Ceiling lamps

You choose a ceiling lamp by looking at three things: how high the ceiling is, how big the room is and what you do there. Bedroom, corridor and living room call for different lights.

Flush ceiling light or pendant: check the ceiling height

A flush ceiling light sits against the ceiling, so it is the simplest choice with low ceilings, up to about 2.4 m. Between 2.4 and 2.7 m you can also use a model with a short stem, dropping to about 30 cm. From about 3 m upwards you can also consider a pendant lamp. Where people walk underneath, leave at least about 2.1 m between the floor and the lowest point of the lamp: with a 2.7 m ceiling, that leaves about 60 cm for the lamp and its fitting.

Large round ceiling lights: how to choose the diameter

There is a rough guide: add the room's length and width in metres and multiply by 8. The result is the diameter in centimetres. In a bedroom of 3 × 4 m, for example, you get about 55–60 cm. It is not a fixed rule: some guides use it as a starting point, others as a maximum. The diameter does not say how much light the lamp gives: a wide ceiling light with little light can leave the corners dark. If you want a large diameter with a slim profile, the Band Diodi ring of light by Affralux ranges from 45 to 108 cm.

Linear ceiling lamps: corridors and long rooms

In corridors, the space a lamp takes up matters. One ceiling light every 2.4–3 m gives even light, and a small diameter keeps the way clear. A linear lamp follows the shape of the space instead. For long, narrow passages, indoor spotlights also work well or, if you can work in the false ceiling, recessed lamps.

Designer ceiling lights: the shape changes the light

A ceiling light with a diffuser spreads the light around the whole room, while a spotlight concentrates it on one point. In a bedroom, a diffuser that hides the light source is a good idea, because you look up at the ceiling when lying down. Then the character of the lamp counts. Clizia by Slamp, by Adriano Rachele, is made of hand-sewn squares of Opalflex. Duo by Vibia, by Ramos & Bassols, has a lacquered aluminium shell with an oak interior, in four diameters. Mickey by Cattaneo combines luminous circles of different sizes, while Mr Magoo by Stilnovo is a cloud of light.

Ceiling lamps: which light to choose

In the bedroom and living room a warm white light works well, between 2700 and 3000 K. In the kitchen, bathroom or study, where you need more attention and precision, you can go up to 3000–4000 K. For a bedroom, guidance ranges from about 1,500 to 4,000 lumens in total, depending on the size of the room and the other lights on. A single lamp in the centre is rarely enough: add a floor lamp near the sofa and a table lamp on the bedside table. With a dimmer you can move from full to soft light; check, though, that the dimmer and lamp are compatible.

Ceiling lamps in the bathroom: which IP rating you need

In a bathroom the degree of protection matters. Near a bath or shower, up to 2.25 m high and for 60 cm beyond their edge, you need at least IPX4, and above a bath or shower some manufacturers ask for more, up to IP65. The electrician determines the exact zone and also handles the installation. For porches and terraces, see the outdoor ceiling lamps and check the IP rating on the product page.

To choose by brand, start from the ceiling lamps of Artemide, Slamp, Flos or Cattaneo; for other lamps, go back to Indoor lamps.