Lighting for sunroom
#1
09-29-19, 09:23 AM
Lighting for sunroom
Hi all,
We have a 14x14 sun room with vaulted ceiling. It gets plenty of light during the day but at night all we have is a light kit on ceiling fan. We'd like additional lighting for reading and entertaining. Running electrical into the ceiling is not an option.
I was thinking maybe traditional track lights along the lower part of ceiling beneath skylights (see photos) but not sure if this would have a spotlight effect on people sitting under them (or if track lights are out of fashion). Any other ideas? It's an informal room, so maybe cafe string lights around the perimeter above the windows ? Would like to keep the rustic feel but also don't want it to look tacky.
Thanks, Don
We have a 14x14 sun room with vaulted ceiling. It gets plenty of light during the day but at night all we have is a light kit on ceiling fan. We'd like additional lighting for reading and entertaining. Running electrical into the ceiling is not an option.
I was thinking maybe traditional track lights along the lower part of ceiling beneath skylights (see photos) but not sure if this would have a spotlight effect on people sitting under them (or if track lights are out of fashion). Any other ideas? It's an informal room, so maybe cafe string lights around the perimeter above the windows ? Would like to keep the rustic feel but also don't want it to look tacky.
Thanks, Don
#2
09-29-19, 07:08 PM
Group Moderator
Thread moved to lighting forum.
How are those collar tie looking beams constructed ?
They look like two side by side pieces and hollow in the middle ?
How are those collar tie looking beams constructed ?
They look like two side by side pieces and hollow in the middle ?
#3
09-30-19, 04:40 AM
Group Moderator
Whatever you do there are going to be wires/conduit visible unless you are willing to go into the walls or ceiling to run wiring. You could do LED tape lights on top of the collar ties aiming up to illuminate the wood ceiling. You could put low profile LED lights on the ceiling. Conduit to them won't look any worse than the track of a track light.
You almost certainly have a chase or some path along the ridge. You could install a couple ceiling boxes, one on either side of the ceiling fan. Then have a hanging pendant light on either end of the room.
You almost certainly have a chase or some path along the ridge. You could install a couple ceiling boxes, one on either side of the ceiling fan. Then have a hanging pendant light on either end of the room.
#4
09-30-19, 06:38 AM
You could put lighting on the beams.
The challenge is going to be getting power up to the beams.
Then you can run the wiring along the top of the beams to the fixtures.
Once you figure that out then you have many options on the type of lighting fixtures you can use.
You might even be able to mount ceiling LEDs between the beams with the bottom of the fixture aligned with the bottom of the beam so you get the widest light coverage.
Have them on a dimmer and then you will have control of the brightness.
Be sure if you go the LED route that you get dimmable bulbs, if they do not specify then they are not dimmable.
As far as a cafe lights get a lo cots string and try it,
If you do ot like the effect then you have not wasted a lot of money.
Note that most of these do not throw a lot of light.
At least the ones I am familiar with. They are more for accent lighting than actually lighting up a room.
The challenge is going to be getting power up to the beams.
Then you can run the wiring along the top of the beams to the fixtures.
Once you figure that out then you have many options on the type of lighting fixtures you can use.
You might even be able to mount ceiling LEDs between the beams with the bottom of the fixture aligned with the bottom of the beam so you get the widest light coverage.
Have them on a dimmer and then you will have control of the brightness.
Be sure if you go the LED route that you get dimmable bulbs, if they do not specify then they are not dimmable.
As far as a cafe lights get a lo cots string and try it,
If you do ot like the effect then you have not wasted a lot of money.
Note that most of these do not throw a lot of light.
At least the ones I am familiar with. They are more for accent lighting than actually lighting up a room.
#6
09-30-19, 08:52 AM
Dane,
Yes the ridge has a chase with conduit inside. Conduit source is in the attic not visible in the photos. When first planning this project I thought about placing hanging/pendant lights on either side of the fan centered between the collar ties and inner/outer walls but was outvoted by wife. I don't recall the reason, maybe too cluttered or obstructing view. That would have placed them about 26" from the wall.
Don
Yes the ridge has a chase with conduit inside. Conduit source is in the attic not visible in the photos. When first planning this project I thought about placing hanging/pendant lights on either side of the fan centered between the collar ties and inner/outer walls but was outvoted by wife. I don't recall the reason, maybe too cluttered or obstructing view. That would have placed them about 26" from the wall.
Don
#7
09-30-19, 08:56 AM
Manden, are you suggesting cans betweent the collar ties? That is an interesting idea, not sure how much space is in between them. Might only be 3 1/2".
Don
Don
#8
09-30-19, 09:38 AM
Yes that was the idea.
You have to get a measurement of the distance between the collar ties.
I know that you can get them with a 4 inch face plate but the required hole opening is less.
Then all you have to do is figure out how to mount them so that they look ecstatically pleasing.
You have to get a measurement of the distance between the collar ties.
I know that you can get them with a 4 inch face plate but the required hole opening is less.
Then all you have to do is figure out how to mount them so that they look ecstatically pleasing.
#9
09-30-19, 09:47 AM
Member
I suggest that you install LED tubes like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...4-HD/206665638
up inside the collar ties. They can be supported from the top of the ties with a hook or metal strap used for mounting fixtures to electric outlet boxes.
Wiring on the side wall could be in surface Wiremold from the power source.
I have a similar situation in my vacation home. There in a 16X20 s.f. 2-story room I have a 12 foot run of six 4 foot LED tubes mounted on a wall about 3 feet below the junction with the cathedral ceiling with a 1X6 solid wood baffle in front of them. The light shines up onto the ceiling and down along the wall and provides plenty of light for reading and general activities. Your light would be distributed even more with tubes between each set of collar ties. You would only need single tubes not double as I have.
up inside the collar ties. They can be supported from the top of the ties with a hook or metal strap used for mounting fixtures to electric outlet boxes.
Wiring on the side wall could be in surface Wiremold from the power source.
I have a similar situation in my vacation home. There in a 16X20 s.f. 2-story room I have a 12 foot run of six 4 foot LED tubes mounted on a wall about 3 feet below the junction with the cathedral ceiling with a 1X6 solid wood baffle in front of them. The light shines up onto the ceiling and down along the wall and provides plenty of light for reading and general activities. Your light would be distributed even more with tubes between each set of collar ties. You would only need single tubes not double as I have.
#10
09-30-19, 10:11 AM
Group Moderator
Tube or LED strips in the middle of the collar tie pointed down is probably what's needed.
Pointing up would be ineffective with a dark ceiling.
Pointing up would be ineffective with a dark ceiling.
2john02458
voted this post useful.
