Garage Conversion - advice on lighting etc. please!

[Steve Hawley]

Happy New Year All!

After 4 years dithering, the integral double garage is finally getting converted into a (proper) room.
Whilst I'd love it to be full of pins, it will be a bit half and half with seating and a decent TV on the wall (3 pins are 'sufficient' evidently - but there's definitely a gap there... )
The ceiling has a beam across it, so I was thinking of GU10 spots plus hidden uplighting led strips (don't know what they are actually called).
The spots will probably be smart bulbs for maximum flexibility, the leds could be addressable or not.

Any advice on whether this is a good / bad idea as far as pinball is concerned - or positioning considerations.
Also, any other thoughts for the room (that aren't getting me divorced)

I've attached mockups of the room (using whatever was free images in planner5d) and lighting (although now I've come to draw it, it does look a lot!)

Any help appreciated!

Steve.

 

[DRD]

The obvious thing is no lights vertically above the machines.

Next is to have as many light switches as you can get. You might not be able to identify in advance which reflection causes annoyance until it is too late. You can easily buy 6 way light switches that go into a standard double wall plate.

I have a square room that takes 12 pins - 6 either side of walkway down the middle (to allow for glass removal). Even through my 3x led battens are above this walkway, i still like to turn the light off nearest to the pin I am playing.

LED strips attached to the wall behind the back boxes work well - but they may dazzle if you look square on between the backboxes. I put white insulation tape over these exposed sections.

I like floor lights under the games. Not the neatest solution in terms of plugs/ cabling - but an excellent light with no reflections at all:

Wessex 240V LED Portable Work Light

There’s nothing more frustrating than a poorly-lit workspace, so try this 240 V LED portable work light by Wessex Electrical to brighten up your site. It’s ideal if you’re working somewhere where the lighting has failed or hasn’t yet been installed. There’s also a range of helpful features and...

www.toolstation.com

 

[Fantazia2]

On that plan there is room for a 4th, possibly 5th pin. That's my suggestion.

 

[MadNat]

I used these downlights, so I could have complete flexibility - brightness, colour temp per downlight, controlled via an app. I have setup my preferred settings for pin playing or workshopping (you could have them for watching telly or listening to music/reading). I'm really happy with them. 75% or the time I walk in and switch on... and switch off, so very family friendly also