• Barns often contain livestock and need proper lighting.Walter B. McKenzie/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  A barn can serve numerous functions: it can be a space to house horses, cows and other livestock, or it might store agricultural equipment or vehicles or contain workspace and tables. Good lighting is crucial in a barn as so much work and chores often take place in the barn that proper lighting is necessary for productivity.
  
  

Skylights

• If you're constructing a new barn, talk to your architect about installing skylight panels along the roof of your barn. On the other hand, if you already have an existing barn, install skylights in the roof. The installation and skylight panels will definitely be an added expense; however, in the long run they will save you money. Furthermore, the skylights will make the entire barn seem more cheerful as they will allow fresh sunlight to radiate through each morning.
  
  

Lanterns

• Lanterns are a classic part of barn lighting for good reason; They provide bright but not harsh lighting that has a high degree of versatility. You can hang the lanterns from the beams in a barn in a traditional manner, or use lanterns as portable lighting to carry in your hand. Lanterns allow you to constantly move them again and again plus their appearance adds to the rustic charm of a typical barn.
  
  

Barn Lights

• Barn lights are light fixtures that got their names from the fact that you could often find them in barns. They consist of a base that mounts into the wall and a neck that bends downwards at a soft 90-degree angle attached to a light bulb with a metal shade. These lamps are suitable to use as base lighting for the inside of a barn. Hang one above each livestock stall or above each workstation in your barn. You can even get certain barn lights with a protective metal grating over the bulb in case there's a danger of items flying up to crack the light bulb. These light fixtures also come in a wide variety of styles to match the vibe of your barn. For example, if your barn is more rustic you can find these lights in burnished copper shades. On the other hand, if your barn has a more modern feel, glossy red or shiny chrome ones are available.