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Rooms with low ceilings can provide a cozy feeling that is homey and intimate. However, figuring out how to light a living room with low ceilings can be tricky. Low ceilings mean you will need certain kinds of light to not make it feel cluttered and small.
In this article, we will explore some lighting tips for homes with low ceilings, as well as some ideas to help get you started.
Problems Associated with Lighting a Room with Low Ceilings
Low ceilings will require a bit of planning to avoid certain issues like uneven illumination, visual clutter and compromised functionality. This can present an issue for homeowners who want to use a variety of different fixtures in their lighting layers.
Ceilings with a low height limit the usage of pendant lighting, for example. Having fixtures hanging down from low ceilings can make it feel more crowded, even with modest drop heights. Instead, recessed spotlights and surface downlight fixtures are meant for use.
Low ceilings also mean a reduction in the spread of light. Most ceiling lights lean on vertical clearance to diffuse light. In rooms with low ceilings, lighting can instead become compressed. This can cast uneven shadows and create a sort of cave effect wherein lower walls and corners stay dim.
There is another risk involving glare in a low ceiling room. Lights that are installed too closely to eye level can cause a glare when you look at them. They can also cause uncomfortable heat output if you are using traditional bulbs.
How to Use Lighting to Make a Low Ceiling Room Feel Larger
Rooms with low ceilings often present the challenge of feeling small and cramped. One way to make sure a room feels more spacious and open is to have the right lighting and a good lighting strategy.
One of the best low ceiling lighting tips is to choose recessed and flushed lighting. These are ideal for lower ceilings since they give ambient light without taking up any of the vertical space. This type of light also eliminates visual clutter.
You can also install internal wall lights to draw the eye horizontally instead of up and down. This redirects focus away from the ceiling itself and toward the perimeter of the room. Doing so may visually elongate the space.
By choosing the right combination of colours and surfaces, you can move light more easily through the room. Light colours and reflective surfaces bounce light instead of absorbing it. This can enhance the ambient light in a space without the need to add too many extra lights.
What Types of Lighting Are Best in Rooms with Low Ceiling Height
The best lights for low ceilings are those that don’t make the room feel smaller than it is. You want lights that provide the necessary illumination without intruding on the headroom. There are some lights that are recommended for these spaces, including:
- FLUSH MOUNT CEILING LIGHTS. Indoor LED lights that sit close to the ceiling are good for rooms that are under 2.4 metres in height. This is especially true for those that have wide beam angles. This type of light provides great ambient illumination in compact locations.
- RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS. Lights that are recessed into the ceiling take up the least amount of space. They provide ample lighting without causing any visual clutter at all.
- SURFACE MOUNTED LIGHTS. Some ceilings are not deep enough to be able to accept a light recessed into it. Choosing surface mounted lighting is a good alternative in this case. It keeps lights against the ceiling with no hanging and provides similar ambient lighting to recessed fixtures.
- WALL LIGHTS. Choosing wall lights will eliminate overhead lights entirely in some cases. You can use interior wall lamps to bounce light off of the ceiling and create an ambient glow.
Room by Room Guide
No matter what room in the house has low ceilings, there are ways you can light each one. Below, you’ll find some tips on how to accomplish a quality lighting scheme in each room.
Bedrooms often need some gentle lighting that is relaxing and tranquil. In rooms with low ceilings, you can accomplish this with flush mounted or recessed ceiling lights. Wall mounted bedside reading lights are also ideal here. Consider adding in dimmable fixtures to give you better control.
The living room requires more flexible lighting depending on the use of the space, like entertaining, reading or relaxing. Opt for low-profile surface mounted or recessed spotlights for the ambient layer. Bring in some accent lighting with LED strips or wall mounted uplighters that stay out of the way.
Dining rooms need a nice mix of ambient and task lighting since it is a functional space. Focal light sources are also preferred here. In this specific case, short drop pendant lights could work above the dining table. You can also supplement those lights with track lighting or wall lights.
Kitchens are task-heavy spaces and need lighting to support that. They often require functional, bright lighting with a focus on total visibility. To this effect, install recessed lighting in key areas like walkways and prep zones. Under-cabinet lighting above kitchen counters can make it easier to see as well.
Like kitchens, bathrooms are highly functional spaces and need lighting that supports that. Choose bathroom ceiling lights with high lumen counts, and support the ambient illumination with wall lights. Backlit mirrors can provide nice task lighting while saving space as well.
Hallway Lighting
Corridors are transitional spaces that need to be easy to navigate. Be sure to choose hallway light fixtures and ceiling lights that don’t hang down, since the primary goal in this space is to be able to walk through it. Recessed or flushed ceiling lights work well here, as do wall sconces.
Design Tips for a Room with a Low Ceiling
Low ceiling lighting ideas are important to consider when lighting smaller rooms. It is about more than just the light fixtures themselves, requiring you to embrace the existing features of the space.
For example, using reflective surfaces and mirrors to bounce light around. This will help you more easily move light through the space without having to add a lot of fixtures. Similarly, you should avoid overly decorative ceilings and walls, instead opting for simple, light-coloured paint or wallpaper to bounce light instead of absorb it.
Your furniture choices should also be pieces that aren’t very tall. Opt for furnishings that have a low profile so there is still a lot of headroom above it. Minimal heights help keep proportions balanced and stop the room from looking top heavy.
Enhance the visual height with vertical elements. Floor to ceiling curtains or slim wall panels can help to make the room appear larger and taller before you even begin adding in light fixtures.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When installing lighting for low ceilings, it’s easy to fall into a few traps and make mistakes. Get familiar with some of the most common lighting mistakes so you can avoid them from the start.
- USING ONLY ONE LIGHT. Using your ceiling light as your only light source can flatten the illumination. It can also draw attention to how low the ceiling actually is. Be sure to add in wall lighting to supplement the ceiling light to ensure even, balanced illumination.
- USING BULKY FIXTURES. As mentioned, you want to use fixtures with low profiles whenever possible. Avoid hanging pendant lights that take up unnecessary overhead space.
- NOT CONSIDERING THE ARCHITECTURE. If your room has sloped ceilings, beams or alcoves, you want to choose lights that work with those elements, not against them. Select fixtures that go with the flow of the lines of the room instead.
Lighting Installation Tips and Advice
When you are installing your lights, there are some general rules of thumb for you to keep in mind. By thoughtfully incorporating your small room lighting, you can avoid having to make refinements and adjustments when you’re finished.
Before beginning the installation process, measure the ceiling. Doing this will ensure lights don’t obstruct movement. Avoid any fixture that has a drop longer than 20 to 30 centimeters in a room under 2.4 metres tall.
You should also be familiar with the construction type of the ceiling. This is especially important if you want to incorporate recessed lighting. Recessed lighting will need a certain cavity depth and access for the wiring. If you aren’t sure if your ceiling can use recessed lighting, consult with an electrician.
Plan the lighting layout around the function of the room. For example, the best lighting for bedrooms with low ceilings can come in the form of simple wall mounted reading lights. Consider what you will be doing in the room and install ambient and task lighting accordingly.
Above all else, you should avoid crowding the ceiling area. Overloading the ceiling with too much light can create visual imbalance and uneven lighting. Ceiling lights for small spaces should focus on recessed and surface mounted lighting when possible, especially those with minimalist design details.
What Is the Best LED CCT for a Room with Low Ceilings?
CCT, or colour correlated temperature, is how the warmth or the coolness of a light is indicated. The colour temperatures are measured on a scale of Kelvin units ranging from 1,000 to 10,000K. At the bottom of the spectrum is where you will find warmer lights. The higher up you go, the cooler the lights will be.
For most indoor lighting, warmer lights are recommended. Warm lights can make a space feel cosy without feeling cramped. They are especially beneficial for bedrooms and living spaces.
That said, neutral and cool lighting can also have its place in homes with low ceilings. For example, neutral white light in kitchens and bathrooms can increase visibility without causing a lot of glare.
Whichever colour temperature you choose, it is important that you do not mix cool and warm lights. Having them mixed in a small space can create visual discord and make the space feel harsh on the eyes.
Once you have the colour temperature figured out, you can get dimmable fixtures that allow you to adjust the brightness with ease. This can help you soften cooler lighting when needed, or brighten warmer light, which tends to naturally look dimmer.
How to Layer Lighting in a Room with Low Ceiling Height
Lighting solutions for low ceilings usually center around the principle of layered lighting. Layered lighting is when you install multiple types of lighting in a room: ambient, task and accent lighting.
Ambient light is the main foundation of illumination. It is often achieved through ceiling lights, so in rooms with low ceilings, go for recessed or surface mounted fixtures. Avoid harsh spotlights or only one ceiling light in ambient lighting for low ceilings. Using them can cause shadows that may be hard to soften.
From there, you can add in task lighting. Task lights support performance of different activities, so consider adding them in kitchens, offices and bathrooms especially.
The final layer is accent lighting. Accent lights are responsible for creating focal points and setting a mood. Wall sconces, picture lights, LED strip lights and wall washing lights all work well as accent lighting in rooms with low ceilings.
Conclusion
Although rooms with low ceilings present unique challenges, it’s nothing that you can’t work around with a bit of thoughtful planning. In this article, we have provided surface and recessed lighting ideas for low ceilings, as well as tips on incorporating them. Keep this article close as you begin to design your lighting scheme in a room with a low ceiling.
Low Ceiling Lighting Ideas
Light up your low ceilings without causing a harsh glare using the LDC735 9 Watt Anti Glare Dimmable Recessed LED Downlight. This downlight is designed to eliminate glare entirely thanks to its deeply set bulb. It pools light down onto the surfaces below it, creating attractive illumination.
The fixture generates 800 lumens of light, making it bright enough to easily light small to medium rooms. The aluminium body recesses into the ceiling, keeping the fixture flush and out of the way. Overall, the fixture measures 85 millimeters in diameter and comes in a white finish with a black internal reflector ring.
Modernise your living space with the LDC723 6 Watt Dimmable Recessed Anti Glare ceiling downlight. This downlight features a rectangular shape with three in-line bulbs generating 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light. The bulb sits deeply inside the fixture, preventing glare while providing a beautiful pool of light below it. Each fixture measures 96 millimeters by 46 millimeters in size and is fashioned out of high quality aluminium, finished in white.
Move illumination through the room by layering your ceiling lights with the Leon 8 Watt 250mm Wide Brushed Silver LED Wall Light. This internal wall light features a rectangular shape, casting 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light over a large area. It measures a total size of 250 millimeters in width by 70 millimeters in height and comes in a sleek, brushed aluminium finish. An opal acrylic diffuser on the top and bottom openings soften the illumination that comes from the light.
Enjoy the look of a statement light in the dining room without taking up a lot of space with the LBL140 36 Watt Ring Design Modern LED Ceiling Light. This modern chandelier has a total of six ring lights placed symmetrically. They work together to shine an ultra bright 3600 lumens of 3000k warm white light. This sturdy aluminium light comes in your choice of either black or white to suit the decor in your dining room. It measures 504 millimeters by 504 millimeters in size.
