types of ceiling lights

types of ceiling lights: room lighting guide

Choosing the right type of ceiling lights in your home can be a daunting task, but doing it right can set the mood for each room exactly how you want it to be. The huge range available gives you some great options to consider but you want to be sure you make the right choice for the right room, used in the right way.

If you’ve never shopped for ceiling lights, you might be surprised to discover just how many different types of ceiling lights there are. With a range so vast, picking the right lighting for each room can be quite challenging, requiring consideration of many factors. The breakdown below will help you understand these subtle and significant differences so you can make the most informed choice when the time comes.

This type of lighting is not typically used as an everyday light. Instead, it is a great light to add for entertainment purposes or to use in a specific area of a room.

For instance, putting a spotlight directly above a bed can set a calming mood before bed, especially if they are dimmable. Some also use them to highlight sculptures, works of art and other notable furnishings.

If you are going for a more minimal look, downlights (also known as recessed lights) are a great option where the light bulbs are largely concealed, and installed into the ceiling. They work effectively to cover large spaces like living rooms and can even be used as task lighting in kitchens. Most downlights these days use LED bulbs making them incredibly energy efficient.

LED indirect lighting typically works by shining light against a wall or ceiling as opposed to lights that shine light directly into a room. It’s a fantastic style of lighting to create mood and atmosphere, layering the light and creating depth.

A ceiling fan is a must for some households in the summer, keeping spaces cool throughout the day and night. Many now also come with lights making them a multi-functional, multi-purpose feature of a room.

There are many different styles to choose from including models with one flush light on the fan or several semi-flush lights that come out of the fan for a more modern or contemporary look.

The utility light is a simple type of lighting that is almost completely functional, providing lighting where it's needed. It is modest in appearance, without drawing attention to itself while providing enough illumination to get tasks done. A laundry room or a garage are appropriate places where you’ll typically find utility lights.

Track and rail lighting refers to any lighting fixture on a metal track. There can be multiple lights on one metal track, they can come in different shapes, and most are customisable to your liking.

The great thing about track lighting is that it is extremely versatile and flexible as it allows you to aim light in multiple and different directions. They are used widely in art galleries because of this but for the domestic setting, they are often found in kitchens.

Flush lights refer to lighting that is "flush" or flat on the ceiling. The entire base of the light is attached to the ceiling as opposed to lights that hang from a cord or chain.

They are a humble form of light, fantastic for small to medium-sized rooms, especially those with lower ceilings where a pendant light becomes impractical.

Semi-flush lights fall between flush lights and pendant lights. They are attached directly to the ceiling but hang down anywhere between 4 to 8 inches. The advantage to this is that they can spread light up towards the ceiling as well as down, as opposed to flush lights which just shine down.

It just adds a little bit more layering and dimension to a room and is a good one to consider if the ceiling is high enough to accommodate it.

As you can see there is no shortage of choice when it comes to ceiling lighting for your home. From expressive chandeliers to subtle flush lights, you’ll find something for every setup and style of room in your house. So long as you understand how these lights work best, you’ll be able to take advantage of all their benefits with a result that looks great and works.