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Guide to types of light fixtures

Having the right lighting in your home is essential. Proper lighting can help you make your home look bigger and make it feel cozier and more inviting. But what types of light fixtures should you use to emphasize your home’s best features? Is it possible to fit them into the design and style of your place? If you are not sure what the answers are, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading as we’ve prepared everything you need to know about making the most out of the lighting in your living space by using different light fixtures.

Primary types of lighting

Before we reveal all the amazing types of lighting fixtures, we’ll explain what types of lighting exist and why they are essential for our living space.

A crystal chandelier as one of the types of light fixtures
A crystal chandelier is the perfect example of a lighting fixture used to create ambient light.

Here are three primary types of lighting:

  1. Ambient lighting (general lighting) is the lighting that we use to light up a room in its entirety. It can set a tone and vibe for any room, so it’s important not to go too bright or dark. The most common fixtures used for this kind of lighting are chandeliers, pendant lightings, ceiling fixtures, etc. 
  2. Accent lighting is used to emphasize a focal point in a room. It can add a little flair to your decor and help you draw attention to a piece of decor or furniture you’re most proud of. The most common types of fixtures are wall scones, outdoor landscape lights, and string lights. 
  3. As the name says, task lighting is the lighting that helps us handle a specific task more efficiently by helping us see better. A desk lamp for working, a light above your bathroom vanity, or a table lamp for reading are all examples of this type of lighting. 

Importance of primary types of lighting 

Primary types of lighting serve different purposes, so it’s crucial to include all of them in your living space. If you plan to remodel your home after moving in, it’s vital to plan the whole process.

Lighting is one of the essential things to pay attention to and thoroughly consider. Bad lighting can ruin the vibe in your home. Thus, make sure to carefully choose what fixtures you want to install and where.

Types of light fixtures

We’ve come to the fun part! Below, you can read all about the types of light fixtures that will help you add more light to your home and create an atmosphere that reflects your personality.

Pendant Lights

The lights that hang from the ceiling are called pendant lights. Depending on what you need, these types of lights can be used as both ambient or task lighting

 A pendant light with a gray shade in front of a green wall
Pendant lights can be used as both ambient and task lighting, all depending on what you need and want to achieve in a room.

There are many different styles of pendant lights. For example, a drum pendant light has a ring-shaped design that surrounds the light bulb and acts as a diffuser that tones down light intensity.

Chandeliers

Chandeliers have been popular for ages, and to this day, they remain one of the favorite decorative light fixtures. Even the simplest and most basic chandelier can make your living space look and feel more elegant. They are designed to draw everyone’s attention and be a focal point.

As they don’t offer focused light, they are not suitable for either accent or task lighting. You can use chandeliers only for ambient lighting. You can install them in your kitchen, living room, dining room, or master bedroom. 

Chandeliers can be very fragile, so you need to be extra cautious when cleaning or packing them. For instance, let’s say you’re moving and need to pack your chandelier. The team from Zippy Shell Northern Virginia recommends hiring professional packers to help you with this task. They are trained to ensure all fragile parts are adequately packed and moved to your new home in the safest way.

Recessed Lighting

As the name says, these light fixtures are installed to appear hidden in the ceiling. The mechanism and wiring are tucked within the ceiling while the light itself is recessed into it. These fixtures are a bit more complicated to install, but they can help set the mood.

Depending on what you need and where you want them, you can use these light fixtures for all three types of lighting. A good idea is to install a dimmer, as that way, you can use one fixture for ambient, accent, and task lighting.

Given that they’re in the ceiling, they make a perfect choice for ambient light. Alternatively, you can install them directly over a desk, kitchen island, mirror, or decor and use them as task or accent lighting.

Table and desk lamps

Desk and table lamps are usually used as task lighting as their light is easily directed and limited. They are a prevalent choice because they can be positioned anywhere in your home. As they don’t need to be installed, it’s very easy to set them up.

A white table lamp, laptop, and a cup of coffee on a desk
Table or desk lamps are usually used as task or accent lights.

Most desk or table lamps cast a downward glow, so they are generally not used as ambient lighting. Instead, they are mostly used as task or accent lights. They can be great decorative pieces, too, and choosing a beautiful lamp can be a great way to add a personal touch to your home decor

Which types of light fixtures will you choose?

As you can see, proper lighting is essential to make your home functional, set its tone, and create a mood. We hope our list of the types of light fixtures helped you find ways to maximize the light in your home and create an atmosphere that reflects your personality. 

Author bio:

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Sylvia Miles is an architecture graduate. As she’s still looking for the perfect job opportunity, she temporarily works as a content writer. She enjoys it as writing is her third biggest passion after architecture and traveling. 

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