How to Replace Your Mobile Home’s Interior Lighting

Improving your interior lighting can make a big difference, especially if your mobile home has limited natural light. Things like hanging lights and chandeliers can instantly make a room feel brighter. But this is one of those projects we never seem to come around to.

Look up. Does your ceiling or fan look old or dirty? Are the light fixtures outdated? Maybe they’re not working as well as they used to. If you said yes to any of these, it might be time to get to work.

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about upgrading your interior lighting, from why it’s important to how you can do it yourself.

Why Replace or Upgrade Your Current Lighting?

Improving your home’s lighting can make a big difference in how each room feels. If your lighting is old or outdated, it can make your space feel dark, cramped, and uninspiring. By upgrading your interior lighting, you can:

• Enhanced Aesthetics: Lighting sets the mood and atmosphere of your home. Upgrading to fixtures that match your style can transform the look and feel of your space, making it more inviting and visually appealing.
• Improve Energy Efficiency: Older lighting fixtures often use more electricity than necessary. Switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs or fixtures can significantly reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills.
• Better Functionality: Better lighting can make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. Whether you’re cooking in the kitchen, reading in the living room, or getting ready in the bathroom, proper lighting is essential for functionality.

Upgrading Your Current Interior Lighting

If you’re happy with your current interior lighting but it needs a little sprucing up, try these simple tips and tricks to get it looking great again.

Freshen Up with New Shades

Let’s start by giving your fixtures a new look with new covers. This upgrade works wonders for both lights and fans.

How to Replace Your Shades

1. Turn off the lights or fan using the wall switch. Wait for the fan to stop spinning and the bulb to cool.
2. Loosen and remove the thumbscrews holding the old shade in place.
3. Find a suitable replacement, such as Mobile Home Parts Store 6″ Glass Globe or Square Glass Shade.
4. Attach the new shade using thumbscrews. If it doesn’t fit securely, you can use a glue gun to add adhesive to the fittings.

Add a Splash of Color

If you still like the shape of your fixture, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. You can use this makeover to refresh worn-out colors and facades or to hide minor scratches and bumps. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to update your lights or fans.

How to Paint Your Light Fixture

• Turn off the lights or fan using the wall switch and wait for them to stop and cool down.
• Remove the fixture by unscrewing the light bulb first, then the rest of the structure.
• Disassemble a cardboard box and place the fixture on it. Use painter’s tape inside the light socket.
• Choose a well-ventilated area and consider using a face mask.
• For a neat paint job, remove the fan blades or any other separate parts and paint them separately.
• Clean all parts with a cloth and lukewarm water.
• Apply a metal primer if necessary, or gently sand lacquered wood fixtures.
• Use spray paint to apply thin, even coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. Repeat this process at least two or three times.

How to Replace Your Interior Lighting

Sometimes, it’s not possible to fix everything. Even if you make small changes, it might not be enough if your interior lighting is damaged or outdated. In such cases, you may need to replace the entire fixture. You can purchase a new one that matches your current decor, such as Design House’s Satin Nickel 5 Light Chandelier or Satin Nickel Light Fixture with Alabaster Globe.

Switching up your mobile home’s indoor lighting is easy once you know how. Here’s a simple guide to walk you through it step by step:

Prepare for the Project

• Turn off the electrical power to the fixture at the electrical panel. Make sure no power is present at the fixture using a voltage tester. Do not rely on a wall switch to protect you from electrical shock.
• Set aside anything that can be installed after hanging the fixture, such as globes, glass panels, light bulbs, and other components.
• Consider the weight of the fixture. Use the existing electric box if the new fixture is similar in weight to the old one. For heavier fixtures, install a box designed for more weight.
• To safely hang the fixture, support its weight and create a good work surface by screwing a platform to the top of a stepladder using drywall screws or ask for a helping hand

Remove the Existing Fixture and Wires

• Take off the light bulb and cover. Have one person support the weight of the existing fixture while the other unbolts any screws and lock nuts that attach the fixture to the ceiling.
• Untwist and disconnect the wires from the fixture and house wires. Remember how they were connected because you’ll reconnect the new fixture wires similarly. There might be three types of wires: current (black or red), neutral (white), and ground (silver or copper). Disconnect these last.
• Remove the old fixture, leaving the house wires loose for connecting to the new fixture later.

Assemble the Interior Light Fixture

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the fixture when assembling its parts. 
• If your light fixture includes a chain, adjust the chain to your desired length using a pair of chain pliers. Then, attach the chain to the fixture and thread the fixture’s electric wires through every other link in the chain.

Wiring the Fixture

Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific directions when installing interior lighting. However, here are some general instructions:

• Have someone hold the new fixture for you as you attach the corresponding wires to the outlet box with wire nuts. Apply some electrical tape over the connections. 

Hanging an Interior Light Fixture

To install a light fixture, check if it has a mounting strap. If it does, screw it into the ceiling junction box. The mounting strap is a strip of metal that screws into the junction box in the ceiling. If you’re replacing your fixture, you can reuse the existing strap. If that mounting strap is broken, unscrew it and screw the new strap in place. 

Then, follow these steps: 

• Screw the fixture’s mounting stem into the ceiling junction box’s mounting strap.
• Check the ceiling wires for damage. Cut them and strip off about 3/4-inch of insulation.
• Connect the house wires to the fixture wires, reversing the process you used in Step 2.
• Thread the fixture’s wires through the screw collar loop.
• Attach the fixture to the junction box using a crossbar, nipple, lock nut, and screw collar loop that supports the fixture.

Tip: For safety, have someone stabilize your ladder while installing the fixture.

Add Globes & Bulbs

Screw in the light bulbs. Make sure you buy the correct size based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Turn the power back on at the main source and test the light to ensure everything works.

Brighten Your Space with Interior Lighting

Changing your interior lighting is a simple way to update a space and bring some life back into your mobile home. Whether you’re looking to improve lighting in specific areas or give your entire home a makeover, there are plenty of options to choose from. It’s a surefire method to add a touch of luxury to any room. Don’t underestimate the difference it can make. So why wait? Brighten up your mobile home today with Mobile Home Parts Store and enjoy the benefits of better lighting for years to come!

Tags: Interior Lighting, Light fixture, light fixtures, lighting, mobile home Interior Lighting, Mobile Home Parts Store

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 3:37 am and is filed under Featured Products, Maintenance and Repairs, Mobile Home Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.