

Ceiling Lights 101: Choosing the Right Type for Each Room
Choosing the right ceiling lights for your home requires a balance of form and function. Your fixtures need to provide the right kind of light for each room’s size, layout, and purposes. They also need to complement the decor of each room as well as the overall aesthetic of your home.
The good news is that ceiling fixtures come in a wide variety of types, and an even wider variety of designs. Read on to discover the options you have to choose from, and which will best serve you and spaces you need to illuminate.
Ceiling Fixture Types at a Glance
Let’s start with a quick breakdown of ceiling fixture types, what kind of light they provide, and where they tend to work best.
Ceiling Fixture Types at a Glance |
Characteristics |
Ideal Placement |
Flush Mount |
Mounts directly to the ceiling. Provides general illumination. |
Hallways, bathrooms, and closets with lower ceilings. |
Semi-Flush Mount |
Hangs slightly from the ceiling. Provides general illumination. |
Entryways, kitchens, foyers, and bedrooms, with higher ceilings. |
Chandelier |
Hangs from the ceiling. Lights multiple bulbs. Provides a focal point and general illumination. |
Dining rooms, foyers, and large, open spaces. |
Pendant |
Hangs from the ceiling. Provides focused light. |
Over kitchen islands, sinks, and dining tables. |
Hanging Shade |
Light is covered by a shade and hangs from the ceiling. Can provide soft, diffused light or task lighting. |
Living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, and reading nooks. |
Hanging Lanterns |
Lights are enclosed in a frame, which hangs slightly from the ceiling. Provides general illumination indoors and out. |
Entryways, hallways, stairwells, porches, and dining rooms. |
Linear Lighting |
Long, straight fixtures hang from the ceiling. Often uses LED bulbs. Provides uniform light distribution. |
Kitchens, office spaces, hallways, and over workstations. |
Recessed Lighting |
Sits in a recess in the ceiling. Can provide general illumination as well as accent and task lighting. |
Kitchens, living rooms, and over showers. |
Track Lighting |
Adjustable fixtures are mounted on a track attached to the ceiling. Can provide accent as well as task lighting. |
Living rooms, hallways, home offices, and anywhere art is displayed. |
Ceiling Fans with Lights |
Light fixtures are built into a fan that hangs from the ceiling. Provides general illumination and air circulation. |
Bedrooms, living areas, and home gyms. |
A Closer Look
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s look closer at each ceiling fixture type.






Flush Mount Lights
This fixture type is mounted flush to the ceiling. Compared to other types, flush mounts take up less space. Practically, this is particularly useful with lower ceilings and any space people are likely to walk through. Aesthetically, they provide a touch of minimalism, though there are flush mounts designed with more flare to make a subtle statement.
Flush mounts provide excellent general illumination, which can be layered with other light sources, such as floor lamps and accent lights. Consider them especially for hallways, bathrooms, and closets.




Semi-Flush Mount Lights
This fixture type hangs from the ceiling, but typically no more than 12 inches. Most semi-flush mounts hang by a rod, though some use chains. They’re best used in rooms with higher ceilings where you don’t want flush mounts, but you also don’t want anyone bumping their head on a chandelier.
Semi-flush mounts are great for general illumination, and often have more decorative impact than flush mounts, though they’re not as “loud” as chandeliers. Consider them for entryways, kitchens, foyers, and bedrooms.




Chandeliers
Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and feature multiple bulbs. They’re designed to hang lower than semi-mounts, serving as a focal point that draws the eye and can make a powerful decorative statement.
Chandeliers provide general illumination and come in an incredible variety of styles, including rustic, Art Deco, traditional, contemporary, and transitional, which combines traditional and contemporary elements. Install one in your foyer, above the dining room table, and in any large space where you want a touch of aesthetic drama.


Pendants
Like chandeliers, pendant lights hang from the ceiling, much lower than semi-flush mounts. Also like chandeliers, they can add visual appeal to rooms with high ceilings, and come in a wide variety of styles to help suit any decor.
Unlike chandeliers, pendant lights provide focused task lighting, often over kitchen islands, sinks, and dining tables. Don’t count on them for general illumination, but they can add a focal point and a decorative touch to functional areas, and will work beautifully in concert with other types of fixtures.




Hanging Shades
This fixture type also hangs from the ceiling and works best in rooms with higher ceilings. What sets it apart is a shade around the light source. Depending on the design, hanging shades can provide different kinds of light.
Fixtures with shades made of fabric or opaque glass tend to provide soft, diffused light, great for ambient lighting in rooms with a more relaxed atmosphere. Fixtures with metal shades, on the other hand, tend to provide task lighting, ideal for reading. Consider hanging shades for living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, and reading nooks.






Hanging Lanterns
This fixture type features a frame that encloses the light source and hangs slightly from the ceiling. Though they do come in a variety of designs, including more modern looks, these fixtures are inspired by the portable lighting devices of bygone eras, and generally add a historical touch to a space.
Hanging lanterns can provide general illumination indoors and out. Consider them for entryways, hallways, stairwells, porches, and dining rooms.




Linear Lighting
These long, straight fixtures hang from the ceiling and distribute light evenly along their length, minimizing shadows and glare for a visually appealing and comfortable environment. They often use LED bulbs and are excellent solutions for accent and task lighting.
Consider linear lighting for kitchens, office spaces, hallways, and over workstations.




Recessed Lighting
This fixture type is installed into a recess in the ceiling, making it a great solution for rooms with lower ceilings. They can provide general illumination without taking up physical or visual space, doing their job while letting other objects draw the eye. Placed over functional areas, such as a shower or a desk, they can also provide excellent task lighting.
Consider recessed lighting for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and anywhere light is needed but space is limited.






Track Lighting
These adjustable fixtures are mounted on a track, which is attached to the ceiling. The fixtures can be positioned anywhere on the track and then directed as needed, making track lighting particularly versatile. They’re ideal for highlighting artwork, architectural features, and task areas.
Consider track lighting for living rooms, hallways, home offices, and anywhere you have art or photography on display.




Ceiling Fans with Lights
The name of this type says it all. Ceiling fans with light fixtures built in can be an efficient way to provide both general illumination and air circulation. While that multifunctionality is an advantage, they do take up a fair amount of space and visual real estate, so you’ll want to be intentional in choosing a design that complements the decor of the space.
Consider ceiling fans for bedrooms, living areas, and home gyms.




Keep Layering in Mind
When choosing your ceiling lights, it’s important to remember that fixtures should rarely work alone. To create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, you’ll likely want to incorporate layers of light. This means supplementing your ceiling fixtures with other light sources, such as floor lamps or sconces. Natural light also plays a role in rooms with windows, skylights, or glass doors. Think of your ceiling lights as part of a larger illumination scheme, and design that scheme to suit what each room needs to do, and how you want it to feel.
Ready to Get Started?
Now that you’re familiar with the numerous ceiling light types, click here to explore your options, narrow down your search, and discover the perfect choices to suit you and every room in your home.