Essential facts about choosing light fixtures
- Seven families of light fixtures can be found in the home: classic floor lamp, arc floor lamp, indirect-lighting floor lamp, tripod floor lamp, pendant light, portable or movable lamp, and wall light.
- The arc floor lamp directs a clear light above an armchair or sofa armrest: it is the ultimate reading lamp.
- The indirect-lighting floor lamp sends light toward the ceiling for a soft atmosphere, but requires an additional light source for reading.
- A pendant light is hung 30 cm below a standard ceiling, leaving at least 70 cm above a table.
- Outdoor lighting is subject to the NF C 15-100 standard, must bear the CE and/or NF marking, and its protection rating (IP) indicates its resistance to liquids and dust.
When it comes to interior design, one important aspect must not be overlooked: the fundamental role of light and the essential contribution of light fixtures to the atmosphere and decoration of our homes. True atmosphere creators, they set the tone for the entire room. Sometimes soft in the bedroom, sometimes warm in the living room, or welcoming in the kitchen... But how do you choose them properly according to your needs and those of your room? Before examining room by room which light fixture to choose, here is a quick overview of the different light fixture models available on the market.
What are the different types of light fixtures?
Seven types of light fixtures share our homes: pendant lights, tripod lamps, classic floor lamps, arc floor lamps, table lamps, portable lamps (night lights or garden lamps), and wall lights. Each serves a specific purpose, from targeted reading light to ambient lighting reflected from the ceiling.
| Type of light fixture | Main use |
|---|---|
| Classic floor lamp | General lighting, straight base and often fabric shade, customizable |
| Arc floor lamp | Reading, crosswords, sudoku or knitting, above an armchair or sofa armrest |
| Indirect-lighting floor lamp | Soft atmosphere, light reflected from the ceiling |
| Tripod floor lamp | Decorating a corner of the home, English nautical style |
| Pendant light | Dining room, bedroom, kitchen, XXL version for living spaces |
| Movable or portable lamp | Accent lamp in the living room or bedroom, outdoors if current standards are met |
| Wall light | Indirect lighting fixed to the wall, spotlighting a specific area as accent lighting |
Pendant lights, tripod lamps, classic floor lamps, arc floor lamps, table lamps and portable lamps (night lights or garden lamps)... So many allies for your décor, bringing style, warmth and a truly inviting atmosphere to your room! And, of course, an essential source of light! Let’s take a quick look at the different types of light fixtures and lighting found in our homes:
The classic floor lamp and its variations
The classic floor lamp has a straight base and a shade, generally made of fabric, which can be customized. It comes in two main variations: the arc floor lamp and the indirect-lighting floor lamp.
Within the family of classic floor lamps, generally featuring a straight base and a shade, there are several related styles and variations.
The arc floor lamp
As its name suggests, the arc floor lamp forms a semicircle with its central base. Very popular with avid readers and crossword enthusiasts, it directs a clear light just above an armchair or sofa armrest for more comfortable reading, a crossword or sudoku session, or even knitting.
The indirect-lighting floor lamp
The indirect-lighting floor lamp spreads its light not to the sides or downward, but upward toward the ceiling. The light is reflected off the ceiling and gently diffused throughout the room. It is perfect for creating a soft atmosphere. For avid readers, however, you may need to consider an additional light source if you choose this as your main lighting.
The tripod floor lamp
Directly inspired by English nautical style, tripod floor lamps perfectly combine charm and décor. They come in several materials and, above all, several sizes. They are ideal for decorating a corner of your home.
The pendant light
Who wouldn’t dream of adding a trendy, designer touch to their interior? With these pendant lights, you can illuminate your dining room or bedroom in style. They are also recommended for lighting a kitchen. And there is no reason not to give in to the trend for XXL pendant lights, which give our living spaces incredible elegance!
The table lamp and accent lamp
A bedside lamp is a lamp located near the bed, generally placed on a nightstand, at head height, in a bedroom. It can be mounted on the wall like a wall light or placed on a bedside table. It provides gentle light for someone sitting down to read in the evening.
Increasingly decorative, accent lamps or table lamps can be found on a console table in an entryway, on a storage unit such as a dresser, or even on a shelf, depending on its size!
The portable or movable lamp
The movable lamp stands out for its lighting capabilities, but often also for its original, highly designer structure. It is ideal as an accent lamp in your living room or bedroom, and can even be used outdoors if it complies with current standards.
Wall lights and spotlights
A wall light, as its name suggests, is a lighting fixture attached to your wall. It is popular for creating indirect lighting because, directed upward or toward a point you particularly want to highlight, it can provide a welcome spotlight as accent lighting.
Which light fixture should you choose for each room?
Each room calls for a dominant type of light fixture: floor lamps and accent lamps in the living room, a pendant light or chandelier in the dining room, a pendant light and ceiling fixture in the kitchen, soft and subdued light in the bedroom, and a pendant light and table lamp in the entryway. Outdoors, the choice begins with standards and regulations.
A pendant light? A table lamp? A floor lamp? Discover all our advice to see more clearly when choosing light fixtures and find out which type is best suited to a particular room.
Which light fixture should you choose for the living room?
In the living room, make sure to use several light fixtures to accommodate everyone’s different activities (reading, entertaining, relaxing...) and create a warm atmosphere. Choose a light that is bright enough to illuminate the entire room. Floor lamps, tripod floor lamps, arc floor lamps and indirect-lighting floor lamps are particularly useful here, with accent lamps added if needed. You can easily complement your living room with soft but sufficiently bright light for relaxing, reading or watching your favorite series.
Which light fixture should you choose for the dining room?
The dining room is a cheerful, warm and festive place that should receive plenty of light. A pendant light or chandelier is an excellent choice for illuminating your dining table. Consider a dimmer if you need to soften the light. Placed above a round table, a pendant light becomes the focal point of the room: discover dining table trends.
Which light fixture should you choose for the kitchen?
For cooking and sharing quality time with the family, your kitchen lighting should primarily consist of a pendant light and/or ceiling fixture. With certain pendant designs featuring a row of spotlights, or with a row of aligned pendants, you can opt for precise, localized lighting to illuminate the different areas of your kitchen, which is also particularly useful above a kitchen island.
Of course, consider the decorative aspect of this light fixture, but do not overlook maintenance either: grease and water vapor can quickly dirty pendant lights. Choose a pendant that can be cleaned simply and easily with a little white vinegar and baking soda, which you will always have in your kitchen!
Which light fixture should you choose for the bedroom?
In this room dedicated primarily to rest and relaxation, opt for soft, subdued lighting. You can choose pendant lights and ceiling fixtures, while making sure the brightness is not too intense. A dimmer is worth considering, as is choosing the right bulb, with a more yellow than white hue. Complete this general lighting with a table lamp on the nightstand or a reading lamp.
Which light fixture should you choose for an entryway?
Your décor’s first impression is made in the entryway. Choose warm, functional lighting for tying your shoes in the morning and taking one last look in the entryway mirror before leaving. A pendant light is once again a good choice, complemented by accent lighting such as a beautiful designer lamp placed on an entryway console table.
Which light fixture should you choose for outdoors and the garden?
Before choosing your garden or outdoor light fixture, it is important to know that outdoor lighting is subject to specific standards such as NF C 15-100. Products must also bear the CE and/or NF markings. You can also check the IP (Ingress Protection) rating, which indicates the fixture’s resistance to liquid and solid bodies such as dust. A garden light should therefore not be purchased casually!
Once these standards have been met, you can consider the lighting coverage offered, meaning the extent of the area that will be illuminated by the fixture. The required coverage will not be the same everywhere you place your outdoor light. Make sure there is plenty of light around the dining table, kitchen or entrance.
How should you choose a light fixture based on its use?
Four uses can be distinguished: general lighting, which provides even illumination; ambient lighting, which adds warmth; task lighting for reading or working; and accent lighting, which highlights a specific area. A successful room generally combines several of these uses.
For general lighting
Choose fixtures with direct, general lighting to illuminate the room evenly. The classic floor lamp, pendant light and ceiling fixture fulfill this role. In rooms with generous proportions, layering pendant lights provides more light and a genuinely warm atmosphere.
To create a warm atmosphere
The indirect-lighting floor lamp sends light toward the ceiling, which reflects and gently diffuses it: this is the perfect lighting for a soft atmosphere. A dimmer allows you to soften a pendant light, while a bulb with a more yellow than white hue softens the light in a bedroom.
For reading or working
The arc floor lamp is the benchmark: its semicircular shape directs a clear light just above an armchair or sofa armrest. A table lamp or reading lamp near the bed serves the same purpose for evening reading. For a home office, make sure you have sufficient lighting, especially if you often work from home. And if you choose indirect lighting as your main source, provide an additional light source.
To create accent lighting
The movable lamp, table lamp and wall light fulfill this role. Directed upward or toward a specific point, a wall light provides a welcome spotlight. Remember this simple rule: an unlit corner fades from view, while an illuminated area immediately comes alive. Lighting should therefore be considered from the moment you make your purchase. Is this fixture intended to highlight something, or to leave in shadow what you do not want to show?
How do you choose the right size for your light fixture?
Two height guidelines help when installing a pendant light: it should be hung 30 cm below a standard ceiling and leave at least 70 cm above a table. The size of the room then determines the fixture’s proportions, and a deliberate contrast between the two can become a decorative statement.
Light fixtures and pendant lights should be hung 30 cm below a standard ceiling. The pendant height can also be measured from the floor, or from beneath the light. The idea is always to keep at least 70 cm above your table for ideal lighting.
For large spaces and rooms with generous proportions, XXL pendant lights give living spaces incredible elegance, while layering several pendant lights provides both light and warmth. Tripod floor lamps, meanwhile, come in several sizes, allowing you to adjust the model to the corner you want to decorate.
Finally, playing with dimensions creates an element of surprise: a large pendant light in a small entryway creates exactly the desired effect, provided you embrace the bold choice.
How do you choose the right light for your fixture?
Three settings determine the quality of light: its intensity, its color and the device used to adjust it. A kitchen requires a fixture that provides proper illumination, while a bedroom calls for less powerful, softer fixtures. A bulb with a more yellow than white hue warms the room, and a dimmer can soften overly bright lighting.
Intensity is decided room by room. The living room needs light bright enough to illuminate the entire space, supplemented by softer sources for relaxing or reading. The kitchen calls for clear lighting, including localized light above the worktop or island. The bedroom calls for the opposite: brightness that is not too intense.
The color of the light is determined by the bulb. A more yellow than white tone suits rooms dedicated to rest and warm atmospheres. Whiter light is appropriate wherever precise visibility is needed, such as in the kitchen or at a workstation.
Finally, a dimmer is the most flexible solution: it allows you to switch from mealtime lighting to subdued light with the same fixture, in the dining room as well as the bedroom.
How do you choose a light fixture to suit your décor?
Two approaches are available to you: harmony, by choosing fixtures that extend your existing décor, or deliberate contrast, by using the fixture as a break in the style. In either case, a light fixture remains a decorative object in its own right, even when switched off.
Choose lamps and light fixtures that harmonize with your décor if you want to maintain a soft, cohesive overall look.
Conversely, if you want to add an original twist and break the rules of your décor, the light fixture can also be your ally: why not place a vintage pendant above a very contemporary table, or an industrial lamp in a very Scandi interior? It is up to you to play with styles and atmospheres using a simple light fixture cleverly positioned in the right place.
Finally, why choose a light fixture solely for its function? Take care to choose fixtures that are beautiful and appeal to you, because even if they are switched off for part of the day, they are an integral part of your décor.
How do you combine several light fixtures in the same room?
A well-lit room layers three levels: direct, general main lighting that provides even illumination; accent lighting for specific uses; and indirect or ambient lighting for warmth. This is the principle applied in the living room, where sources are multiplied according to everyone’s activities.
Choose fixtures with direct, general lighting for even illumination, as well as accent or indirect lighting to meet more specific needs. In the living room, this layering accommodates reading, entertaining and relaxing without changing rooms.
Placement matters as much as quantity: hang a chandelier or pendant light in a corner of the room rather than in the center, and think about repetition. Rattan pendant lights in different sizes, placed at different heights above a dining table, or chandelier-style pendant lights with part of the cord left hanging, completely change how a space is perceived.
FAQ: choosing the right light fixture
Which light fixture should you choose for reading in an armchair?
The arc floor lamp. Its central base forms a semicircle that directs a clear light just above an armchair or sofa armrest. Very popular with avid readers and crossword enthusiasts, it is equally suitable for reading, crosswords, sudoku or knitting.
How high should a pendant light be hung?
30 cm below a standard ceiling. The height can also be measured from the floor: keep at least 70 cm above your table for ideal lighting.
How can you create a soft atmosphere in a room?
An indirect-lighting floor lamp spreads light upward toward the ceiling. It is reflected and then gently diffused throughout the room. This is the perfect lighting for a soft atmosphere, supplemented by an additional light source if you read frequently.
Which light fixture should you choose for a kitchen or dining room?
A pendant light is recommended for illuminating a kitchen and also works well in the dining room and bedroom. XXL pendant lights add a distinctive elegance to living spaces. In the kitchen, choose a model that is easy to clean: grease and water vapor can quickly dirty pendant lights.
Which light fixture should you choose for a bedroom?
Soft, subdued lighting. Pendant lights and ceiling fixtures are suitable as long as the brightness is not too intense: consider a dimmer and a bulb with a more yellow than white hue. Complete this general lighting with a table lamp on the nightstand or a reading lamp.
Can a portable lamp be used outdoors?
Yes, provided it complies with the standards applicable to outdoor lighting: the NF C 15-100 standard, CE and/or NF marking, and an appropriate protection rating (IP), which indicates the fixture’s resistance to liquid and solid bodies such as dust.
How many light fixtures are needed in a room?
As many as there are uses. Start with direct, general main lighting to illuminate the room evenly, then add accent and indirect lighting for reading, working or creating ambiance. In a living room, this layering accommodates reading, entertaining and relaxing.
Whatever your lighting preferences and needs, Maison Pavane offers a selection of designer light fixtures and trendy pieces for a bright and welcoming interior.
