CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES | An Architect Explains
Ceiling Lights are light fixtures that are attached directly to the ceiling. They are commonly used for providing good ‘general illumination’ and are very practical in high traffic areas as well as rooms with lower ceilings. Ceiling lights are as attractive as they are practical.
Nowadays, you have many more options other than the chandelier lights of old. Lights can be mounted within the ceiling or hung down as pendants. They can run on thin cables or easy-to-install tracks. To help you in planning the right placement of ceiling lights in your home, as an Architect, I have listed guidelines under the following headings:
What are the types of ceiling lights?
What are the styles of ceiling lights available?
Where are ceiling lights used?
How do you select the right ceiling light for a hallway?
How do you select the right ceiling light for a kitchen?
How do you select the right ceiling light for a bathroom?
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CEILING LIGHTS?
There are two basic types of Ceiling lights, namely flush mounts and semi-flush mounts.
Flush mounts – are Ceiling lights that attach to the ceiling with little to no gap between the light fixture and the ceiling.
Semi-Flush mounts – are Ceiling lights that attach to the ceiling with a stem or part that creates a gap between the ceiling and the light.
Both types of Ceiling lights are very versatile and can be used in almost every room of the house as they provide great general lighting where you need it. Either the slim profile of a flush mounted ceiling light or a semi-flush ceiling light are great and stylish for low ceilings.
WHAT ARE THE STYLES OF CEILING LIGHTS AVAILABLE?
Beyond the basics of flush mount and semi-flush ceiling lights there is a great selection of styles available from sleek modern pieces to ornate, decorative ones, perfect for a more traditional style. With semi-flush ceiling lights, when you have a little extra room, the full range of styles really becomes apparent. Ceiling lights are generally part of family collections which makes it easy for you to match the Ceiling lights to the rest of the lighting in your home.
WHERE ARE CEILING LIGHTS USED?
Both flush and semi-flush mount Ceiling lights can be used effectively in Bedrooms, Hallways, Laundry and Utility rooms as well as Dens, Kitchens, Closets, Bathrooms and Foyers. In fact, they can be used anywhere you need good lighting. A clean simple Ceiling light can work great in the utility room or hallway while a Ceiling light with a little more character can be used in the Bedroom or to provide general lighting in the Bathroom. Ceiling lights also work well in areas of the house that often get less focus. And in the closet, the right ceiling light can make finding things easy.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE RIGHT CEILING LIGHT FOR A HALLWAY?
Number: There should be a Ceiling light every 8-10 feet for safety and a nice general illumination. Either flush mounts or semi-flush fixtures can be used depending on the ceiling height. If you have a long hallway, you may want some wall sconces for added light and beauty. The rule again is that sconces should be hung roughly 5 feet from the floor, spaced 6-8 feet apart along the wall.
Height: Remember that the bottom of the light fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE RIGHT CEILING LIGHT FOR A KITCHEN ?
Number: The number of Ceiling lights in a Kitchen depends on the size of your kitchen area. Most people start with a 2-light or 4-light decorative fluorescent in the center of the ceiling. It’s less costly, uses less energy and provides very good general light output.
100 sq.ft: Roughly, a Kitchen of 100 square feet or less can use a 2-light fluorescent.
Upto 250 sq.ft: A kitchen upto 250 square feet needs a 4-light fluorescent.
More than 250 sq.ft: And a Kitchen larger than 250 square feet will need more than 4-lights.
Height: The bottom of the light fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE RIGHT CEILING LIGHT FOR A BATHROOM?
In a Bathroom, besides the vanity/ mirror lighting, you will probably need an additional flush mount or semi flush Ceiling light and if possible, recess lighting in shower areas.
A Chandelier is also a ceiling mounted light fixture. Read about it here:
Related Topics:
If you found this post useful, all it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. Thank you!
