How Big Should Ceiling Lights Be For Low Ceilings?

Lighting plays a critical role in your home design. If you do not choose the right size for your flush-mount ceiling light, your home’s interior design might look out of place. Why? The size of your flush mount ceiling light determines if the light stands out for the wrong or right reasons.

So How Big Should They Be?

There’s a rule of thumb to select the right flush mount ceiling light size.

1. Measure the length and width of your room in inches.
2. Add them together. For example, if your room measures 10 by 15 ft, you should add 10 and 15 to make 25 ft.
3. Change the feet to inches; instead of 25 feet, you have 25 inches. 25 inches becomes the size of the flush mount ceiling light you should install.

Infographic on how to work out what size of flush light you need in your home — How to work out what size of flush ceiling light you need

Still not sure how to work out the sizing? Check out our video on how big should flush ceiling lights be

Of course, this is not the only thing you need to do. When considering the size of the room, you can also consider the space you’ll install the light.

Bedroom: Asides from the rule of thumb, first consider the size of the room. If the room is low and small, going for several small flush bedroom ceiling lights is your best option. You should use one large ceiling fixture if it is big and high.

Dar Lighting Cierro 6 Light 80cm Taupe Flush Shade With Diffuser — Cierro Large Flush Ceiling Lights

Bathroom: If you want to install the flush mount bathroom ceiling lights above your bathtub, ensure an 8 ft clearance between the top of the tub and the bottom of the light fixture. You should also make sure that the light is IP44 rated or above and suitable for the bathroom.

Dar Lighting Cedric Antique Brass Bathroom 3 Light Spotlight Glass IP44 — Cedric Ip44 Flush Bathroom Spotlight

Dining Room: The typical place to hang a flush mount ceiling light in the dining room is above the dining table. If you would be opting for a chandelier or a flush pendant light, measure the table’s width, subtract 12 from the width and substitute the ft with inches to get the size of the required light fixture.

glass flush ceiling light for living room — CEL4822 Glass flush

Kitchen: Like in the dining room, when installing flush kitchen ceiling lights in the kitchen, measure the size of the furniture to determine what the size of the ceiling light should be.

What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing The Size Of A Flush Mount Ceiling Light?

Before calculating how big your flush light should be, there are some factors you should consider. Some are –

The space of the room: The space and size of the room are essential. It would be best if you don’t put a huge fixture in a small room; it would only make the room seem smaller and stuffy.

The shape of the fixture: Traditionally, the shape of the fixture you wish to buy influences how big or small the fixture should be. Some shapes are better when smaller; for others, it is the other way around. For example, the flush pendant light, which looks like a globe, is better looking in a bigger size.

Materials used to make it: Like the shape, the material used to make the fixture determines whether you should choose a big size or not. Opt for a bigger size if your fixture is made of glass, especially transparent glass.

Reya glass flush ceiling light — Reya glass ceiling light

Decorative features: Picture the type of flush mount ceiling light you want to get, and picture the size. Do you think it would work right in the room you want to install it in? Would it make the room more beautiful, or would it ruin everything? Picturing how beautiful your room will look before installation can help you make the right choice.

Tips For Choosing The Right Flush Mount Ceiling Light For Your Home.

Choosing the right light fixture is not only about the size; there is more that you shouldn’t ignore. Here are some tips to look out for.

Determine that the fixture can carry the correct wattage for your room: Every room has an amount of wattage or lumens it needs to light up. If you don’t know yours, you can measure it. When choosing your fixture, ensure it can carry the lumen output required for your room.

The functionality of the room and the lighting the fixture provides: Various rooms have different functions in the home, and some of these functions might require different types of lighting, like ambient or task lighting. When choosing the light fixture for a room, consider what kind of lighting you need in the room and what type of lighting the fixture provides. This is especially important if you install flush kitchen or bedroom ceiling lights.

Dimmability: Before installing the light fixture, would there be an occasion when you might want to dim the light? If yes, check whether the light fitting is dimmable and whether you need to install an LED wall dimmer.

Is It Easy To Fit A Flush Ceiling Light?

Yes, installing a flush ceiling light is easy, especially if you have some electrical knowledge beforehand. If you want to do it yourself, you can follow the guide in the manual or check for instructions online. However, if it still seems complicated after reading the manual and online, don’t hesitate to hire a qualified electrician to help you out. If you are thinking about trying to install the ceiling light on your wall you should use common sense and choose a light fitting with a secured piece of glass and is as flat as possible.

Conclusion

No matter the type of flush mount ceiling light you wish to buy, the size of the fixture is significant, which is why you need to pay extra attention to it. A wrong measurement in the size of the light can become an eyesore after installation.

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.