A classic ceiling light brings elegance to a hallway, kitchen or bedroom. Choose a glass bowl or detailed pattern, then a brass or bronze finish.
Shapes and finishes
Classic ceiling lights fall into a few main families:
- The glass bowl, held beneath a metal frame: it gives an even light and suits hallways and bedrooms alike.
- The multi-arm ceiling light, with 2 to 5 lights: it looks like a small chandelier fitted flush to the ceiling.
- The ceiling light with a fabric shade: a softer light, popular in bedrooms.
Metal dominates, in gold or brass, chrome, white, black or bronze. Styles range from classic to rustic and country, by way of vintage and retro and Art Deco. A few models add ceramic or plaster for a more traditional look. For extra sparkle, see also our crystal ceiling lights.
Choosing by room
For the diameter, (room length + width in metres) × 8 gives a rough size in centimetres: a 1 × 4 m hallway calls for about 40 cm, a 3 × 3 m kitchen about 50 cm. Allow 100 to 150 lumens per m² in a bedroom or living room, and 200 to 300 lumens per m² in a kitchen, where the ceiling light is often paired with worktop lighting.
For the hallway, our guide how to light your entrance hall has more ideas. In a bathroom, choose an IP44 model, such as our bathroom ceiling lights. All our ceiling lights are gathered in the main category.
Frequently asked questions about classic ceiling lights
Classic ceiling light or classic chandelier: how do I decide?
It all comes down to ceiling height. You need at least 2 m of headroom under the light, ideally 2.10 m: with a ceiling lower than 2.50 m, a classic ceiling light is the obvious choice. With more height, or above a table, a classic chandelier shows off the room to better effect.
How do I fit a heavy classic ceiling light?
Switch off the power at the consumer unit, then connect the light to the ceiling rose or a suitable connector block. Check its weight on the product page and use fixings suited to the ceiling: a solid ceiling and plasterboard do not take the same fixings. For a multi-arm model or a fragile ceiling, call in an electrician.
Which bulb should go in a glass bowl?
Under a bowl, a frosted LED bulb with an E27 or E14 cap avoids bright spots showing through the glass. Choose 3,000 K warm white for a hallway or kitchen, and 2,700 K for a bedroom. Check the maximum wattage allowed and, if you use a dimmer, choose dimmable bulbs.
