Making sure your pool table has enough room is a necessary part of enjoying pool at home. Additionally, you need a place to keep pool cues, balls, and racks when not in use. However, pool table lighting fixtures are a crucial component that is frequently disregarded. To assist you decide whether you need a pool table light, we cordially encourage you to look over our information.
Why Do I Need Lights Over a Pool Table?
To play the game and view shots clearly, a pool table must have lights over it. Without sufficient lighting, players might have a hard time locating the balls, which would make shoots more challenging. Furthermore, overhead lighting makes the table visible from all sides and makes it simple for players to identify the color of the balls. Additionally, the right lighting fixtures aid in removing shadows, improving visibility throughout the entire playing area.
What Should I Look For When Buying Billiard Lighting?
When purchasing billiard lighting to hang above your pool table, you should take the following into account:
Size: Make sure the lighting fixtures you select are adequate in size to completely illuminate your pool table.
Style: Pick a design and finish that go well with your pool table and room’s aesthetic.
Lighting: Look for lights that will give enough light for playing without producing an excessive amount of glare or shadows.
Installation: Make sure the light fixture you buy is simple to install and works with your existing wiring configuration.
Location: Consider where you want to hang your lights so they don’t get in the way of the action or pose a safety risk when players approach shots from various angles all around the table.
Are Pool Table Lights Necessary?
It depends on how the game room or pool room is set up. For instance, extra over-the-table lighting may not be required for daylight play if your pool table is in a room with numerous windows and enough of natural light. For evening play, you would need lighting above your pool table.
On the other hand, pool table lights are required to maintain sufficient illumination if your pool table is situated in a room of your house that receives little natural light, such as the basement.
How Bright Should a Pool Table Light Be?
The lights should be bright enough to completely illuminate your pool table’s playing surface without creating any glare or shadows. Generally speaking, depending on the size and shape of your space, it is advised that you utilize lighting fixtures with at least three or more bulbs for a full-sized pool table.
Additionally, for the following advantages, it is advised that you utilize LED bulbs with your table lights:
Energy Efficient: Compared to conventional lighting, LED bulbs can save you up to 80% on energy costs, which can eventually reduce your monthly electric bill.
Longer Lifespan: Compared to traditional bulbs, LEDs have a substantially longer lifespan, lasting up to 50,000 hours as opposed to 1,000–2,000 hours for incandescent or halogen lights.
Better vision and clarity: while playing pool are made possible by LEDs’ improved brightness and color accuracy as compared to alternative light sources.
Flexibility: Compared to traditional lighting alternatives, LED lights may be lowered substantially lower without compromising brightness or color accuracy. This makes them perfect for pool table lighting requirements as different sections around the table surface may require different illumination levels.
Pool Table Lighting Requirements
To ensure that your lighting fixtures are installed properly, you should be aware of the following standards for pool table lighting:
- Pick a light source that will adequately illuminate the entire playing area.
- Pick a look and feel that goes well with your pool table.
Make sure there are enough lamps to completely remove shadows. - The area where the lights are installed shouldn’t obstruct play. Because more wiring could be needed and you want to ensure that your lights are done in accordance with current building requirements, you should hire a professional electrician to install the lights.
- Ask an electrician to confirm that you don’t need an additional breaker and that your breaker box can handle the load.
How to Choose the Best Pool Table Lights
Your particular preferences and interests should guide your decision regarding the ideal pool table lighting for your house. There are numerous styles and designs of lights, including some of the following:
- Designs with a Classical Flair: These designs frequently have metal frames with glass or diffuser panels to soften the light. They are available in a range of finishes, including bronze, brass, chrome, and others.
- Modern Designs: Sleek lines and simple shapes are often used in more contemporary designs to give any space a fashionable appearance. They come in a variety of hues, from vivid white to neutral shades like black or gray.
- Industrial Designs: With exposed bulbs and tough steel frames, these lamps give your pool table setting an industrial-chic feel.
- Tiffany Style Lights: Also referred to as stained glass lights, these fixtures have elaborate patterns on vivid glass panels that nicely diffuse the light and give your game room decor a distinctive look.
- Retro/vintage: Vintage-style fixtures are ideal if you want to create a more retro atmosphere. They have striking hues and unusual shapes that will give your pool table setup some character.
