How can I make my ceiling lights more dim?

August 2, 2013 5:15 AM

I have lights above my bed that look like this, and when turned on they are far too bright for me. How can I make the lighting dimmer and more relaxed?

According to the salesperson at the hardware store, these light bulbs are not available in a lower brightness. (The model is "Philips PL-BB 4P 27W/827"; I found this model on the Philips website, which is 10W, but I'm not sure it would be straightforward to buy these.)

I also can't install a dimmer on the light switch.

So, I am thinking of a way to cover the light fixture, e.g. with some sort of lampshade. What's something that would fit on this shape that would look nice and also be safe, i.e. not pose a fire hazard?

posted by lunchbox to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

For what it's worth, a bulb that's half as bright is a $7 Prime item. Same G24q-1 base.
posted by ftm at 5:22 AM on August 2, 2013

Find your local theatrical supply store and ask to buy a sheet of "gel" which you can use to add color optionally.... But more importantly you can buy diffusion gel (two primary brands of gel are Rosco and Lee) and the names of the specifics are "tough spun silk" or other stuff like that. Its very opaque can be cut to fit, designed for much hotter theatrical lights and costs about $12 a sheet. You can layer it to make it more diffuse, as I said add color, you can even poke holes or make a small cutout in the middle for a bright spot.... Great stuff for lighting projects.
posted by chasles at 5:40 AM on August 2, 2013

If you could do something to tone down the reflective silver casing the would become dimmer too.
posted by ellieBOA at 5:42 AM on August 2, 2013

I took one of these paper lanterns from Ikea and sort of folded it in half and put it up over a similar fixture in my room. (This only works if you're using bulbs that don't get too hot. Be ware of fire danger, but if those bulbs are CFC (like the one you linked to) you should be ok.
posted by mercredi at 5:49 AM on August 2, 2013

Can you replace the fixture?

Or better yet, google "Screw In Pendant Light".

They make lights that screw into the bulb sockets of pot lights. You can get one you like and put in the bulb you like.

Pretty, easy, functional.

Here is an example on Amazon.

Here's one that's interesting.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:48 AM on August 2, 2013

The Philips lamp you're using now is 27W; the possible replacement you linked to is 10W. If you can get one, that would cut the light down considerably. It's not important to maintain the brand when you replace, so long as the socket-shape is the same. That pin base, as ftm says, is called G24q-1. (and unfortunately that means you can't use screw-base add-on products like Ruthless Bunny suggested.)
The lamp that ftm linked is 13W and easily available, but it's a high CCT (bluish looking light), which tends to feel brighter than it actually is. So's the Philips 10W you suggested, for that matter. For a bedroom, you'd be better off with warmer/yellower light, like this 2700K 13W.

Now, that's going to fix the light output, so it won't be too bright in the room... but maybe over-lighting is not really the problem. Whoever decided to put bare-bulb spotlight-like downlights in a bedroom was really not thinking clearly. I assume that part of the problem is, you can't lounge horizontally with the lights on because you're looking up at the ceiling, and those bare bulbs are freaking bright, and make glare-spots. Choosing a dimmer bulb will make that glarey lamp half as bright, but that might not really help, it'll still be a bare bulb. What you need is a diffuser, to cover up that glare source.

That paper lantern is actually a great suggestion, because it's lightweight and you can basically pin it up, instead of trying to hack incompatible hardware together to hang a real (glass, metal, heavy) light fixture. You could also pin the 4 corners of a square of fabric to the ceiling, to make a draped cover, but again, be careful of heat, and hang it loosely to make sure there's air flow around the bulb. If you wanted to "do it right", you could measure the size (diameter) of the existing fixture, take a few photos to Home Depot or a lighting store, and ask if they sell trim covers that are compatible, or if you'd need to replace the trim entirely (basically install a new fixture).
posted by aimedwander at 8:03 AM on August 2, 2013 [2 favorites]