Ceiling Lighting is Looking Up!

When it comes to general, all-purpose lighting, the most useful light source in today’s homes is the ceiling light. Overhead light provides both ambient and task lighting, for many activities, from crafts to cooking. They work in any room of the house, with a wide variety of styles and finishes to choose from to be sure they match the theme of your decor.

Choose the Right Light

Ceiling lights are a functional feature in home design, which means they should be balanced in appearance and physical size. When choosing a ceiling light, there are a few quick and easy things to keep in mind to ensure you find exactly the right light for your space.

First, grab a tape measure and check the dimensions of the room - length and width - so you know what you have to work with. Next, there’s just a few points to consider that can help narrow down your search.

What’s the appropriate amount of clearance for a ceiling light?

These useful standards for designing lighting help you be sure there’s proper clearance between the light fixture and household traffic. Stick to these guidelines to keep your lighting fixtures from being damaged.

Before installing near doorways, be sure that the location will allow the full swing of the door under it without hitting the light.
As much as possible, select fixtures that can be installed to allow between 6’8” and 7’ of clearance from the bottom of the fixture to the floor. This allows people to walk safely under it, or carry things such as furniture without hitting the light.
Install bathroom lights at least 3’ away from a shower or bath entry to minimize any chance of water spray.
If the light is to be installed inside a bath or shower alcove, make sure it is rated for wet locations, and allow ideally 8’ clearance between the light and the tub.

It is very important to always check that the lighting is rated for wet or damp locations when installing lights in a bathroom, laundry room, or an outdoor area, such as a garage or patio.

Don’t clutter the ceiling!

For most types of ceiling lighting, allow at least 8’ between fixtures along a ceiling, such as in a hallway. This allows the ambient light to overlap without being too bright. For pendants, track or rail lighting systems, or other directed lighting options, this isn’t as much of a concern.

What size or diameter light fixture will fit in your space?

Finding the diameter - a straight line measured from one side to another - of the fixture is a simple bit of math and an effective trick to getting the right light in the space.

To find the diameter of the light fixture, add the length of the room to the room width, measured in feet. The resulting number will be the diameter of your ceiling light, in inches.

Room length + room width (in feet) = fixture diameter (in inches)

So for instance, if you have an 9’ by 15’ room, the diameter of the light should be no more than 24 inches.

How tall of a fixture can it be?

Similar to diameter, there’s an easy “light-hack” to determine how tall the ceiling light fixture should be. This time, measure the height of the room, from the floor to ceiling.

To determine the height of a ceiling light fixture, such as a ceiling fan or a pendant lamp, take the room height (in feet) and multiply it by 2.5” to find the minimum height of the fixture, and multiply it by 3” to find the maximum height in inches.

Room height x 2.5” = fixture height minimum (in inches)
Room height x 3” = fixture height max (in inches)

It’s best to keep a walking-clearance of 6’8” between the floor and the bottom of the light fixture. This can seem a little complicated to accommodate ceiling fans and pendants, but hugger ceiling fans and track or rail lighting are attractive alternatives. Place chandeliers and pendants in kitchen or dining area spaces where they can be installed safely over islands or bars.

Types of Ceiling Lights

There is a wide variety of lamp styles to choose from. It’s best to have an idea of what they are to help determine what kind will work best in your space.

Flush Mounts & Semi Flush Mounts are installed close to the ceiling or right against it to minimize their visual footprint while allowing ample light coverage.

Pendants & Chandeliers offer decorative accent lighting with an eye toward making an artistic statement.

Spot & Accent Lights are reliable and bright ways to point the light exactly where it needs to be for either task work or artistic flare and emphasis of your space.

Fixed Rail Lights & Track Lighting are a modern, industrial style that allows creativity and versatility with the light design of the whole room.

Ceiling Fans with Lights are a traditional and multi-functional lighting solution with your favorite modern features, such as remote operation and dimmable illumination.

Recessed Lighting offers directional lighting in a discrete and versatile design.

Commercial Ceiling Lights are available in a variety of designs, from traditional utility lamps to the more modern, softer uplights, with optional lighting features from fluorescent to daylight LED.

Find the Best Fit

Remember, you want an attractive lighting solution that illuminates the area, which often means layering and overlapping from different light sources. There are many ways to use different types of lighting, so the design is up to you.

Ceiling Lighting is Looking Up!