Any suggestions for replacing this light fixture?
by
Joy McAuley
+39
As an aging person and one who quilts, I am in need of very strong ceiling lights. I can replace the fixtures. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions?
Try an LCD bulb, a white light in the brightest rating.
I'd look for a multi bulb fixture, more bulbs more light.
Thanks so much for your reply. I will try this.
I recently replaced a similar fixture with an LED one. OMG! the difference in the amount of light was amazing.
What type of room this ( bedroom, office, is would determine my opinion
Bedroom, living room
i am not concerned with how the fixtures look. Just want bright lights
I agree that changing out the bulbs with LED and you will be amazed! They save energy and are a lot cooler.
Hey! My last name is the same as yours. We are in Alabama. Where are you?
If you plan on re-wiring, get on line and you will find step by step how to change your fixture in your room. Just make sure you turn the power off or you will have VERY curly hair!!! Good luck on your venture. I did it in my craft/sewing room and I am 73 yrs. old and still going strong.
Beverly.
The big box hardware stores carry screw in pendant lights. You can update your look and bring the lighting closer down to your work area. I put some in my den where there used to be pot lights in the ceiling. It's as easy as changing a light bulb, and you can use the LED lights as everyone suggested!
Go to pulsetv.com I just put in my order for 4 60watt LED bulbs that only cost 9.99. Also available in 75W at same price. They look similar to bulbs we grew up with. Tests show they can last about 20,000 hours. Don't get hot so won't melt your plastic shades on pole lamps. Not sure if you can put the cover back on your ceiling light fixture but you will get way more light. If you have a fixture that uses a dimmer switch they will work with that too. I recently bought a set and now I see how well they work I ordered 2 more packs today.
And NO I do not work for these people
In my sewing room I had the same problem. I purchased a 4ft "shop light", screwed 2 large cup hooks into the ceiling, hung the light with the enclosed chain & S hooks, ran an extension cord to a plug. Doesn't look so pretty but does the job.
I have the same fixtures and had the same issue. Went to Home Depot and bought LED bulbs in daylight I think they were 60 or 75 watt equivalent. Made a huge difference for about $15 per fixture. I used the flood lights like the ones that came out of the canned lighting. Now, I have plenty of light and the bulbs are plastic and do not hear the room. the higher the lumens on the package, the more light.
Apart from changing your bulbs to LED's , maybe a tall lamp with an LED bulb beside you would be the cheapest and easiest way out. There are claims that LED's are a 80%+ saving on power consumption.
wow, thanks so much for all your responses.......I surely appreciate your time and input....
You may not even need to change the fixture. It may just need a stronger light bulb. For my sewing room I like a 100 bulb for it's brightness.
There are lights for the ceiling,strip lighting but they are not so popular but very bright I cannot say if you would need an electrician.
Iv'e got 4 foot lights too for the very same reason. Don't get the new LED mess they don't give out enough light at all. I've actually got 4 -4ft tube lights in my sewing room. Love it
Ok, as an electrician's wife and electrical engineer's mom, I think I can safely tell you--no 100 watt bulbs!! That fixture isn't rated for it. And all you will do is waste electricity Try pendant fixture that pulls down. Haven't put one in a house for a long time, but I know they are available.
Check to make sure you are using the right strength of light bulb in the lamp. My husband says that the new Cree (manufacturer?) LED lights are much brighter than the earlier ones. They've come down in price, too. BUT I was going to say that I used coupons at JoAnn Fabrics to purchase Ottlites that are floor lamps. I use them when I am quilting. They have goose-necks and are adjustable. The replacement bulbs can be pricey, but we found a cheap(er) source online and ordered several. I have only needed to replace one bulb in the Ottlite over several years of use.
A pendant light will bring the light closer to your work area
I just took the "cover" off of mine. The bulbs are exposed, but I can see
Whatever light fixture you choose, purchase a dimmer. Make sure it is the correct one for the wattage. This way your light has many uses.
Buy an industrial ceiling pendant light at Lowe's or Home Depot. Very cheap and so easy to install. This one took me 20 minutes to install.
Joy, I needed brighter light in my garage workshop, working on small projects.
I had an old floor lamp, removed the fixture and mounted a small halogen work
light on top. Now I can use the light any where needed. Also you have to be careful
due halogen get pretty hot. I'll try and find a photo of my lamp.
Menards used to carry floor lamps with a goose neck and they had full spectrum lighting in them. They are great for any kind of handiwork you're doing plus show you the true colors of your fabric.
Replace your ceiling light with a pull-down light to bring bright light closer to your project.
with a ceiling light you will always have a shadow. You need the gooseneck to get task lighting.
I saw a very pricey LED lamp that clamps to your table, or was available as a floorlamp. My husband came up with an idea of using a small-ish LED lantern designed for use in a garage or workshop. It was not beautiful, but we already owned it, so we mounted it high up on the wall, above a closet door, and tilted the lens so that it shines upwards at the ceiling. It has 12 LED lights in it, and by aiming it at the ceiling, the light is spread out and diffused, it does not glare. To hide the ugly cord, we first used stick-on hooks to carry the cord to the outlet. Then, I wove a long, silk ivy garland along the cord. The on/off switch is located out of reach on the back of the lantern, so I leave that in the ON position, and just unplug when I want to turn the lantern off. Plenty of cool, glare-free light at very little cost, if you have to buy the lantern. Ours is square and flat, with adjustable legs/handles.
Personally, I'm a huge fan of any non-bluing LED light bulb that is comparable to 100 watts or above. The blue LED lighting seems to alter the appearance of colors through my eyes anyway... I think that once you put some seriously bright LED lights in there, you'll be quite pleased even with the opaque light difuser.
Hi Joy, if that is your work room, and you say you know how to install lighting, Home Depot or Lowes have what I call a cloud light which is a ceiling light that has a white diffused light shade and your light source is from either florescent or natural light tube bulbs. I have one in my work room and the light is great no shadows over my table and the light is even. The one I have is about 3 ft long and a foot wide and maybe 3 inches deep and is attached to the ceiling so that you can move around your work area. Mine kind of looks like this and I have had it up for years. Good Luck.
Lithonia Lighting Multi-Volt 2-Light White T5 Fluorescent High Output Wraparound Fixture-LB 2 54T5HO MVOLT MVPS - The Home Depot
Thank you for this info.
Hi Joy. We had those older version can lights and needed to change them to ones that didn't leak air into the room. We found a terrific new LED can light insert that fits over your existing can light. East retrofit, bright lights, and energy efficient all in one package! They cost about $30 at Lowe's or Menards.
I'm with you! A while back I found ceiling track lights that can replace a ceiling fixture at Lowes. Unfortunately they used halogen bulbs, which I don't like. (They are toxic if they break.) Your question prompted me to look again and I saw this at Home Depot online: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/pro-track-denise-4-light-bronze-led-track-fixture__1m203.html It uses LED bulbs and I think it will work nicely in my sewing room.
I'm a fan of fluorescent lighting for their brightness. I replaced a small fixture in my kitchen with a 4' 4 bulb fluorescent. Two screws secured it to the ceiling, it attached its wires through the existing hole and it completely covered the hole. I also buy full spectrum bulbs, sometimes several different bulbs, grow lights and such.
I HIGHLY suggest an OTT LIGHT for sewing. They make several different kinds of table lamps and floor lamps which is better direct light for sewing than a ceiling light. Look for coupons at JoAnn Fabrics or do a search online for the best deals. I've had mine for years and love it.