From what I've read, the "typical" fluorescent bulb has a wattage of about 10 watts per foot. So, 4-foot shop light uses 40-watt bulbs, and a 2-foot shop light uses 20 (or 18) watt bulbs. The ends of the bulbs, nearest the ballasts, aren't as efficient as the middle, even when the bulb is new. So, for a 4-foot shop light, the last 4-6 inches aren't receiving as much light as the center (I try to compensate for this by switching the flats around every few days). This also makes the shorter fixtures less effective in delivering light to your plants--if the last 6-inches of the each end is weaker light, a large chunk of your 2-foot fixture is less effective, compared to a 4-foot fixture. Speaking of which, I'm off to buy more shop lights, since several died on me last spring (guess I should try to be more careful and not spill so much water on the darn things!!) Emily in FRIGID Fairbanks

You do not want to use daylight white bulbs. Daylight bulbs do give truer colors, with higher CRI (color rendering index), but they are not flattering to skin color. The light is a little too "blue", with not enough emphasis on reds. For fluorescent, look for a bulb with a color temperature between 2700K and 3500K. The lower end will give better light for skin tones. The higher temperatures will give you a more "white" light, but tend to make skin look a little cold. If no color temperature is listed, look for a warm light bulb, with a CRI above 80. For incandescent bulbs, I like to use GE Reveal bulbs. Soft Whites are probably fine as well, and less expensive.

I just completed a bathroom remodel. I lurked on the bathroom forum for months! We used halogen in an over-the-medicine-chest fixture. We had no room for side sconces. I like the bright white light. We also used 2 recessed cans that are low-voltage halogen. I'm NOT happy with those at all. They seem very Spot-Lightish to me. I'm going to explore different trim kits for those.

thx for the info idie! where do you buy them? I haven't been to HD yet to see if they carry them. It's good to know they will last a long time. It wouldn't be easy for me to get up there and change one. And I'm hoping they aren't too tight around the globe - that would cause problems for my fingers getting a grip on them. The fixture won't be used much (if I can get the electrician to put it on a different switch from the over the sink fixture). I'll seldom need it but there's a bulb on the ceiling now (next to the skylight) and my tub (I also don't plan to use it except to soak my feet) is to one side of it and the shower to the other (on opposite sides of a 13' wide room). There is no light on the shower side. the over the sink lights are mostly blocked from the shower by the shower wall dividing them. I doubt I'll ever take a shower after dark and need it - but you just never know. i could also go on a wild cleaning spree and need light for that (ok, that ain't happening!). The skylight gives more than enough light for the whole room during the day (and a skinny frosted window). I figured if I'm getting a fixture for where the bulb 'lives' I might as well get one that covers those 2 less lit areas. At night I don't need more than the vanity lights. Will probably make do w/a night light. here's the bulb - you can see part of the wall dividing the shower and the darker area to the right of it is the shower. It's fine during the day tho. the vanity lights showing are being replaced.