How to Make Your Own Fluorescent Light Diffuser Panels

Replace your current plain acrylic diffuser with textured glass, stained glass, etched glass or alabaster tile. This alternative works especially well if the fluorescent light is a ceiling light. Opaque white textured glass or alabaster creates the softest glow with the brightest light; etched glass has pockets of very bright light and "barely-there" light, depending on how much etching was used; colored or stained glass diffuses your light the most, and casts interesting colored shadows that give a semblance of drama and mystery to an otherwise bland space.

Modify a long rectangular wooden planter hedge box--a good alternative if the fluorescent light is mounted on a wall. Remove one long panel for light to be upwardly directed, creating a diffused glow; remove one long panel and the bottom panel for light diffusion upward and downward. Attach the box over the light with strong glue or L-shaped brackets; it should look like a long sconce.