LIGHTING TYPES | CEILING LIGHTS

Ceiling Lights 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. 

CEILING LIGHTS DEFINITION:

These are light fixtures that are attached directly to the ceiling. 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 both great and stylish for low ceilings.

CEILING LIGHTS STYLES:

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.  

CEILING LIGHTS USAGE:

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.

SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS FOR A HALLWAY:

To calculate the number of Ceiling lights required in the Hallway, refer to these guidelines given here:

• 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. 
• Remember that the bottom of the light fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor.
• 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.

SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS FOR A KITCHEN: 

Given here are some guidelines for the number of ceiling lights required in a Kitchen:

• 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.
• Roughly, a Kitchen of 100 square feet or less can use a 2-light fluorescent. 
• A kitchen upto 250 square feet needs a 4-light fluorescent.  
• And a Kitchen larger than 250 square feet will need more than 4-lights.

SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS 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.

Read about other LIGHTING TYPES such as:

• CHANDELIERS
• PENDANTS
• WALL LIGHTS
• BATH LIGHTS
• PORTABLES
• OUTDOOR LIGHTS

Related Topics:

• LIGHTING