—if there are only a few hours of sunlight per day, it might not make sense to rely solely on natural lighting.
What happens if something goes wrong with my lights?
So you’ve finally done it, you’ve purchased your brand new set of lights for your garden shed; now all you need to do is fit them and sit back and enjoy admiring them as they illuminate away in their new home! Of course, nothing ever runs that smoothly when it comes to DIY, so what happens if something goes wrong? It’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of how your lights work, and how you can fix any issues which might arise.
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