The ultimate guide to ceiling lights

When you’re designing an interior space, you'll need to decide on many different things at once. Wall colours, flooring, accent pieces, furniture - the list goes on. One aspect that sometimes falls under the radar is the ceiling lighting design but it's arguably one of the most important of all. The lighting you choose influences not only your room's look but the way it functions on a day-to-day basis.

Ceiling lights can perform a number of different functions in a room, making them extremely versatile options for any homeowner. They can be used as ambient lights, accent lights or task lights, increasing the functionality of a space while enhancing its style.

Ambient lighting is often considered the most important type of lighting to think about. Ambient lighting provides illumination for the whole room without focussing on a specific area or item.

Ambient lighting typically comes from the room’s central light fixture. Such examples include chandeliers or large pendant lights. They may also be a little more subtle in the form of multiple recessed lights which are often more appropriate for spaces like kitchens. Whichever light fixtures you choose, you need to make sure you have enough wattage from your sources to illuminate the entire space.

Accent lighting is a type of lighting used to highlight areas of your home that you want to draw attention to, whether that’s a beautiful piece of décor, a piece of artwork, an architectural feature etc. They don’t have the same practical uses as other types of lighting but they can create a real impact, emphasising unique and beautiful features in a room.

Accent lighting can be used around an entertainment centre or even on your kitchen cabinets to draw the eye. Some also use accent lights to show off a beautiful fireplace, photo portraits or a statement piece of furniture. Accent lights can even be placed around mirrors to add more clarity and sharpness to reflections.

The main role of task lighting is to focus on providing light for one specific area. For this reason, it is usually used in areas where you will be performing day-to-day tasks. This might include cooking, sewing, reading, writing, playing music and more. Task lighting is sometimes done using floor and table lamps but not exclusively. The right ceiling lighting can provide excellent task lighting and also contribute to the overall ambient lighting in a room. However, they often have their own dedicated switches so you can use them selectively when you need them.

There are many different types of ceiling lights for you to choose from, many made for specific areas of the house. While some work well in specific situations, they may not be appropriate for others so it’s a good idea to be aware of what the differences are.

There are some types of light fixtures in the ceiling that can serve a number of functions (like ambient and accent lighting). One of the most versatile options for doing this is downlights, which, as the name suggests, are lights that point downwards. These lights are usually recessed ceiling or wall lights and can be used in a variety of different ways.

Downlights are a popular form of ambient lighting, especially in rooms that are aiming for a cleaner, more minimalist feel. They can also be used strategically as task lighting (more on this later) since you can place them over an area where work is being performed. Additionally, you can set them up as accent lighting for special pieces you want to draw attention to.

Related article: Downlights — The essentials

Flush mounts are another popular form of lighting fixture. A flush mount light sits flush against the base of a ceiling as opposed to lights that hang like pendant lights. However, unlike recessed lighting, these fixtures do not extend into the ceiling for no-profile illumination.

Flush mount fixtures can be every bit as much a design statement as pendant lights, depending on the style you choose. They are great options for smaller spaces and rooms with low ceilings, which may otherwise be overwhelmed by a chandelier or pendant light. They tend to be minimalist in style, typically smaller and simpler, providing good light without drawing attention to themselves.

Linear lighting consists of a series of small lights (usually LED) fixed to a continuous, single track. It eliminates the dark spots that can usually happen between lights providing a smooth “wash” of light over surfaces. These are often quite helpful under pelmets and benchtops.

Linear lighting is not as common as other types of lighting and tends to give off a more modern feel, though this varies widely by the fixture style, type and colour of light you choose. Like track lighting, these lights run on the same circuit, turning on and off simultaneously. They are widely used under kitchen islands, bars and other areas that need long, thin illumination bands.

Pendant lights are what most of us think of when we imagine a classic light fixture. They are fixtures that hang down from the ceiling on a chain or pole, providing strong ambient light for a room. There is a huge range of pendant lights to choose from of different shapes, sizes and styles which means you can achieve just about any look you want to for the chosen room in your home.

Pendant lights are often a stylish statement piece that draws the eye so they need to be chosen carefully. You also need to consider the size of a space and your pendant light in the context of the room it’ll be in. A small fixture may look lost in an enormous space and a big fixture may make a small room feel cramped.

Related article: 7 modern pendant lighting choices for your home

Spotlights are the best tool for the job when you want to highlight something in a big way. These lights can be recessed or surface mounted. What makes them different to downlights is that they swivel so the path of the light can be adjusted. You can choose exactly where you want your illumination, without the visual impact you get with track lighting.

Spotlights are a great option for highlighting art pieces, framed photos or sculptures. They are a functional choice for accent lighting, though they can work as task lighting also. Spotlights also can work as reading lights for your favourite spot in the evening where you like to relax.

Track lights are a fantastic option that gives you great versatility when you need flexible task lighting or accent lighting. Track lights are multidirectional and run along a track on your ceiling that can follow various paths. Tracks are usually in straight lines but you can find more creative designs like wave patterns for example.

Track lights run on the same circuit, so they turn off and on altogether. They can be a fantastic way to effectively highlight different areas without having to install individual light fixtures. They can also provide a somewhat flexible task lighting setup that allows for a more dynamic room arrangement.

Related article: What are track lights and how should I use them?

No matter what type of lighting you choose, you’ll need to make sure there’s enough of it to illuminate your space. Running the proper wattage calculations helps ensure you do this correctly. This involves measuring the length and width of the space you’re lighting and multiplying those numbers to get the total room area.

Once you have your room area, multiply that by 25 to get the overall wattage required for the space. From there, it's a matter of dividing it up between the number of light fixtures you have in the room to achieve the right amount of lighting. Avoid going over the calculation by using too many high-wattage light bulbs as you’ll find your room overblown with light which will leave your space looking harsh and stark.

These days, no matter what light fixture you choose, it’s always a good idea to use LED bulbs. They have great lifespans and are far more energy-efficient than incandescent or halogen alternatives. They do cost a little more upfront, but you’ll easily make that money back over the course of their lifespans.

You can also use strips of LED lights as task, accent or even ambient lighting. Run a strip of LED lights on top of your kitchen cabinets for some amazing accent lighting or run them under the cabinets for bright task lighting. Some people even run LED strip lights on top of rafters in open loft spaces which creates a brilliant effect of glowing light in the room.

Related article: LED lights: The definitive guide - FAQs, costs and more

Ceiling lights are one of the most important things to consider when creating a lighting plan for your space. Lighting can help accentuate the feel and style of a room with looks that are minimalist, dramatic, elegant or modern. So long as you know what environment you’re trying to create and what the different lights are capable of, you’ll be able to find the right lighting fixture for the job.