Maybe you are looking to cut down on your electricity bill and think that the garage would be a great place to start.
Maybe you have recently suffered a blown fuse or another kind of electrical malfunction and are forced to improvise with another way to light your garage space.
Maybe you simply have a DIY spirit and are eager to play around with your garage.
Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to try and illuminate your garage but cannot or don’t want to do so with a conventional electrically-wired setup.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to light your garage without having to resort to electrical wiring.
1 – Solar Lighting
There is no denying that solar power has come a long way in the past few decades. Many see it as one of the energy sources of the future, so why not make an investment in it here and now for your garage?
What’s more, solar energy is obviously much better for the environment than traditional lightbulbs, so not only will you be saving money with your investment, but you’ll be doing a bit to help save the planet as well.
It’s a little thing, but in the grand scheme of things, those little actions add up – and with the way things are trending, every bit of eco-friendly action counts.
If you have solar paneling in your home, then congratulations – you may already have some of the components in place to make solar lighting a reality.
Consider your existing setup in terms of how the power flows from your panels to whatever generator you’re using and reconfigure it to bypass any electrical system in your home and instead put it right into the solar lighting itself.
2 – Portable Generator
Maybe you don’t want to have to deal with electrical wiring, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have any form of electrical generation in your garage. A portable generator can be a great option if you don’t have electrical wiring in a space but still want to enjoy the same kind of lights it can power.
Of course, a generator can be noisy, especially when compared to relatively-silent solar options. If that’s a major concern for you, the other options on this list are all silent and likely better choices.
What’s more, portable generators can use a lot more power and petrol than solar-powered options, making them a worse option environmentally-speaking.
On the other hand, as the name would imply, this option is by far the best for those looking to take their garage light show on the road with them.
If the reason you’re looking for an electrical wiring-free method of lighting garages in the first place is because you’re going from garage to garage, or staying at one that doesn’t have an already existent lighting setup, then a portable method such as this is ideal.
What’s more, the best portable generators tend to have a long lifespan. They certainly last longer than mere batteries.
3 – Try Candles
This is a good option for those seeking a truly low-tech way of illuminating their garage. It isn’t as though there is a whole lot of technique that needs to be considered here – simply choose a few candles that you like, light them, and voila.
That being said, like all seemingly simple steps, there’s obviously a lot more to it than that.
For one thing, you naturally need to make sure that the candles are situated securely on a shelf or similar space so that they don’t topple over and accidentally start a fire.
In addition, you’ll need to give some thought as to how big of a candle you want to use, and how many.
A larger candle doesn’t always mean a brighter one, but depending on the consistency of the wax, it can mean a candle that burns longer. On the other hand, the arrangement of candles can do a lot to brighten up the room.
This is important, since you don’t want to stumble in the darkness because you used an insufficient amount of candles.
What’s more, you need to make sure that you are using candles for the “right” reason. All that shadow and flickering light really isn’t the best lighting setup for using power tools or doing auto work.
So why consider candles at all?
It depends on what you’re using your garage for in the first place.
If you transform your garage into a recreation center, for example, candles can be a great alternative to electric lights when you want a calmer tone.
Meditation, yoga, games or drinks with friends – they can all become surprisingly atmospheric and all the more enjoyable via candlelit ambience in your garage.
4 – Install a Skylight
If you are looking to maximize the decorating advantages of cutting down on electrical lighting and want to add to the overall value of your home, installing a skylight might be a masterstroke of genius.
There are several other pros to skylights, not the least of which being that it’s another method of natural lighting that is eco-friendly. Pairing this with the solar lights can be a great one-two eco-conscious combo.
Economically, that pairing can also be quite beneficial. Skylights alone have the potential to cut your energy bill by as much as 10.1%.
What’s more, garages can be notoriously grimy and filled with all manner of muck and mold. By letting in some natural light, skylights can reduce the chances of a serious mold infestation or other potential fungal issues that can present a health risk or damage your property.
While it’s true that skylights can take a fair amount of installation work and money upfront, when done properly, they can repay that investment many times over.
If you are looking for a new way to light your garage while turning the lights off on conventional electrical power, any one of these options can shine through for you. Let the lightbulb go off in your head, take them out of your garage, and “Let There Be Light!”
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies…I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house.