Types of Ceiling Lights

When choosing light fixtures for your home, it can be overwhelming looking at all of the different ceiling fixtures alone. Not knowing what is out there can lead to doubt once you do finally make a choice. Before you purchase your ceiling light fixture, stop and research what different types of ceiling lights are out there. Knowing what your choices are can help make the choice significantly easier and help reassure you that you didn't miss anything while shopping.
Flush Mount Light Fixtures

Perhaps among the more popular, flush mount light fixtures are ceiling fixtures that are mounted flush against the well. These can be used in a number of rooms from bedrooms to bathrooms, kitchens and hallways or closets. They are great for providing general light in a room and come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles.

Semi-flush Mount Light Fixtures

These fixtures are a bit different from their flush mount counterparts, but are not quite considered a chandelier. These light fixtures must hang within 4 inches to 8 inches from the wall and are often used to give the illusion of a chandelier in a space where a chandelier simply wouldn't fit. Like the flush-mount fixture, semi-flush mount light fixtures are great for creating general lighting in a room.

Recessed Lights

Recessed light fixtures go by a number of different names including can lights or pot lights. These fixtures are mounted up in the ceiling, giving the illusion of a flush fixture. These lights are great for ambient lighting or task lighting; especially in homes where the owner is looking for lighting with less visual clutter.

Chandeliers

These light fixtures have evolved greatly from being strictly dining room, ball room or mansion-only light fixtures. Today you can find chandeliers and chandelettes (smaller versions) in homes all over the United States. Plus, they are used in bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and even walk-in closets. Chandeliers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and styles, making it easy to find a chandelier for every need. Chandeliers are ideal for decorative lighting, general lighting and more.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights hang down from the ceiling in a similar fashion to the chandelier, but feature a single light source (whereas the chandelier has several light sources). These light fixtures can direct light upward, downward, or depending on the shade, can diffuse light throughout the entire space. Downward pendant lights are ideal for task lighting, while upward lights can help create ambient lighting and diffusing pendant lights can help create general lighting.

Track Lights

Today's modern track lights come in a variety of shapes, colors, styles and sizes. There are curved, straight, angled and circular tracks that can be combined with various track heads, including specialized pendant lights. Track lights are great for accent lighting, as well as adding additional general lighting to the space; making them great for nearly any space in the home.

Island Light Fixtures

These specialized fixtures are slowly growing in popularity, as they are designed specifically for use over kitchen islands. They are a type of task lighting and are still a bit difficult to come by, but as demand grows, there will be more options in styles, shape, colors and sizes.