Your Ultimate Guide to Types of Lighting
Let's get illuminated!
The types of lighting you install in your home can completely change the mood and style of your space. With that in mind, choosing the perfect light fixtures for your home might feel like a daunting task. Don't worry – we've assembled a comprehensive guide to all the different types of light fixtures and lightbulbs, so you can weigh your options and make the best choice for your home.
Tip!
Looking for more information on any specific type of lightbulb or light fixture? Throughout this guide, we've embedded other guides that explore each type for a more in-depth look.
In This Guide:
3 Main Types of Lighting
Types of Light Fixtures
Lamps
Wall Lights
Ceiling Lights
Outdoor Lights
Types of Lightbulbs
3 Main Types of Lighting
Before we discuss lightbulbs and light fixtures, it's important to discuss lighting itself – more specifically, the atmospheric and aesthetic effects of different types of lighting. There are three distinguished types of lighting with which you can light up your home: ambient, accent, and task.
Ambient: Ambient lighting – sometimes referred to as general lighting or mood lighting – is one of the most gentle and relaxing types of lighting. It refers to soft, sometimes diffused lighting that may mimic natural light. Ambient lighting is notable because it exists without spotlights or glare – the soft, flat light highlights the entire space instead of calling attention to specific areas. It's calming and serene and perfect for gently lighting a space for quiet conversation or general activity. To achieve ambient lighting in your home, look for light fixtures that diffuse light, such as table or floor lamps with soft shades, globe lights, recessed lights, or half-moon and corner wall sconces.
Task: As its name suggests, task lighting is meant to light up a workspace or task area so you can effectively see what you're doing. Whether you are reading, writing, cooking, putting together a puzzle, or painting, a task light can help you perform your tasks comfortably and without eyestrain. It is usually bright and focused and can be directed to very specific areas, often with a flexible neck or swing arm. Task lighting comes in the form of individual light fixtures that are installed near or over a workspace, such as pendant lights, swing-arm wall sconces, and desk lamps of all kinds.
Accent: If you've got an eye for the artfully dramatic, accent lighting will become your new favorite type of lighting. Accent lighting is used to direct a concentrated beam of light at a feature or installation in your home to which you'd like to draw particular attention. Accent lighting is usually installed directly above art pieces, bookshelves, architectural features, and other elements that you'd like to stand out. Accent lighting typically comes in the form of spotlights, but track lights can also be used to highlight specific areas of your home as well.
Light fixtures themselves can be broken up into four key categories: lamps, wall lights, ceiling lights, and outdoor lights. In each of these categories, there are more subcategories of light fixtures that are organized by appearance and location.
Lamps
The word lamp typically refers to any light fixture that isn't installed permanently in your home – a lamp (often plug-in or battery-powered) can usually be moved as desired and is often controlled by a switch located somewhere on the lamp itself. Historically, lamps have been composed of three main parts: a body, a bulb (or other light-emitting feature), and a shade. Nowadays, what constitutes a lamp is much more abstract, the commonality being the mobility and somewhat temporary nature of the light fixture.
Lamps can be organized into two subcategories: floor lamps and table lamps. As you can probably guess, floor lamps are tall freestanding lamps that are placed on the floor, while table lamps are short freestanding lamps that are placed on tables and desks. If the lamp you choose doesn’t come with a shade, be sure to style it with a lamp shade of your choice!
Floor Lamps: With plenty of distinct styles and shapes, floor lamps are some of the most popular and most stylish light fixtures you can install in your home. Floor lamps add ambient light and a bit of drama to any space as the lamp's decorative base can really stand out as a statement-making piece on its own. Floor lamps are most effectively placed in the corners of living spaces, especially behind chairs used for reading, writing, or other relaxed tasks that could benefit from having a little extra light. Just beware of installing a floor lamp in a high-traffic area – its height may get in the way or make it prone to falling if it is bumped.
Table Lamps
Table lamps may not be the best option for lighting an entire room, but they're must-haves for end tables, nightstands, console tables, or desks that could benefit from some soft or directed light. There are two main categories of table lamps: bedside table lamps and desk lamps.
Bedside/End Table Lamps: Bedside and end table lamps are decorative light fixtures that are often shaded. They are designed to emit a soft glow that can light up just the space immediately around them. Because their light isn't strong or harsh, they're perfect for nightstands so you can read or write before bed without disturbing your partner. These stylish lamps come in various shapes and designs, all of which can act as functional decor for your space.
Task/Desk Lamps: The task lamp is the even-more-focused sister of the bedside table lamp – it is the perfect accessory for a desk or workspace. Rather than a diffused glow, these lamps emit a more concentrated beam of light to perfectly light up a specific spot. Though the light emitted by a task lamp can be a little more intense than the light emitted by a bedside table lamp, it likely won't light up an area as much as a bedside table lamp. This means that a task lamp may be an even better option if you like to read in bed without disturbing your partner.
Plus, many task lamps also have flexible or swinging arms that allow you to move their light beam as you see fit.
Tip!
Our guide Lighting 101: Types of Lamps goes into detail about each style of lamp and even gives tips about lamp placement. Check it out to learn more!
Wall lights come in many forms and are installed either directly into your wall and often your electrical system or as plug-in fixtures that you mount to the wall. Most wall lights are used to stylishly and warmly light an entire room, while others may be used as task or accent lighting. There are five main types of wall lights: wall sconces, bathroom vanity lights, under-cabinet lights, picture lights, and night-lights.
Wall Sconces: Wall sconces are mounted on the wall and protrude outward. They come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes, allowing you to find one that suits your space. The fixture may be upward-facing, downward-facing, both, or neither. It may be shaded and it may not be shaded. The appearance and effect of a wall sconce can vary widely from fixture to fixture; the soft environmental light emitted by a half-moon, corner, or recessed wall light might be completely different from the focused light emitted by a spotlight or barn-light wall light. The shade material used on these lights matters as well – an armed wall light with a glass shade will emit a much different glow from an armed wall light with a fabric shade. Ultimately, your choice of wall lighting will depend on your style and functional preferences.
Tip!
Learn more about each style of wall sconce by checking out our guide Types & Styles of Wall Sconces.
Bathroom Vanity Lights: Bathroom vanity lights are similar to wall sconces in that they install into the wall and protrude outward, but these fixtures typically have two or more arms holding lightbulbs, while wall sconces usually only have one per fixture. Bathroom vanity lights – as you might have guessed – are designed to be installed just above a bathroom vanity to light up your face as you prepare for your day or get ready for bed.
Under-Cabinet Lights: Typically far less permanent fixtures than wall sconces and bathroom vanity lights, under-cabinet lights attach (usually via adhesive strips) to the underside of your kitchen cabinets to provide some gentle task lighting or to light your way through your kitchen when it's dark. These affordable fixtures are often made with LED lights and are great for renters due to their ease of installation and impermanence.
Picture Lights: Art enthusiasts, these lights are for you. Picture lights resemble wall sconces, but these lights were not designed to light an entire room. Rather, picture lights were designed to be mounted just above a piece of art to draw attention to it. Usually powered with LEDs, these lights will have your home feeling like an art gallery.
Night-Lights: If you were ever afraid of the dark as a child, you probably have a soft spot for this type of wall light. Night-lights are small plug-in electric devices that affix right to an outlet. Their single bulbs give off a reassuring glow that can help light your way in the dark or soothe children to sleep without disturbing them. Most modern night-lights don't need to be unplugged each morning; instead, many night-light designs feature an on-off switch or a sensor that detects movement or sunlight. Night-lights come in an incredible range of sophisticated and novelty designs and are great for hallways, bathrooms, and kids' bedrooms.
Ceiling lights are light fixtures that are installed directly into your ceiling to light a large room or just the area directly beneath the light. Almost all ceiling light fixtures must be installed directly into your home's electrical system and are often controlled by one or more wall-mounted light switches. There are many different types of ceiling lights: chandeliers, pendant lights, flush-mount and semi-flush-mount lights, directional lights and spotlights, track lights, and recessed lights.
Tip!
Save on energy without losing sight thanks to an LED ceiling light!
Chandeliers: An eye-catching statement fixture, chandeliers are a great addition to an entryway, above a dining table, or in a spacious living room. They typically feature a branched structure that can accommodate multiple lightbulbs to emit a wide radius of light. There are many (many) types that are differently suited for different styles, so you can find a chandelier that perfectly matches your aesthetic.
Tip!
There is much more to learn about these focal point–worthy fixtures. Read our Types of Chandeliers guide for an overview of each style and more.
Pendant Lights: Pendant lights hang from the ceiling on a long cord, chain, or rod to illuminate the area underneath them. However, the light emitted from some pendant lights can be used as task lighting instead of ambient lighting. Pendant lights vary widely in appearance – some are super simple, and others are more complex and ornamental. Because the radius of the light emitted by most pendant lights tends to be smaller than that of most chandeliers, pendant lights aren't ideal as dining table centerpieces. Instead, they work best as accent or task lighting over kitchen workspaces. Some styles however, including kitchen-island and cluster styles, are designed for illuminating larger surfaces and can absolutely be installed above dining room tables.
Flush-Mount & Semi-Flush-Mount Lights: If you're looking for something decorative but a little more subtle than a pendant light, a flush-mount or semi-flush-mount light is likely the best choice for you. These types of lighting are installed into your ceiling, but they don't hang down too far from the ceiling. Flush-mount lights install against the ceiling, while semi-flush-mount lights hang just off of the ceiling on a downrod. The low-profile design makes this type of lighting ideal for small spaces or rooms with low ceilings.
Directional Lights/Spotlights: Directional lights and spotlights (these terms are sometimes used interchangeably) are ceiling-mounted lights that can direct a strong, focused beam of light onto a specific object. They can also be turned and directed at the ceiling or wall to more broadly illuminate a space, but they are best utilized as accent lighting. Most directional lights and spotlights are composed of a hinged bracket or base and a bulb encased inside a tubular or conical shade that effectively directs light wherever the opening of the shade is pointed. The hinge holding the bulb and shade to the base of the light allows you to pivot the light to different angles in order to direct it at different locations. Other directional lights may be fixed or lacking shades around their bulbs; the shared characteristic between them is that their bulbs are facing a specific direction.
Track Lights: As you might have guessed, track lights are composed of a track and a set of lights that are affixed to that track. The simple structure of a track-light fixture is fairly consistent from type to type, however subtle differences between the types can make a big difference in the look and feel of your space. A modern living space may benefit from a frills-free standard track light, while a more glamorous, retro living space might be better complemented by a monorail track light with funky light shades. Though the lights affixed to track light tracks tend to be spotlights, these light fixtures aren't just good as accent lighting; they can be installed in living spaces and kitchens as dynamic ambient lighting or even task lighting if each spotlight is pointed in the same direction.
Tip!
Has a track light caught your eye? Read more about each type of track light and track-light features in our Track Lighting Buying Guide.
Recessed Lights: The final and most functional type of ceiling light in this guide is this low-profile light fixture, designed to be inset into the ceiling to effectively light a large space in general lighting. These lights differ greatly from the aforementioned ceiling light fixtures in that they do not hang from the ceiling; instead, they are installed directly into the ceiling. Most of these light fixtures do not protrude at all from the ceiling, though some do. These light fixtures should be a go-to if you're looking for a way to add all-encompassing ambient lighting to any space (even your shower!) without the fixture itself being too distracting.
Tip!
Looking for more information on any of the ceiling lights we discussed in this section? We have an entire guide dedicated to ceiling lights (including ceiling fans). If you have any lingering questions, our guide Types of Ceiling Lights: How to Choose the Right One will likely answer them.
The selection of light fixtures for outdoor spaces rivals the selection available for indoor spaces. The wide variety of outdoor light fixtures can be categorized by type and function, just like indoor light fixtures. Outdoor lights are available as outdoor wall lights, ceiling lights, lanterns and lamps, post lights, string lights, landscape lights, and security lights.
Tip!
For a more energy-efficient source of light, opt for an LED outdoor lighting fixture!
Outdoor Wall Lights: Much like indoor wall lights, outdoor wall lights are available in a few different styles, most of which serve to give illumination to the area near a door or an outdoor living space. Barn lights and wall lanterns in particular are becoming more popular as outdoor light fixtures for their stunning look and welcoming vibe. Outdoor wall fixtures are some of the easier outdoor light fixtures to install, especially if you don't have an overhead surface in which to install a ceiling light or the budget to install a post light.
Outdoor Ceiling Lights
If you're lucky enough to have an outdoor living space with a ceiling, you must take advantage of the beauty an outdoor ceiling light can provide the area. Outdoor ceiling lights can be broken up into two categories: hanging lights and flush-mount and semi-flush-mount lights.
Outdoor Hanging Lights: Outdoor hanging lights and indoor hanging lights (think pendant lights) are almost exactly the same in installation and design. The only difference is that outdoor hanging lights were designed to withstand the elements. Guests will be floored by the sweet sophistication of your outdoor living space if it is illuminated by an outdoor hanging light fixture. There's almost no better way to make your outdoor space feel more inviting. If you live in an area that frequently experiences high winds, we recommend a hanging light on a downrod rather than a cord or chain.
Outdoor Flush-Mount & Semi-Flush-Mount Lights: Once again, the form and function of outdoor flush-mount and semi-flush-mount lights mimic the form and function of indoor flush-mount and semi-flush-mount lights. As with the indoor versions, outdoor flush-mount lights mount directly against the ceiling, while outdoor semi-flush-mount lights protrude a few inches from the ceiling. These light fixtures are a great choice if your outdoor ceiling might be too low for a hanging light or if your area's weather might not be the most forgiving of a low-hanging light.
Outdoor Lanterns & Lamps: Some of the simplest outdoor light fixtures, outdoor lanterns and lamps are portable devices that are often battery-powered and are made to illuminate a small radius directly around them. Some outdoor lanterns are simply metal and glass housings in which lit candles can be placed safely. Placing a few of these outdoor lights in and around your outdoor living space is one of the easiest ways to add functional beauty to your home. These affordable, lightweight lights can set the mood and the style of your outdoor living space.
Outdoor Post Lights: Outdoor post lights are affixed to the ground to light up a main entry door, walkway, driveway, or other broad outdoor area. Outdoor post lights can vary in both post style and head style. You can purchase a post light that includes both a post and a light head, but posts and heads can also be sold separately, allowing you to mix and match to create the perfect post light for your home.
Outdoor Landscape Lights: Outdoor landscape lights may differ in appearance and installation location, but they all share one useful characteristic: They light and enhance the features of your outdoor space, including your landscaping, walkways, steps, and outdoor living structures (such as patios and decks). Outdoor landscape lights are categorized by location. Pathway lights are designed to be staked into the ground along pathways; spotlights and floodlights are designed to direct a strong beam of light toward an outdoor feature you'd like to highlight; deck lights are designed to light up a broad deck or patio space; step lights are designed to light your outdoor steps so people won't trip in the dark; and fence post caps are designed to act like post light heads and light your fence or fence gate.
Outdoor Security Lights: Let's face it – the dark is scary, especially outdoors! Outdoor security lights are designed to light up the darker areas of your outdoor space and provide you a little extra peace of mind. Security lighting is named as such not only because it can make you feel safer traversing your own property, but also because they can discourage potential intruders from poking around your home. Motion-activated sensors can surprise a potential intruder, who will be suddenly basked in bright light if they move near the fixture. Spotlights and floodlights, especially if they are equipped with motion sensors, can also discourage trespassers.
Outdoor String Lights: Almost as versatile and easy to install as outdoor lanterns, outdoor string lights are long strands populated with small bulbs. You might be familiar with the string lights used to decorate homes and give ambient light to greenery around the holidays, but they aren't the only type of outdoor string lights that can decorate your home with a cozy glow. String lights are also available with bulbs of different shapes, sizes, and accessories, which can produce different effects when hung in and around in your outdoor space. These affordable lights can be either electric-, solar-, or battery-powered and can vary in length. They're amazing for parties but can be incredible year-round additions as well.
Tip!
As with the other types of lighting in this guide, there is much more to learn about outdoor light fixtures. We have another guide that goes into much more detail about outdoor light fixtures, including information on solar lights, weather-resistance, dark-sky compliance, and more. If your mind is still yearning for more information, check out our Outdoor Lighting Guide.
You should also think about lightbulb type – the type of lightbulb you choose can not only change the mood of the light fixture into which you install it, but it can also impact your energy bill. The four types of lightbulbs are incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), halogen, and light-emitting diode (LED).
Incandescent: These warm, old-fashioned lightbulbs are super common and highly affordable. They employ filaments that emit a golden glow when heated by electricity. This also means that they are often too hot to touch when in use. These lightbulbs may be cheap, but they don't last as long as CFL or LED lightbulbs, nor are they as energy-efficient as other lightbulb types.
Compact Fluorescent (CFL): These energy-efficient bulbs are taking the place of incandescent bulbs as one of the most popular choices for the home. These versatile bulbs can come in a variety of colors and can be used to light up broad spaces. Though these bulbs are a little pricier than incandescent lights, they tend to last longer.
Halogen: These lights emit a white light that simulates high-noon daylight – great for spotlights and other light fixtures that emit highly focused beams of light. Halogen lightbulbs employ similar filament-heating technology as incandescent lightbulbs, but a cocktail of iodine and bromine (contained in the same quartz capsule as the heated filament) makes the light emitted by a halogen lightbulb much brighter. The downside of such intensity is a shorter lifespan and a much hotter bulb – caution is required when working with halogen lightbulbs.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED): LED lightbulbs are quickly becoming some of the most popular lightbulbs available. These bulbs are highly energy-efficient but can still compare with other lightbulbs in brightness. They're also long-lasting and produce no heat, making them great for hard-to-reach places and locations that other bulbs might render fire hazards. LED lightbulbs can also be programmable and color-changing, a trending favorite for dramatically colored spaces. Tiny LED bulbs can also be used to populate light strips that can create an out-of-this-world effect when installed under or behind furniture pieces.
High Intensity Discharge (HID): If you need to light a large area, like a playroom or living room, then a HID bulb will give you the best illumination. These bulbs are also energy-efficient since they produce more light without using much energy and provide a higher quality of light than other bulbs because they’re so bright.
Tip!
This information on lightbulb types is just the tip of the iceberg. To learn more about lightbulbs, including information on wattage, lumens, lightbulb shapes, and more, read our guide Types of Lightbulbs: How to Choose the Right One.
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Now that you know the various types of lighting, it’s time to brighten your space!
