
How to Choose the Perfect Long Ceiling Lights: Tips You Need to Know.
Alexander BevanShare
he right long ceiling lights can transform a room, enhancing its functionality and aesthetic appeal. Whether you're looking to illuminate a spacious living area, a narrow hallway, or a modern kitchen, choosing the perfect fixture requires careful consideration.
In this article, we will explore the essential factors to remember when selecting long ceiling lights, ensuring you make an informed decision that complements your space and meets your lighting needs.
What are ceiling lights?
Ceiling lights are lighting fixtures installed on or recessed into the ceiling of a room. They are the primary light source in many indoor spaces, providing general ambient lighting that helps brighten your home. Ceiling lights come in various styles, sizes, and designs to suit different aesthetic preferences and functional needs.
Ceiling lights can range from simple flush-mount fixtures that sit close to the ceiling surface to elaborate pendant lights hanging downward as a decorative focal point. They may use different bulbs, including incandescent, fluorescent, LED lights, or halogen, each offering distinct lighting qualities and energy efficiency levels.
Some ceiling lights are equipped with additional features like dimmer switches, remote controls, or smart home compatibility, allowing users to adjust the brightness and sometimes even the colour of the light to create different moods or accommodate various activities.
What is the purpose of ceiling lights?
Ceiling lights, whether recessed or long ceiling lights, can highly benefit your home or office. To understand how important these ceiling long lights are, let’s first look at the three types of lighting that are common in many homes and offices.
The three most common types of lighting include:
● Task lighting
● Accent lighting
● Ambient lighting
● Task lighting is lighting that is directly aimed at a workspace. It could be a floor or desk standing lamp to light your home office or a pendant light that is effective in your garden shed. Task lights illuminate your work area evenly, which enhances productivity while reducing eye strain.
● Accent lighting is mostly used as a decorative element in your home or office. You can add accent lighting to areas that you want to draw attention to, for example, the architectural features of a home or an interesting piece of decor like a handmade statue.
● Ambient lighting is mainly used to create a base light onto which other lights can be added. A room with great ambient lighting makes it easier to add other lights to make the scene prettier whilst reducing harsh shadows. Ambient lighting combined with different light sources can reduce eye strain as well.
Benefits of long ceiling lights
Long ceiling lights are versatile in functionality and accentuating your space. You can use them for task lighting, accent lighting, and ambient lighting. Here are more benefits of why you need ceiling long lights in your home.
Uniform lighting
Ceiling lighting uniformly lights up a room. Light from the overhead fixture spreads out evenly, eliminating shadows and ensuring minimal dark or poorly lit areas. A ceiling light makes the best ambient light because it ensures the entire room is well-lit before adding other light sources.
Great for task lighting
Ceiling lights can make amazing task lighting, especially in work sheds, greenhouses, or grow rooms. They provide the right brightness to make it easy to read in your study room or tend to your plants in the grow room.
Makes Rooms Feel Bigger
Good lighting can make your room feel bigger and more open. It can also help show off your stuff, like posters, trophies, or other cool things you have. Plus, good lights make your room safer because you can see where you're going and won't trip over things.
Energy-Saving and Adjustable
Many new ceiling lights are good for the environment because they use less electricity. This can help lower your family's electric bills too. Some lights even let you change how bright they are. You can make them brighter when you're studying or dimmer when you're watching a movie.
Low Maintenance and Long-Lasting
The best part is that ceiling lights are usually easy to take care of and last a long time. You won't need to replace them often, and they only need a little cleaning. With the right ceiling lights, your room can be more comfortable, look cooler, and be a better place for all the things you like to do!
Where to install long ceiling lights?
When considering where to install long ceiling lights, it's essential to evaluate the specific needs of each space in your home or workshop. Here are some key areas to focus on:
1. Garage
In a garage, proper lighting is crucial for visibility and safety. Long ceiling lights can be installed to eliminate dark corners and provide uniform illumination across the workspace. It's recommended to position fixtures evenly across the ceiling, ensuring that they are not obstructed by shelves or equipment. For example, installing multiple fixtures can help avoid shadows and dark spots, especially in areas where you perform tasks like woodworking or automotive repairs.
2. Kitchen
In kitchens, long ceiling lights can enhance both functionality and aesthetics. Install them above work areas such as countertops and islands to provide ample task lighting. Consider using dimmable fixtures to adjust the brightness according to the time of day or activity, creating a warm ambiance for dining or entertaining.
3. Loft
Lofts often feature high ceilings, making them ideal for semi-flush or hanging long ceiling lights. Positioning these fixtures strategically can help define different areas within the open space, such as a reading nook or dining area. Ensure that the lights are hung at a height that provides adequate illumination without being too low to obstruct movement.
4. Shed
For sheds, especially those used as workshops, long ceiling lights are essential for visibility. Install fixtures along the length of the shed to ensure even lighting throughout. Consider using LED batten lights for energy efficiency and brightness, which can significantly improve the working conditions in a typically dim environment.
5. Workshop
In a workshop, the placement of long ceiling lights should focus on areas where detailed work is performed. Install lights directly above workbenches and tool areas to provide focused task lighting. Additionally, using adjustable fixtures can help direct light where it's needed most, reducing eye strain and improving productivity.
What are the long ceiling lights called?
When it comes to illuminating large spaces efficiently, long ceiling lights are a popular choice for both commercial and residential settings. These versatile fixtures come in various styles and designs, each serving specific lighting needs while contributing to the overall aesthetic of your space.
Whether renovating an office or enhancing your home's lighting, understanding the different types of long ceiling lights can help you make an informed decision. Let's explore the most common varieties of these elongated illumination solutions:
What are the old long lights called?
The old long ceiling lights are typically the traditional fluorescent tube lights. They are also called fluorescent lamps or long tube bulbs. These old long lights are commonly used in commercial or public places such as schools, offices, hotels, and factories.
Long tube lights are highly preferred because they are more energy efficient, compared to the conventional incandescent bulb. They have a longer life span too which is why you will still find them in offices today.
However, technological advancement has led to the replacement of fluorescent tube lights with LED batten lights. LED batten lights are brighter and more energy efficient. They also have a slim design that allows the light to sit flush in recessed corners or ceilings.
What lights are best for high ceilings?
There are various types of ceiling long lights on the market today. Generally, these lights are divided into two categories;
● The Flush mount ceiling lights
● Semi-flush mounted ceiling lights
Flush-mount long ceiling lights
These are lights mounted close to the ceiling, leaving little space between the fixture and the ceiling. Flush mount ceiling long lights are ideal for rooms with low ceilings. If your ceiling is 8 feet high or below, then flush mount lights are ideal for providing ample lighting without taking up too much space.
However, flush mount lighting may not be applicable in rooms with high ceilings. The room may appear poorly lit if the light is positioned too high on the ceiling.
Semi-flush ceiling long lights
As their name suggests, these are long light fixtures mounted with ample space between the ceiling surface and the light fixture itself. The light is usually suspended by a chain or a metallic rod pointing downwards. Think of a chandelier as a perfect example.
Semi-flush long lights are perfect for homes with high ceilings, typically 10 feet and above. Also, semi-flush long lights are ideal for sloped ceilings, which are often higher compared to flat ceilings.
How do you light a room with a 20 foot ceiling?
For an 11 ft x 9 ft room with a 20-foot ceiling, a lighting fixture with a diameter of about 203.2 cm (approximately 6.67 feet) is recommended. You can cover it with one 4ft and one 3ft batten lights. You may also want to consider additional fixtures for adequate lighting given the high ceiling.
Here is how we calculate it:
Add Length and Width:
11 ft + 9 ft = 20 ft
Calculate Fixture Size:
Divide the total by 3:
20 ft ÷ 3 ≈ 6.67 ft
Convert Diameter to Centimeters:
6.67 ft × 30.48 ≈ 203.2 cm
How do I know what size ceiling light I need?
It is easy to find the right size ceiling light when you know where to look. Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction:
Measure your room
Start by taking the dimensions of your room. Measure the length and width of your room in feet then add the two numbers together. Next, convert the sum of your answers in inches to get a general guideline for the diameter of the light fixture you need.
For a typical UK living room measuring 4.5m x 3.5m:
Convert the room dimensions to centimetres:
4.5 metres 450 cm
3.5 metres = 350 cm
Add the dimensions:
450 cm + 350 cm = 800 cm
Calculate the diameter of the light fixture:
A good guideline is to divide the total by 3:
800 cm ÷ 3 ≈ 267 cm
Convert the diameter to feet:
267 cm ÷ 30.48 ≈ 8.77 ft
A light fixture with a diameter of about 267 cm (or approximately 8.77 feet) would be suitable for a room measuring 4.5m x 3.5m. You can cover it with one 5ft and one 4ft batten lights.
Factor in the ceiling height
If your ceiling is 8 feet (243 cm) high or lower, consider getting flush mount ceiling lights. For ceilings that are 10 feet (305 cm) or higher, semi-flush lights would be perfect as they bring the light lower while still bouncing some of that light back at the ceiling.
Determine how much light you need.
How bright do you want the lights in your room to be? If you are an artist or graphic designer who works from home, you need a bright evenly lit room to see your designs better. On the other hand, if you are only looking forward to a cosy evening by the fireplace reading a book and sipping your favourite wine, then warm lighting is a good choice for you.
LED flush-mount ceiling lights have grown more popular in homes and offices that need low-cost, brighter lighting. They are not only bright but they are durable too, giving about 50000 hours of light, which is more than ordinary light bulbs. Throughout their lifespan, LED lights will provide a continuous, steady light with zero flickering.
How do you adjust the length of a ceiling light?
Adjusting the length of a ceiling light typically depends on the type of fixture you have, which usually is a semi-flush ceiling light. Here are some common methods for adjusting long light length:
Chain-hung fixtures:
Chain-hung fixtures offer a simple method for adjusting height. To shorten the fixture, remove the links from the chain and secure the light back. On the other hand, add links to the chain when you want to lengthen the light.
Cable-suspended lights:
Cable-suspended lights can be easily adjusted by loosening the cable clamp at the ceiling. Once loosened, you can adjust the cable length to raise or lower the light fixture. After achieving the perfect height, re-tighten the clamp to secure the light in its new position.
Stem-mounted fixtures:
Stem-mounted fixtures can be adjusted by unscrewing the stem sections. Once disassembled, you can remove or add sections to achieve the desired height or length. After making the necessary adjustments, reassemble the stem to complete the process.
Adjustable cord pendants:
Pendant ceiling lamps have an adjustable cord near the light’s canopy. Use this cord adjuster to lengthen or shorten the cord’s length before retightening the mechanism to secure the light in place.
Telescoping rods:
Ceiling lights attached to telescoping rods can be adjusted by first loosening the locking mechanism on them. Once you do so, slide the rod to your desired length then re-tighten the lock. That’s it.
Always switch off the power before adjusting the length of your ceiling lights. If you are uncomfortable with the electrical work, it's best to consult a professional electrician.
Conclusion: What is the rule for ceiling lights?
Choosing the right long ceiling lights is a balance of form and function that can significantly impact your space. These versatile fixtures offer even illumination, energy efficiency, and the ability to serve multiple lighting purposes - from task to ambient lighting.
When selecting long ceiling lights, consider your room's dimensions and height to determine the appropriate size and mounting style. For lower ceilings, flush mount fixtures work best, while higher ceilings can accommodate semi-flush or hanging lights. Many fixtures offer adjustable lengths, allowing for customisation to your space.
Remember to factor in the desired brightness and energy efficiency, with LED options becoming increasingly popular for longevity and cost-effectiveness. By carefully considering these factors, you can select long ceiling lights that not only illuminate your space effectively but also enhance its overall ambience and design, creating a welcoming and functional environment for years to come.
