How to light a low ceiling room

Older houses have high ceilings which give an impression of grandeur and opulence. Entrance halls were often large in comparison to the rest of the house and would have tall ceilings of 10ft or more to create an impression of space. Heating the home became more expensive over time, so the height was reduced to save energy.

Flush ceiling lights used to be really simple offerings, with opal etched or patterned glass housing a bulb or two. They were generally used in utility rooms, home office or the downstairs loo. With more and more homes being built with lower ceilings, the choice has grown and now we have a greater variety of flush mounted lights to suit every type of decor.

Don’t think just because you are going for a flush fitted ceiling light that you should compromise on style.  Just one look at the Asmara flush ceiling light in antique brass with crystal insets should be enough to reassure you that Flush ceiling lights can be stylish.

The 1970’s saw the introduction of more energy efficient homes, with ceilings at around 2.4m, although some very recent builds can be even lower. This made it difficult to install a hanging fittings in such limited space and gave home owners a more limited choice of light fittings to choose from.

Semi flush ceiling lights differ slightly from flush lights. Both are low profile with flush lights sitting flush to the ceiling, while semi flush lights have a small gap between the light fixture and the ceiling. The fixture is usually attached to the ceiling mount by a drop rod.

Semi flush lights are ideal for any room with low ceilings because they take up minimal vertical space and provide an ample light spread without protruding too far. They are versatile and are commonly installed in bedrooms, hallways living and dining rooms. They provide attractive and functional lighting while maintaining a sleek appearance, so you don’t have to compromise on style.

Placing a pendant light in any low ceiling room must be done with care and planning. The obvious choice would be in the stairwell where you would benefit from the double height, but there are plenty of other options too.

If you have a fixed object in your room such as a bed, corner chair, desk or dining table, then you have the option to hang a pendant light over them. Remember that the object needs to be fixed and if it’s moved somewhere else, the pendant will likely need to be replaced with something else.

The ideal areas for pendants are over a bed, kitchen island or dining table because they look stunning and the furniture usually stays in the same place for a long time.

Choose your ceiling pendant carefully. Avoid those that are large or have a long drop and aim for something that has adjustable height.

Wall lights are sometimes used exclusively to light rooms with a low ceiling. Although they can illuminate the room, it’s not a great idea as it will leave you with shadows and unlit areas.

Stylish wall lights are invaluable to the overall lighting scheme and when used correctly can create warmth and atmosphere.

Plaster wall washer lights are a great choice and direct light up onto the ceiling and back down into the room. This draws the eye away from the ceiling and gives an impression of height.

Wall lights should be positioned at such a height so as not to cause glare to the user. This would normally mean positioning your wall lights at about eye level when standing.

Wall lights behind a sofa or chair can double as reading lights and look fantastic either side of a chimney breast or fireplace.

Using floor and table lamps can transform any room with low ceilings. They can provide ambient light and some can be used as a task light or reading lamp. They can brighten the dingiest corner and eliminate shadows. A bright floor or table top uplighter can bounce a beam of light off the ceiling and back into the room to dramatic effect.

A floor lamp can create an illusion of ceiling height and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. The only thing you need to consider is it’s height. Not too tall and it will give an illusion of space. Proportion is everything!

A mother and child floor lamp is a great addition. It takes up little space and provides bright up lighting and a handy reading lamp. Placed next to a chair it can fulfill two functions. It bounces light off the ceiling and back into the room and also has a handy task light.

A pair of matching table lamps either side of the room not only give ambient light but also create an illusion of space by appearing to widen the room. Similarly, table lamps placed either side of a chimney breast give an illusion of depth by drawing the eye to the furthest wall.