How to choose a ceiling lamp: what to consider

A ceiling lamp is often the main light in a room, and it is easy to underestimate. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

Browse ceiling lamps →·See an Edit →

Ceiling height and size

In a room with a ceiling lower than about 2.4 m, a flush or semi-flush lamp keeps clear of heads and tall furniture. A tall room can take a lamp that hangs lower.
A lamp usually looks right when it is clearly smaller than the room but large enough to be seen as a feature. A small lamp in a large room looks lost and lights it badly.
A large room can use several lamps in a row or a grid, which spreads the light more evenly than one big one.

Light

Check the fitting, the maximum wattage, whether the lamp can be dimmed, and whether the bulb or LED module is included.
A diffuser of opal glass or fabric spreads the light softly. A clear shade or an open design gives more sparkle and can glare when you look up.
Warm white light (around 2700 K) is the usual choice for living spaces and bedrooms; a cooler white is common in kitchens and work areas.
Check the number of lumens against the size of the room, not only the watts.

Installation

A ceiling lamp needs a ceiling outlet where you want it. Fixed wiring should be done by a qualified electrician, and the rules differ by country.
Heavy glass, stone or metal needs a fixing that suits your ceiling (concrete, joists or plasterboard). Check the weight against what the fixing is rated for.
Enclosed lamps trap heat. Check the maximum wattage and whether the lamp is made for the bulb type you want to use.

Materials and care

Opal glass and fabric diffusers collect dust and insects and need a regular wipe. Metals and finishes vary: raw brass darkens, powder coating chips.
Bathrooms, kitchens and covered outdoor areas need a fitting rated for damp, steam or wet conditions (look for an IP rating).

Longevity and repair

Look at how the bulb or LED module is changed once the lamp is up: a diffuser that unscrews or clips off is easier than one that needs the whole lamp taken down.
A lamp lasts longer if its parts can be replaced: the bulb or module, the driver, the diffuser and the ceiling plate. With a built-in LED the whole lamp is the part that wears out.

Questions worth asking the maker

What are the exact dimensions and the height it takes below the ceiling? Is the bulb included and replaceable, and how is it changed? Can it be dimmed? What does it weigh? Are spare parts and finishes available later? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

Browse ceiling lamps →·See an Edit →