If you’re considering updating the lighting in your home to a more cost-effective and energy-efficient option, you might be wondering what to look for in a new ceiling light. While the market is saturated with affordable fixtures, the process of selecting your new ceiling light doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
The Lithonia Lighting White LED Wraparound Flushmount is an easy-to-install ceiling light to help you transition to an energy-saving home. It provides 50,000 hours of light, so you can finally ditch your old yellow fluorescents for a superior modern upgrade.
What to know before you buy a ceiling light
Light and space
There are many different sizes, shapes and styles of lighting available for brightening your home. The first thing you need to consider is whether you wish to focus the light on one small area or brighten a large space. Then decide whether you want dimmable or ambient lighting. The most well-lit and well-planned rooms often use a combination of several different types of light fixtures to show the space to its full potential.
If you are planning to use your new ceiling light for a living room, you will likely be looking for a fixture that can accommodate a higher wattage light bulb that won’t focus the light to too small an area. Flush mount ceiling lights and larger pendants will brighten up a much larger space than a track light or a single recessed dome light could accomplish.
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting is a term used to describe uniform or general lighting in a room. It is often the primary light source and lays a foundation for how bright the room will feel. Ambient light shouldn’t produce a glare and should bring warmth to a space. Ambient light isn’t restricted to any one type of fixture, but rather it is formed by the final product of all the lighting used in any one space. Combining ceiling lights with other types of lighting like a chic lamp can add visual interest in an otherwise uninspired space.
Task lighting
Task lighting does what the name implies. It lights a specific, targeted area of your home. Task lighting should provide concentrated light to a surface meant for working, like in an office for reading or above a kitchen island for preparing food.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting should highlight items you wish to showcase in your home like a piano, plants, art, a bookshelf, a corner bar or all of the above. Your own creativity is the only limit to sourcing accent lighting, as it isn’t meant to fully light your room.
Ceiling light features
Chandeliers and pendants
When selecting a ceiling light fixture for your dining space, island or in rooms with vaulted ceilings, many people elect to buy a chandelier or a hanging pendant light for visual appeal.
Chandeliers come in many styles and higher prices as they are typically regarded as a showpiece for your lighting scheme. Traditionally, antique chandeliers were fixtures that used glass teardrops and mixed metals to give a space an elegant look. Contemporary chandeliers can range in materials like wood, metal, glass or a combination of textiles for an artistic vibe.
Pendant lights are a more cost-effective and space-saving option for buyers looking to carry a theme throughout their kitchen and dining room, typically by purchasing a number of smaller fixtures rather than one large ceiling light. Alternating cord length and staggering your use of similar pendants can create a focused light source for either a minimalist or maximalist look depending on how many lights you decide to include.
Flush mount and semi-flush mount lights
Flush mount ceiling lights are hung quite close to the ceiling and often brighten a large area without being large, gaudy or attention-grabbing. A benefit of installing a flush mount light is that it can be hung in any room without worrying about the height of the ceiling. They are also child and pet-friendly as they are high out of reach. Flush mount lights are economical, bright and available in a number of decor-friendly styles.
Semi-flush mount lights are a combination fixture that is still hung close to the ceiling but generally suspends about 6 inches. These ceiling lights are often selected for buyers that want the visual appeal of a hanging light without taking up too much vertical space.
Track lights
Track lights are often meant for displaying art on your wall or shelving to provide ambiance to a very specific area of the home. Used only as accent lighting, the bulbs for track lights are typically lower wattage and as such are not meant for lighting large spaces.
Ceiling light cost
The price of your new ceiling light can start as low as $20 and quickly rise up to $1,000 or more depending on the size, shape, material and design. A good range for most consumers is $35-$75 for a functional and stylish ceiling light.
Ceiling light FAQ
Do ceiling lights usually need a false ceiling for installation?
A. Not necessarily. While some ceilings are better suited to specific types of light fixtures, chandeliers, pendant lights and LED strips can easily be installed without a false ceiling. A basic false ceiling is helpful when installing recessed or cove lighting for ambiance.
Can I mount my ceiling light on the wall instead of the ceiling?
A. This is not recommended. It is always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing your ceiling light. Naturally, anything that hangs like a pendant or chandelier cannot be installed on the wall. Also, lights designed for the ceiling may emit heat and, if improperly installed, could void your warranty due to damage.
Which ceiling light should I get?
Best of the best ceiling light
Lithonia Lighting FMLWL LED wraparound flushmount: available at Amazon
Our take: This flushmount light is very bright, is more economical on power than older fluorescents and isn’t overly complicated to install.
What we like: Boasting over 50,000 hours of light and with little lag time when turning it on, this ceiling light is a money-saving and highly efficient option.
What we dislike: Some consumers noticed their diffuser cover cracking on arrival or when removing from packaging.
Best bang for your buck ceiling light
Globe Electric Amaris plug-in pendant light: available at Amazon
Our take: This lightweight swag light is compatible with panel ceilings and works with a plug-in, making it super easy to install.
What we like: Suitable for any decor and easy to hang, this pendant light is a versatile ceiling light that is inexpensive and timeless. The adjustable length makes it fully customizable for your space.
What we dislike: Some users say that the dome warped during shipping and that a lower wattage bulb is required for the plastic canopy to remain intact.
Honorable mention ceiling light
Westinghouse Industrial one-light adjustable mini-pendant: available at Amazon
Our take: This smaller pendant light is an excellent option to accent smaller spaces. Made of hand-blown glass and oil-rubbed bronze finish, this industrial ceiling light looks great and doesn’t take up too much space.
What we like: This ceiling light has a classier look while still being easy to install and reasonably priced. The glass dome allows for natural light to flow through the fixture and the seeded hand-blown glass casts a lovely design across the room.
What we dislike: As the pieces are hand-blown and seeded, they are not all identical. Some reviewers reported breakage during shipping. The cord length isn’t adjustable.
Ashley Britten is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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