A Guide To Choosing The Right Light Fixture For A Low Ceiling – Semi-Flush Or Flush?

Intro

If you have recently renovated your home, inherited a room with low ceilings, or want a light that sits close to your ceiling, two types of light fixtures can bring life to the space: semi-flush or flush mount. First, let’s look at each style and how you can use them in your home.

Key Points From This Blog Post

Semi Flush lighting has a gap between the fixing plate and the bottom of the fixture
Flush ceiling lights sit close to the ceiling with no gap
Consider style but also the purpose the light fitting will serve
Check your room height before purchasing
Always check the weight and size of the light
Check whether you need a dimmer and which light bulbs you need to purchase

Let’s look at the two main types of light fixtures available for low ceilings –

What Are Semi-Flush Style Ceiling Lights?

Semi-flush-styled lighting is lighting fixtures with a small gap between the fixture and the fixing plate, usually installed on the ceiling. The light is held down by something like a stem, making it look like a pendant lighting but not as suspended as a pendant light.

How to identify a semi flush ceiling light?

When installed, the semi-flush ceiling light allows light to shine up to the ceiling plane and then reflect down to your room, which illuminates and causes additional reflectance. It is suitable for any of your rooms with low ceilings that cannot allow for a chandelier or pendant light.

What is a semi flush ceiling light video Scotlight Direct

What Are Flush Ceiling Lights?

Flush ceiling lights, also known as flat ceiling or flush mount lights, are light fixtures with little to no gap between them and the ceiling from which they are hanging. Meaning they are made to lay flat and flush on the ceiling.

They are often installed right in the middle of the ceiling, shining downward and allowing ambient lighting throughout your space.

What is a flush ceiling light video – Scotlight Direct

How do you know which light fixture is right for your home and your needs? Flush VS Semi Flush

Now that we know flush ceiling lighting sits close to the ceiling and a semi-flush light fitting hangs down from the ceiling supported by a pole or chain, how do I know which one to choose?

Infographic: flush vs semi flush lighting explanation. What is the difference?

1. Think About Your Style And Purpose

The next step is choosing the style and considering where you are installing the light fitting.

Picking the right flush light for your home can be overwhelming. With modern, brass, and contemporary styles, it’s difficult to know which will fit best in a room.

Flush ceiling fittings with no gap to the ceiling are good for areas such as hallways, utility rooms, stairways, and bathrooms, as they are compact and hard to break.

Semi-flush ceiling fittings are great for bedrooms or living rooms where you may require more design-led or aesthetically pleasing light fitting.

2. Consider Your Room Height

You can install flush or semi-flush light in a room with a low ceiling, where using a different light fixture will make the room seem smaller or where the light would hang too low, causing someone to hit it with their head.

For example, a ceiling 7 to 8 feet high (2.2m-2.4m) will work well with flush lighting where you have little clearance and will blend in with the room.

3.Check The Weight And Size

Believe it or not, some styles of flush lighting can be heavy, and your ceiling may not be able to take the weight you will need to be reinforced. Fortunately, a qualified electrician can help and guide us to the suitable weight.

Remember installing light fittings can be dangerous. Steven MacDonald, a qualified electrician and managing director of SM Electrical Supplies LTD, said, “If you are not confident around electrical wiring, you should not attempt to install lighting on your own. Not only could you invalidate your home insurance, but you could potentially hurt yourself. Always hire a qualified electrician if you are not sure”.

Always measure the width of the ceiling light before purchasing, and make sure it will blend with your existing interior design of the room.

4. Consider Dimming And Light Bulbs

Once you have chosen your light, consider whether you will install a dimmer on the wall or use a smart light bulb option with a smart app. Having this conversation with your installer earlier rather than later will save time and money.

Light bulbs are next on the list and one of the most important but overlooked parts when buying a light fixture.

If you have decided to use a dimmer, you will need to purchase dimmable light bulbs and double-check that the light fitting can be dimmed. If you have decided to use a wall switch, you can buy standard non-dimmable light bulbs that do not need to be dimmable.

Wrap Up

To conclude this guide for lighting a low ceiling, remember flush styles are better for walkway spaces such as hallways and bathrooms. Semi-flush lights are better for bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms, but your ceiling height will ultimately determine which one you can use.

Author Profile

Adam Malvern

Adam is an in-house technical writer for Scotlight Direct, a website dedicated to providing the latest and most accurate information on lighting topics. With a passion for writing and a deep understanding of various lighting concepts and designs. Adam has been a valuable asset to the team since joining in 2019.