My 100+ year old house has a low-ceiling cellar with exposed joists. Currently the lighting is pendant lights that hang down, begging to be broken, and casting a crappy light on everything. I'm looking for ideas to light it up down there, and perhaps recess the lights between the joists. This could be a low-tech cheap solution (e.g., LED ropes), or pricier pro job. Whatever works ... please share any thoughts, personal experiences, etc....
CellarGameroom (resized).JPG
Here was my cheap DIY solution for my basement. All in for about $200 if I remember correctly.
The LED stuff taped to the wall by the ceiling was cheap and provides a nice even glow without glare. I have mine hooked up to smart switches. Here is an old photo from the original install.
Full details in this thread along with tips from others. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/led-strip-lights-at-top-of-wall-or-edge-of-ceiling#post-5860425
light (resized).jpgTrack lights with small adjustable spotlights and that are dimmable. You can put a nice spot on each machine and adjust to just the right brightness.
Quoted from TheLaw:Can lights are pretty standard between joists.
Not too expensive & you can do them yourself (depending on your familiarity with electricity).
I have used can lights extensively over the years, but I have found the new led "canless" lights even easier to use, though they are are designed for a drywall ceiling. However, you can do what they did here in the painted black ceiling, making little panels attached to the ceiling to mount the light.
Another light I have used where I did not have room for a can in the tight surface mounted lighted mounted directly to the electrical box which would be rigid metal conduit with metal boxes (the other two pics - replace the hanging pendants with the flush mounted led).
black (resized).jpglight (resized).pngrustic-exposed-beam-ceiling-in-a-shop (resized).jpgNo need for can lights these days, these Nora's are excellent. This one is 3000K so if you need it brighter there's a 5000K. Cheap and easy, throw it on a dimmer and you're set.
usually you don't want lights in a gameroom. Hence why Nice white GI's are so important in every game. but if you are doing lights, do them in the middle off the room over walkways. Never over or behind games, or you will get glare.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:usually you don't want lights in a gameroom. Hence why Nice white GI's are so important in every game. but if you are doing lights, do them in the middle off the room over walkways. Never over or behind games, or you will get glare.
Thanks Neo ... good point. I'm really looking for warm general illumination for the space that won't create lots of glare at any given pin. I'm thinking of recessing all the pendant lights and only using that circuit for when I'm working on pins/cleaning, and perhaps having a perimeter light, light rope, or scones for "play time".
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Asbury Park, NJ