Without drop ceiling light panels, offices would have to spend a lot more money on light fixtures. However, thanks to this great feature of a dropped ceiling, lighting can be incorporated right into the ceiling without any hassle. Usually a fluorescent bulb is placed above a translucent panel, which allows light through. Coming in several shapes and sizes, drop ceiling light panels are a versatile weapon in to update your home or office lighting arsenal.
Places to Use Drop Ceiling Light Panels
Kitchens
In the 1960s, these were commonly built into kitchens, and that style is starting to come back.
Workrooms
If you’ve got a workroom, you’ll need plenty of light to complete your project. Florescent lighting is great for remaining alert and allowing you to see what you need done. Colored panels can also be a fun addition.
Offices
When needing to light a large area,panels are a good option. It’s recommended to have 4 of these panels to light a 75 square foot area, so a few lights can really go a long way. In addition, panels don’t need regular dusting like light fixtures do. Dust building up in light fixtures can inflame employee allergies, hurting productivity. That’s why panels can actually be good for employee health.
Another great attribute of these lights is the flexibility you have with them. For example, what if a whole clusters of employees is moved to a poorly lit part of the office? This will be no problem, because you can easily install or move existing panels over to the ill-lit section.
Custom Light Panels
Some light panels are more than just light panels. They can be made to resemble the outdoors, or a skylight. This can boost employee morale by giving them the fun of a skylight right in the middle of the office.
Other custom panels are made for improved energy efficiency, such as those that burn at a lower heat to reduce energy consumption. Others are designed to run at a low brightness level, to reduce the glare you’d get on a computer or television screen.
A few places to buy custom light panels include Stratus Designs and The Sky Factory, which sell unique and attractive custom panels. Not only do they sell nature-resembling lights, they also supply lights that come in rainbow and other bright designs.
Cost
These panels can be pretty expensive (about $100 per panel), but the lights they use last for a long time. In the long run, it may be worth the cost because they won’t need much upkeep.
Disadvantages
While they are easy to install, drop ceiling light panels are brittle and can crack or break fairly easily. That’s why you need to take care when putting them in your ceiling. Also, some people think that drop ceiling light panels (and drop ceiling panels in general) give a room an industrial feel.
Drop ceiling light panels are lightweight, functional, and customizable. Unless you run a luxury building, there is probably a light panel out there to meet your needs. Shop around a little and you should find the right one for you.