The "Hexagon Light" Debate: Tacky or Timeless?

I was browsing r/garageporn and I saw that people are arguing about hexagon lights again.
You know how it is. You are scrolling through r/garageporn at 1 AM just looking at what people have done with their garages and then suddenly you stumble upon a huge argument. Yes, that has happened to me too.

The big question is: are hexagon LED lights really cool or have they become something that everyone is doing just to fit in?

Some people say that hexagon LED lights are a copy of what everyone else is doing. Especially when you see the old black and grey garage with a ceiling full of hexagons it starts to look like something from a cheap TV show.

But I have learned something after working with lighting for ten years. And I have seen some really ugly things: what makes something look tacky is not the shape, it is the cheap hardware and the fact that nobody planned it out. That is all.

I wondered if hexagon LED lights were a trend that would go away soon.. Then I looked at some numbers. Not just the number of upvotes on Reddit but actual numbers.

Global Market Insights put out a report that said the market for LED lighting is going to grow by over 8.5% every year from 2024 to 2032. That is not a trend that is people finding out that something actually works.

So why do professionals keep using hexagon LED lights?

There are two reasons that make sense to me:
First, hexagon LED lights do not cast harsh shadows. Remember those tube lights that would cast a shadow right under your car door handle? Hexagons send out light from all angles. If you have ever detailed a car you know how big of a difference that makes.

Second, hexagon LED lights can actually help sell your house. A study in Real Estate Agent Magazine stated that high-end garage upgrades, including lighting, can increase the appeal of your house by 3-5%. If it also makes you feel like a fighter pilot every time you park your car, that is a win-win.

Why do some hexagon LED light setups look so bad?

I think I know what is happening. Most of the complaints are not about the hexagon shape itself but about the fact that the lights are too sparse or too blinding.

To avoid making your garage look like something from an influencer post, you need to follow some basic guidelines. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has a handbook on this. And I have read it, so you do not have to.

Here is a quick guide I put together:

My tip is: do not guess and hope. We have a guide on how to calculate the number of lumens for your garage. It makes a big difference.

At Hyperlite we focus on doing things differently

I do not want your garage to look like something from a social media post. You know those perfectly staged photos that look fake.

So here is what we focus on:

• High CRI: our LEDs show the color of your cars paint so that cherry red stays cherry red.
• No sagging: our hexagon LED lights are made with reinforced aluminum and PC connectors so they will not droop over time.
• Less is more: you do not need to cover the ceiling with hexagons. A single centered grid over your work area can look really sophisticated.

People often ask me some questions so I will answer them now:

Q: Is installation hard?

A: Not at all. It is modular and plug-and-play. We have a step-by-step guide for beginners and a technical grid manual if you want to get fancy.

Q: What if a section starts flickering?

A: Do not panic. Most of the time it is a loose connection or a bad transformer. We have a troubleshooting guide that can help you fix it in a few minutes.

Q: Does 6500K feel too blue?

A: That is a great question. 6500K is the industry standard for detailing because it is like daylight. If your garage is also your hangout spot you can just add some warmer accent lighting to balance it out.

So are hexagon LED lights tacky or timeless?

My honest opinion is: hexagon LED lights are not inherently tacky. The cheap versions are. If you spend a little more on quality hardware and follow a real lighting plan your garage will look like a high-performance studio. Not a Temu set that looks old after a few months.
Ready to enjoy walking into your garage?
👉 Check out the Hyperlite Hexagon Collection

Sources: r/garageporn, Global Market Insights 2024, IES Lighting Handbook, and many late nights testing lights.