Electrical fixtures light up our homes and workplaces. They come in many types, each with a specific use.
Common fixtures include ceiling lights, wall sconces, and track lighting. Some are for general lighting, while others highlight certain areas. The U.S. Department of Energy says lighting uses about 15% of a home's electricity.
Knowing different fixture types can help you save energy and improve your space. Let's explore these fixtures to understand how they work and where they're best used.
A Quick Look at Major Fixture Categories
Before we go into specifics, it helps to understand a few basic categories that all electrical fixtures fall into:
- Ceiling Fixtures: Mounted overhead to provide ambient or task lighting from above. Popular options include flush mounts, chandeliers, and pendant lights.
- Wall Fixtures: Installed onto walls for localized lighting. Sconces and wall lanterns are common examples.
- Portable Fixtures: Freestanding light sources that can be moved around easily. Floor and table lamps fit this category.
- Recessed Fixtures: Subtle lights installed into existing cavities in walls or ceilings. Recessed lighting casts light without being visibly noticeable.
- Outdoor Fixtures: Designed to withstand weather, security, landscape lighting, etc.
When selecting fixtures based on category and location, consider spaces prone to moisture, such as bathrooms.
Installing GFI electrical (ground fault interrupter) circuits during your lighting upgrades adds a critical protective barrier against hazards in wet or damp areas.
Now, let’s explore today’s most common electrical fixtures in more detail.
1. Pendant Lights
What Is It: A pendant light is a fixture that hangs from the ceiling by a cord, rod, or chain. It usually points downward to send light in a specific direction.
Uses: Pendant lighting is ideal over sinks, kitchen islands, dining tables, seating areas, or as part of a room’s accent lighting. Clustering multiple pendants together can make a dramatic style statement.
Options: Pendants come in endless shapes, sizes, and material combinations. You can opt for fabric shades, stained glass, metals, woven materials, or simple glass globes. The sky's the limit!
2. Chandeliers
What Is It: Chandeliers are elaborate ceiling-mounted fixtures with multiple arms containing numerous light sources. They usually make a dazzling statement.
Uses: Traditionally used in formal dining rooms and entryways, chandeliers today add a touch of luxury to nearly any room. Mini chandeliers work nicely in bedrooms or studies.
Options: Look for crystal, metal, or fabric chandeliers to match your home’s style. Consider energy-saving LED chandeliers to reduce your environmental impact.
3. Flush Mounts
What Is It: As their name suggests, flush mount fixtures are designed to install directly against the ceiling, eliminating any visible gap between light and ceiling.
Uses: Flush ceiling lights work well in low-headroom rooms since they hug the ceiling tightly. They're also discreet and streamlined, blending seamlessly into modern or minimalist spaces.
Options: Flush mounts come in acrylic, metal, glass, fabric, or rattan. LED flush mounts offer the convenience of long lamp life and energy savings.
4. Recessed Lighting
What Is It: Recessed lighting consists of canister or modular lights embedded snugly into existing cavities in ceilings or walls. The fixtures themselves remain unseen.
Uses: Commonly used in kitchens, hallways, living rooms, and bathrooms. As workhorses of the lighting world, recessed lights distribute basic ambient illumination without stealing the show. They prevent dark corners in rooms.
Options: The most popular recessed lighting options include 5” and 6” LED recessed cans, adjustable eyeball trims, and wall wash fixtures that evenly graze vertical surfaces with light.
5. Track Lighting
What Is It: Tracks mounted on ceilings or walls allow movable light heads to slide freely along their entire length, locking into place wherever illumination is needed most.
Uses: Frequently seen over kitchen counters, art displays, shelving, and stretched across vaulted ceilings to provide adaptable accent lighting and highlight specific areas.
Options: Look for LED track heads to control energy costs. Tracks come as cylinders, squares, or low-profile strips. The mounts usually swivel and tilt to direct light with pinpoint accuracy.
6. Sconces
- What Is It: Usually fastened onto walls, sconces are compact light fixtures ideal for cramped places and delivering limited light beams.
- Uses: Sconces work beautifully flanking bathroom mirrors, beside beds, in hallways, or along staircases. They’re perfect when you want illumination without overwhelming a small area.
- Options: You can find sconces ranging from delicate and ornate metalworks with flowing curves to geometric midcentury modern squares.
7. Ceiling Fans
- What Is It: Ceiling fans feature rotating blades driven by electric motors to push air downward for improved airflow and circulation. Most include integrated lights.
- Uses: Routinely used in living and family rooms, bedrooms, porches, patios, and other gathering areas to promote comfort through natural convection currents in warmer months. In colder weather, reversing ceiling fan rotation helps draw rising warm air back down into living spaces, providing heating efficiency benefits.
- Options: Beyond standard ceiling fan styles, you’ll discover smart options offering app and voice controls, scheduling/timers, and advanced features like humidity detection and thermostat integration.
8. Wall Lanterns
What Is It: Wall lanterns are sconce cousins enclosed in glass panels or transparent materials rather than exposed bulbs. The cases dampen and direct light in a gentler manner.
- Uses: They are well-suited beside entryways under protective eaves, welcoming guests with a soft glowing beacon. They also beautifully flank garage doors.
- Options: While wall lanterns shine outdoors, modern lamp ideas are equally suitable for indoor use around bedroom doors or as living room reading lights. Mix materials, shapes, and sizes to add a unified decorative flair or intentionally contrast different design eras for eclectic character.
FAQs
Below are a few frequently asked questions surrounding electrical fixtures:
Do I Need an Electrician to Install New Fixtures?
Yes, for any overhead, recessed, or hardwired fixtures. Call a certified professional unless you have advanced electrical experience.
Can I Make My Existing Fixtures Smart?
Yes, there is no need to replace the fixture through easy-to-plug-in smart bulbs, sockets, and switches.
What About Accent & Decorative Lighting?
Accent options like picture, step, path, and string lights infuse personality. But our focus was essential and commonly used fixtures.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know eight popular electrical lighting fixtures, you can choose and pick lighting according to your own style preference. Make sure to choose something that is decorative and practical, so that it fits the kind of lighting you want in your living space.
