It’s officially December.
The short days send pale dawns seeping into quick sunsets after only a few hours of light. For those of us on normal work hours, it can almost seem unfair to get up in the dark only to be plunged into the darkness again on our way home.
Thankfully, your shed or garden house can easily convert to a shining refuge through these winter nights. Whether you’re using the space for storage, a workshop, or a garden getaway, you’ll need good lighting. Read on to learn how to light up your shed inside and out.
Inside
No power in your shed?
Battery-powered LED lanterns and battery-pack string lights (also called fairy lights) are simple solutions for for diffuse lighting. If you get a good LED lantern many have the option to convert to a hanging flashlight that can be used to focus in on projects. Don’t skimp here. Get several light sources so you can see what you’re doing. (Do you need power? Click [[[here]]]] to see our article on running power to your structure.)
I have the power!
Great! Get yourself a surge-protected power strip and let’s get crackin’! Diffuse lighting can take the form of mounted LED light strips (great for mood lighting if you get the color changing ones!) or 1-2 inspection lamps for the more spartan among us. Both options are quick and easy to install with just you and a stepladder. For concentrated project lighting, consider a mounted light bar above the work desk, or a classic anglepoise (y’know, the classic Pixar lamp).
Looking for comfort? Try a traditional table lamp and LED tealights for a fire-safe, homey feel in a garden house.
Make the most of your light by installing mirrors. They’ll bounce the light, giving you double your money’s worth, and allow you to see behind rails, panels and large tools that would otherwise be a literal pain in the neck to check. Even cheap door mirrors can make a big difference. Just be careful to install them away from any potential projectiles. You don’t want seven years of bad luck!
Outside
Exterior lighting is very useful in these short days for projects, lighting up the kids playing, and for security. If you have power, some big 150-watt flood lights should do the trick. If you don’t, look for solar panel attachments you can rig to the roof. Security lights sometimes include a solar power supply. Set them to “motion-sensing” and you won’t need to worry about them running dim.
Holiday lighting in your shed or garden house can really bring some cheer to your backyard! Deck the halls and make a mini light show just for you and your family.
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