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How to choose the right light fixtures for your room
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What type of lighting will be best for your room?
To add lighting and lamps to your room, you'll need to know what types of fixtures are available and where they are best used. There are several main types of lighting, but they're not all ideal for every room.
We've created dedicated pages to help you choose lighting for each room. Click below to select your room and learn what types of lighting you'll need.
Alternatively you can read on for a general overview of the main types of lighting and how and where to best use them.
Where do you need the light, and how will you position it there?
Your main goal in lighting a room should be to put the light where you need it, or where it will be most used. Consider how humans will be using and moving through the room, where they spend the most time, whether they are standing or sitting, and the types of activities they'll perform.
The form of a light fixture depends on where in the room you want to the light. You need to move electricity (via wiring/cords) to where the light bulbs will output the light, and the light needs to be near to where you will use it. Moving the light and power to where you need it follows a few simple strategies:
- Embed (recess) the lights into the ceiling itself in various locations
- Mount the light close or flush to the ceiling
- Hang the light down from the ceiling, shining upward or downward
- Attach the light to a wall
- Stand lighting on the floor which raises the light upward
- Sit lighting on a piece of furniture which raises the light upward
- Stand lighting on a floor or desk which raises upward, but then shines the light downward e.g. for reading and working
- Use a plug-in light fixture, plugged an electrical outlet and positioned on a wall, hung from the ceiling or standing on furniture or the floor
- Place small portable lights anywhere near to an electrical outlet, such as on a mantel or side table as a small accent light
Light fixtures come in many decorative forms
Each type of light fixture follows these same basic strategies but with different shapes, sizes or styles. They still basically mount to a ceiling or wall, or stand on the floor or furniture.
There are for example several types of light fixtures which hang from the ceiling, and several types of lamps which sit on a furniture surface or on stand on the floor.
- Flush and semi-flush close-to-ceiling lights attach close to the ceiling and don't take up much headroom
- Chandeliers, pendants, island lights and swag-lights hang down from the ceiling from one or more cords, and may then spread out the light out with multiple arms and light bulbs
- Wall sconces, wall brackets and swing-arm wall lights attach to a wall
- Floor lamps and tall torchiere lamps stand on the floor and raise light high into the room
- Table lamps and desk lamps stand on top of furniture, such as a side-table, nightstand or desk, raising the light to seated eye-level
- Reading lamps and reading torchieres raise light up into the room but then shine light down to support a seated position
- Plug-in wall lights and plug-in hanging swag pendants can be plugged into a regular electrical outlet and then positioned like a ceiling or wall light fixture
- Accent lamps can place a decorative (though less bright) light almost anywhere the cord can reach, and can also serve as a night light
Light fixtures output different amounts of light
Larger light fixtures such as chandeliers and island lights usually feature more light bulbs, producing more overall light. Generally light will be brighter closer to the light bulbs, and depends on the brightness of the bulbs.
Medium-sized fixtures like pendants and flush mounts will focus the light closer to one area. Wall-mounted lights add more of a background ambient light in a nearby area, to complement a main light fixture or to create a gentler mood.
Table and floor lamps will focus light near to where they are placed, for example next to seating areas, or in the local area of a desk surface as with desk lamps.
Lighting can also be focused or more spread out
- Ambient lighting - Light is radiated in all directions and may be aimed towards a ceiling so that most of the light is reflected or diffused, producing an overall background ambience. This can light up a whole room and is less focused, such as with overhead lights or wall scones.
- Task lighting - Light is focused on tasks in a smaller area, such as a reading lamp or table lamp positioned next to a chair to help with small tasks or reading, or a desk lamp on a desktop. This focuses the light nearer to where it's useful to have a brighter light for practical reasons.
- Accent lighting - Table lamps or accent lamps can be placed around the room to add mood and soft touches of light to enhance the atmosphere. These lights might be less practical and more decorative unless they offer brighter light.
Light can also have different brightness levels. Consider the brightness of individual light bulbs, how many bulbs there are, and how close together they are. Larger light fixtures in general offer more light due to more bulbs, but you can also use multiple smaller fixtures or lamps.
Tip: Consider also layering your light. To avoid harsh shadows, have more than one light source coming from different directions, and allow the light coverage from multiple lights to overlap.
Popular types of home lighting
Light fixtures that attach to the ceiling
Ceiling lights are mounted onto the ceiling. Either the fixture itself sits very close to the ceiling, or it hangs down from the ceiling. For hanging light fixtures there is usually a small canopy which covers the electrical outlet and then a cord or chain will hang down to meet the main light fixture. Another option is to recess individual lights into the ceiling itself so that they to not consume any space in the room.
Chandeliers
A chandelier is a fairly large fixture which hangs from the ceiling by a chain or cord. Usually the chain/cord length is adjustable. The main chandelier usually features a large central column and multiple arms which radiate outward from the center. Individual light bulbs are often round toward the end of each arm.
Pros: Highly decorative show pieces, provide a lot of light, add elegance and design elements to a room, good as a central light fixture in a dining room or a room with taller ceilings.
Cons: The cost is relatively higher because of the elaborate form and structure, you'll need enough clearance below for sitting or standing, and multiple light bulbs will be switching on or off all at once.
Good for: Dining rooms, living rooms with taller ceilings, possibly bedrooms, foyers and entryways with higher ceilings, eating areas in a kitchen like a breakfast nook.
Pendant Lighting
A pendant light is similar to a chandelier, except there aren't usually multiple arms extending out from the center. Instead the pendant may feature a single cord hanging down with up to 3 light bulbs arranged centrally. Sometimes multi-light pendants may have multiple individual cords hanging down to support more lights.
Pros: With up to 3 bulbs they tend to focus the light more locally, are good over a table or seating area, can work in a foyer or living room if the ceilings are high enough, can be spread out over a wide area, can aim light downward or upward in different designs, and less costly than a chandelier.
Cons: Need some room underneath for sitting or standing, may need more than one in a larger room, tend to light up only a part of a room, are usually best over a table unless the ceilings are higher.
Good for: Dining rooms, kitchen islands, over tables, over seating areas, living rooms if there is enough head clearance, foyers and hallways if the ceilings are high enough, possibly in a home office over a desk, next to the bedside, over a stairway if there is enough clearance.
Plug-in Swag Pendants
A swag pendant is similar to a regular pendant light, but instead of being wired into the electrical wiring within the walls and ceiling, they can be plugged into a normal electrical outlet. The long cord then rises up the wall and 'swags' or drapes via some hooks across the ceiling, allowing the pendant to hang down where you need it. They can be easily installed and moved without an electrician.
Pros: Easy to install with no electrician needed, just needs an electrical outlet, can be easily positioned and moved, the chain/cord length can be adjusted, can be taken with you if you move out, and allow you to easily position light where there might not normally be an electrical supply nearby.
Cons: The cord/chain are generally more noticeable because they are outside the wall and ceiling, they take up an electrical outlet that you might want for other purposes, and you may need more than one to light a whole room.
Good for: Dining rooms, living rooms, family rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, cozy corners, hallways and foyers if the ceilings are high enough.
Island Lights
Another form of pendant lighting, similar to a chandelier but wider, is a kitchen island light. These hang similarly to chandeliers and pendants but the design is more horizontal than circular. The fixture will be much wider than usual and the light bulbs are typically organized in a row instead of around the center. This makes them ideal over a rectangular table, kitchen island or bar.
Pros: Works great over a longer dining table or kitchen island, still a large decorative fixture which adds design elements to the space, supplies brighter light through more bulbs, spreads the light out across a wider area and leaves room below for line of sight.
Cons: Not so suitable for circular or square tables, may have one or two mounting points, must be wired directly into the electrical supply, likely has fewer light bulbs than a regular chandelier meaning you might need more than one fixture, not really a suitable shape for a living room or foyer.
Good for: Kitchen islands, over longer dining tables, pool/snooker tables, breakfast bars.
Mini Pendants
When a pendant light is small and narrow we call it a mini pendant. These are usually less than 8 or so inches wide and feature a single light bulb. Some mini pendants are so small that they feature smaller specialty bulbs. A row of mini pendants work well together over a bar or table.
Pros: Usually highly colorful and stylish, provide a focused downward-facing light over a kitchen island or bar or other seating area, can be arranged in any pattern you like with as many pendants as you like of different colors.
Cons: Each pendant has a single light bulb so you will likely need multiple mini pendants to provide enough light, some specialty bulbs may be harder to replace.
Good for: Over any kind of tables or seating areas, bars, kitchens, islands, over seating areas if there is enough headroom, in bedrooms if there's enough room.
Flush-Mount Fixtures
When you have minimal headroom available, such as in a hallway, bathroom or kitchen, a light fixture mounted directly onto the ceiling may be ideal. These flush-to-ceiling lights sit directly flush against the ceiling surface and usually provide up to 3 light bulbs. For a larger room you may need two or more flush-mounted lights.
Pros: Low-profile lights don't take up much headroom allowing people to walk underneath them in almost any room, one or two can provide bright overhead light, are available in more decorative designs beyond the classic 'boob light'.
Cons: These smaller light fixtures have less body size so there's less material with which to be decorative, are simpler or more basic in design, are limited to up to 3 light bulbs and don't add as much style to a room as a hanging light.
Good for: Most rooms of any height ceiling, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, home office, basements, family rooms, hallways and stairways and landings, maybe even in a walk-in closet, media rooms.
Semi-Flush Mount Fixtures
Similar to a flush-mounted light, a "semi-flush" light also mounts directly onto the ceiling, but features a gap between the ceiling and the top of the shade. This allows some of the light to emit upwards as well as downwards producing more reflected ambient light. The slightly larger fixture design also allows room for more design elements and helps to add more style to a room than a regular flush-mount. Usually a semi-flush light will have up to 3 light bulbs.
Pros: More decorative and slightly larger than plain flush-mounts, feature up to 3 light bulbs, good for overhead lighting, low-enough profile that should work with most ceiling heights, adds extra style and design to the room.
Cons: Not as elaborate as a chandelier or pendant, limited to up to 3 light bulbs only, may need two or more in a larger room,
Good for: Most rooms of any height ceiling, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, home office, basements, family rooms, hallways and stairways and landings, media rooms.
Ceiling Fans with Lights
A great option if you need some winter warming or summer cooling is a ceiling fan. The fan can help ventilate a regular the temperature in a room, plus it's nice to sit with a breeze. Many fans include a light fixture. Often these are aimed downwards but some also aim upwards. The light can be operated independently of the fan function. They work well over a seating area or even in a bedroom.
Pros: Provides some additional light, usually up to 3-4 light bulbs at most, has the benefit of double functionality as a light fixture and as a fan, an interesting alternative to regular light fixtures.
Cons: You'll need to make sure you have enough headroom clearance, better suited to being positioned over a seating or sleeping area, the fan controls are a little different to a regular light switch, you may need other lights to provide enough overall lighting for a room.
Good for: Rooms with enough ceiling height, over a table or seating area, over a bed in the bedroom, in a kitchen maybe, on a covered patio, living rooms, family rooms.
Recessed Lighting
A modern approach to minimalist lighting is to have no noticeable light fixtures at all. Instead, light units are mounted inside the ceiling itself in a recessed area. The rim of the recessed lighting aligns flush to the surface of the ceiling and nothing protrudes. Since each light usually features a single light bulb, you will likely need several across a room to provide adequate lighting.
Pros: A modern minimalist lighting design, sometimes less is more, can be located over important areas of the room, can work similar to a spot light or pendant, compatible with a range of room themes.
Cons: Requires multiple individual light fixtures to be installed for adequate lighting, produces a fairly localized area of light per fixture, has no significant fixture body visible so does not add anything to the room design or style.
Good for: Any type of room.
Spot lights
A spot light is usually mounted to the ceiling or sometimes to a wall and features one or more adjustable "cans" which can be usually aimed in different directions. Each light unit features a bulb, with up to 4-6 light bulbs in total, though often less. Each light can be individually tilted and aimed to shine a focused beam of light at specific objects, surfaces or furniture. They can provide interesting focused lighting but also can leave some parts of the room poorly lit.
Pros: Individual spot lights can be adjusted and aimed to focus, provides good lighting of e.g. wall art or specific furniture, multiple lights can be aimed at the same target, usually have a fairly modern design style, and the target of each light can be adjusted in future.
Cons: Since each light is individually adjusted you'll have to move them all if you want to set a new target, the relatively narrow beam of light doesn't light up a whole room, the light bulbs may also be more specialized and harder to replace.
Good for: Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways, entry ways, kitchens, bathrooms, home office, family rooms.
Light fixtures that attach to a wall
Wall-mounted lights typically are installed onto the wall with a backplate which covers the electrical outlet. Some may be plugged into a normal electrical socket, such as plug-in wall sconces, which are then more easily mounted onto the wall itself.
Wall Sconces
A wall sconce, sometimes called a wall pocket, is typically a wall-mounted light fixture which sits quite close or flush to the wall. They may represent a portion of a circle or some other design, bringing the fixture away from the wall. Wall sconces typically feature up to 2 or 3 bulbs at most, but will shed light on the area around the sconce. They work well as extra background illumination as well as in narrow spaces such as hallways.
Pros: Don't usually take up much room, can add extra atmosphere to a larger room, complement larger light fixtures well, work in narrower rooms like hallways, add ambience to a dining room, sit close to the wall to avoid obstructing the walkway.
Cons: On their own you may need more than one to properly light a room, they tend to be fairly small, they position light toward the sides of the room and not centrally, create more of a background ambience than a direct central light.
Good for: Dining rooms, living rooms, hallways and stairs and landings, home office, media rooms, basements, bedrooms.
Bathroom Vanity Lights
A vanity light is a type of bathroom light which attaches to the bathroom wall. While you can place single-bulb lights either side of a bathroom mirror, it is more common to place a single light fixture above the mirror. The vanity light fixture will feature up to several bulbs, depending on the width of the area available, providing light directly onto the face, which then helps you to see what you're doing in the mirror.
Pros: A great lighting option for a bathroom, features multiple light bulbs, places the light right in front of the face for best visibility, works along with a mirror, may adequately light small-to-medium bathrooms, available in widths up to several light bulbs.
Cons: A larger bathroom may need an overhead light or other wall lights, doesn't provide full overhead lighting, can be fairly bright in your eyes, needs to be ideally used with a bathroom mirror.
Good for: Bathrooms, powder rooms.
Swing-Arm Wall Lights
A further extension of the wall-mounted lighting idea is to attach a swing-arm to the light so that it can be repositioned. The swing-arm features an elbow joint and pivoting head and base, allowing the main lamp to be moved snug to the wall, extended outward to reach into the room (e.g. over a chair) or bedside table, or can be moved to the side as needed.
Pros: Adjustable and easily positioned at any time, more versatile and practical than regular wall lights, can extend into the room or be tucked away closer to the wall, useful near to desks and seating areas, the shade helps to aim the light mostly downward for reading etc.
Cons: Potentially can jut out into the room more than other wall lights making less useful in narrow hallways, more appropriate when used with nearby furniture, usually features a larger shade than other types of wall lights.
Good for: Dining rooms, living rooms, home office, media rooms, basements, bedrooms.
Plug-in Wall Lights
An adaptation of the hard-wired wall light is the plug-in variety, which allows you to plug it into an electrical outlet nearby. This means you don't need an electrician and can also move the light to other locations. It allows you to add wall-mounted lighting near to any socket, and the modifications to the wall are far more minimal than with traditional electrical work.
Pros: Can be more easily installed requiring no electrician, can save money on installation costs, easy to plug in and unplug at any time, can be moved to any location near to an outlet, can be taken with you when you move.
Cons: Requires a cord to hang down the wall which will be slightly noticeable, may not appear quite as elegant as a hardwired fixture.
Good for: Dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, home office, media rooms, basements, eating areas, corners of rooms.
Light fixtures that stand on the floor
Standing a portable floor lamp on the floor is an easy way to add extra lighting to a room. The lamp plugs into a normal electrical outlet and can be moved around. Floor lamps are usually brighter than table lamps or other smaller lamps. They also often shine light upward which reflects off the ceiling for a more ambient feel.
Tall Standing Floor Lamps
A foor lamp is a type of light fixture which stands on the floor. It features a tall base like a pole, which rises up into the upper part of the room. On top of the tall lamp base will be some kind of light bulbs, typically up to 3 or so at most. Traditionally the lights are surrounded with an ornamental shade which diffuses and deflects the light. Most of the light usually shines downward around the floor lamp base while some escapes through the top and to the sides.
Pros: Places bright light higher up in the room, can shine down onto activities from above such as reading, works well positioned near to seating areas or in the corner of a room, offers brighter light than other types of lamps, can be easily moved around and plugged into an electrical outlet.
Cons: Being tall sometimes it is prone to being knocked over, the light is located mostly in the area near to the lamp, the tall pole is quite visible though usually decorative, you may need more than one in a larger room.
Good for: Medium to large rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, home office, family rooms.
Torchiere Lamps
A torchiere or "torch lamp" is similar to a regular floor lamp but specifically shines most of the light upward. Traditionally torchieres featured a fluted cone shaped shade like a fire-based torch, with the fire or 'light' coming out from the top. Torchieres shine most light upward onto the ceiling and surrounding area, so the light becomes more diffused and ambient. They work well as background lights and to add extra light to a room. Some torchiere lamps also double as reading lamps.
Pros: Adds bright ambient light to the room, tall and elegant, modern led torchiere lamps feature much thinner posts/poles, come in a variety of modern and classic styles, can be easily moved around and plugged into any electrical outlet.
Cons: By producing mostly upward ambient light it doesn't as strongly highlight a local area for focusing on tasks, might be easily knocked over, works more as a way to add extra overall background light, may need more than one in a larger room.
Good for: Medium to large rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, home office, family rooms.
Reading Lamps
A reading lamp is a type of floor lamp designed specifically to help you to read better. The lamp is usually not as tall as a regular floor lamp or torchiere, and aims as much of the light as possible downward. Sometimes a torchiere or floor lamp might feature a small reading-lamp arm which shines additional light downward for use in reading, to compensate for most other light emitting upward. But a dedicated reading lamp can be adjusted and positioned specifically to make reading more comfortable.
Pros: Not as tall as other floor lamps, usually adjustable to aim the light, featuring eye-friendly types of lighting designed to reduce glare, great for reading and crafts, especially natural and comfortable when the bulb is full-spectrum or similar to natural sunlight.
Cons: With a more specific function it doesn't work quite as well to light up other parts of the room, you might use it less often than a regular floor lamp, the downward facing light is more specialized for practical purposes.
Good for: Medium to large rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, home office, family rooms.
Can Lights
A less common type of light fixture which sits on the floor is a can light or floor-mounted spotlight. These are can-shaped and often cylinders housing a single bulb. The can light shines light upward only similar to a spotlight, and may or may not be adjustable in its aim. They can work well positioned behind or beside furniture to add accent lighting to the room, but produce mostly narrow and ambient light.
Pros: Small and out of sight, don't take up much room, add extra funnels of light to highlight wall features and add ambient background lighting.
Cons: Not very decorative usually due to the small form factor, need to be ideally placed on the floor often beside or behind furniture, provide mostly local accent lighting, will need several to light up a room.
Good for: Medium to larger rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, home office, bedrooms, media rooms, basements.
Light fixtures that sit on top of furniture
When you have furniture such as a side-table, nightstand, chest of draws/dresser or similar, you can sit a lamp on the furniture itself. Table lamps are good for placing the light at a seating level, great next to chairs and at the bedside. Or alternatively to brighten the corners of a room. These lamps complement main light fixtures because you can switch them on and off independently to adjust the light level to set the mood.
Table Lamps
An appropriated-named "table lamp" sits on top of a table or other low-to-medium height furniture. They feature a small lamp base and a shade which diffuses and reflects the light into a local area. They work great positioned next to a seating area or at the sides of a bed. They also work well in the corners of a room away from the main light fixture. Working by themselves they can provide dimmer and more comfortable evening light and help to set the mood.
Pros: Easily positioned near to any electrical outlet, lights up the local surrounding area, helps with reading and other seated activities, highly decorative lamp body and shade, adds to the design and style of the room, can be easily moved, features up to 2 light bulbs.
Cons: By themselves will light a room to a medium but not bright level, focus the light closer to the lamps, will need 2 or more in a larger room, are individually switched on and off.
Good for: Living rooms, bedrooms, larger rooms, home office, guest rooms.
Buffet Lamps
A buffet lamp is a type of narrow and tall table lamp designed to take up less space. They sit well on a narrower side table or buffet. Their proportions are taller and slimmer than regular table lamps so that they can fit onto a smaller surface. They can be moved around easily and plug into an electrical outlet.
Pros: Narrow design keeps them out of the way, can work in hallways and other tighter spaces, provide one or two light bulbs, have a decorative lamp base and shade adding to the design of the room.
Cons: May not offer as much brightness as other lighting options, must be individually switched on, may still be easier to bump into or knock over in tight spaces.
Good for: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, home office, guest rooms.
Desk Lamps
An aptly-named "desk lamp" sits on a desk similarly to a table lamp. However, the head of the lamp is designed to be off to one side rather than directly over the center of the base. This leaves the desk area immediately below the lamp to be available for use, while the light itself is deliberately aimed downwards to maximize the lighting. This makes them excellent for use on a desk or in a home office where you need to focus on reading and writing.
Pros: Offers focused task lighting for desks and offices, makes it easier to read and write, generally a smaller type of lamp doesn't take up much desk space, the lamp base may also feature helpful outlets such as USB ports and other electrical ports, can be moved around easily near to any electrical outlet.
Cons: Focuses light quite specifically in a smaller area for practical tasks, doesn't light up a whole room very effectively, keeps light close to where it is positioned, must be individually switched on and off.
Good for: Living rooms, dining rooms, home office, bedrooms.
Accent Lamps
Some lamps are designed to work as accents, highlighting small areas of a room or drawing the eye to interesting features. An accept lamp is like a small table lamp, sometimes in the style of a lamp but also in the style of various other objects, animals and forms. They don't usually give off very strong light, but can be used as a night-light. The light is designed to be more whimsical and decorative like an ornamental piece that adds something interesting to the room while providing a soft background light.
Pros: Doesn't take up much room, can be moved around near to any electrical outlet, can be used as a dim night light or for a very soft mood, focused strongly on being decorative and charming.
Cons: Doesn't give off much light to light a room, would need several to adequately light a whole room, individually switched on and off.
Good for: Most rooms.
Night Lights
A night light is a very small type of light fixture usually in the form of a small accent lamp or a light unit that sits directly onto an electrical outlet. It may or may use any electrical cord depending on the design. Some night lights feature motion sensors or light sensors, able to switch on and off automatically in different conditions, while others might be left on all the time or switched on manually in the evening. A night light helps you to get around safely at night without waking you up too much.
Pros: Provides extra safety for navigating rooms and furniture when it's dark, doesn't wake you up too much with bright light, can be positioned onto or plugged into any electrical outlet, can offer automatic or manual control, can be moved around to any electrical outlet.
Cons: Not very bright, not suitable for lighting a room for activities, may at best be more of a decorative accent during the daytime.
Good for: Any room, but particularly hallways, bathrooms, landings, stairs, kitchens.
Find Lighting by Room
Now that you've learned about the different types of lighting, read up on your specific room for extra tips on how to choose the right light fixtures.
See also our Shop by Room area for a selection of lighting products for each room.
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