Lighting Fixture

A lighting fixture is a device used to provide artificial light via electrical means. There are numerous types of lighting fixtures, designed especially for various needs like medicine, automobiles, entertainment, etc.

A complete lighting unit is called a luminaire . Although the term “lighting fixture” is well-used in the United States, “luminaire" is the standard technical term used by the International Electrotechnical Commission or IEC . A luminaire is composed of the following parts:

•  a light source (lamp)
•  control gear or ballast
•  reflector to direct light to a particular area to be illuminated
•  lens or diffusers
•  housing to protect the light source and other electrical components
•  power connection

Home lighting fixtures

Gone were the days when lighting fixtures' sole use in the household is to provide illumination. Nowadays, lights of different types, sizes and shades are used to play up aesthetics and mood of various areas of the house. In interior design, they came up with the term “mood lighting.” Here, various light fixtures are used to enhance a particular area in the house, although this requires time and sometimes, expertise before you can achieve desired results.

Bathroom light fixture

In most homes, the bathroom gets the least priority in terms of lighting. Some would even be contented with just one fluorescent bulb installed in the ceiling to cover for the entire bathroom. Nowadays, lighting is used in the bathroom not just to provide light in the room, but also to make it appear bigger or to provide a “relaxing mood” in case you want to have a long, hot bath after a stressful day. Some would even install additional lighting in the area where the sink and mirror is, in case the owner would spend a lot of time in the bathroom fixing themselves up.

Ceiling light fixtures

The ceiling is where most light fixtures are located. Depending on the type of light, one ceiling light fixture may be enough to illuminate an entire room. Ceiling light fixtures come in different types:

•  Recessed

This type of ceiling light fixture involves a light installed into a hole in the ceiling, thus only the lamp is seen while the protective housing of the light is concealed. This type is also known as downlight since this particular fixture concentrates light in a downward direction.

•  Flush

Flush ceiling lights are preferred for areas with low ceilings. This type is also known as flush mount light fixtures. A single flush mount light fixture installed in the middle of the ceiling is the most common and perhaps most economical way to lighten up a room. Flush light fixtures have various designs, ranging from basic to the elaborately decorated ones.

•  Hanging

Hanging light fixtures basically has the lamp suspended from the ceiling either by a chain or cord. The light can be suspended at a preferred length so it can add drama inside the room, aside from its usual lighting function.

Pendant light fixtures

Pendant light fixture is similar to hanging light fixtures, although pendant lights usually come in multiples. It is known by various names such as “drop” or “suspender.” This type is commonly used in bathrooms, over kitchen island, or dining table.

Chandeliers are a type of pendant light fixture. However, a pendant light usually cannot illuminate an entire room on its own. A chandelier, for example, is often dangling up to almost eye level and it will produce unwanted glare if it will use bulbs that is so bright to light the entire room.

Fluorescent light fixture

Fluorescent light uses electricity to excite gas to eventually produce visible light. It is much more efficient and lasts longer than the incandescent light. Although it is economical, the light produced by fluorescent lamps are often regarded as harsh.

Wall lighting fixtures

Wall lighting fixtures are often used in bedrooms or hallways in case direct overhead lighting is not preferred. Swinging or fixed wall lamps are ideal for bedrooms to set a relaxing mood, as opposed to a brightly lit room, and at the same time, it provides enough lighting in case the occupant might want to read a book before going to bed. Oftentimes, these lamps are equipped with dimmers to alter the brightness of the light.

Pot lights are examples of wall lighting fixtures. They are preferred for creating “ambiance” to a room and because it is space-saving, providing maximum lighting while being inconspicuous.

Vanity light fixture

Vanity lighting is used usually in the bathroom but it is also used for areas in the front of the house, like a patio. In the bathroom, vanity lighting is placed where the mirror is. But it's not placed there to illuminate the mirror or the sink in the bathroom, but light the face of the person looking at the mirror. When vanity lighting is done near the mirror in a small bathroom, it may also serve a dual purpose by providing vanity lighting and being a general lighting source as well.

For mirror lighting, the best vanity lights are said to be those placed vertically at each side of the mirror. The lights should be mounted on the wall at eye level.

Kitchen light fixtures

Kitchen light fixtures are important, not only to provide lighting for cooking and preparing food, but also to provide a cheerful environment which can enhance the cook's mood to entertain and serve great food. There are many ways to enhance the ambience of your kitchen through lighting using different types of lighting fixtures. For example, under-cabinet lights serve as task lights to illuminate areas used for food preparation and dishwashing. Another example on how important it is to choose an appropriate kitchen lighting fixture: a ceiling light in the middle of the room may seem to provide adequate lighting for the entire room. However, this particular light can cast shadows from a person over the food being prepared, thus reducing visibility. A better alternative is to wrap the tracks around the room by either having a U or H-shaped lighting pattern or what we call track lighting .