Live Brighter

Ideas and Inspiration

Mar 1, 2014

Lighting by Room

Choosing the Right Flush Mount

Flush mounts are the most common light fixtures in homes. Most home owners prefer these because of their versatility, availability in several different styles and finishes, and their ability to fit in small spaces especially those with low ceilings (8 feet or less). Flush mounts are great for providing ambient or general lighting for walk-in closets, hallways, and small rooms – rooms that cannot accommodate a chandelier or a ceiling pendant. The good thing about this type of lighting, it allows a room to have an ornamental lighting piece despite its limited space.

There is a wide range of styles available for flush ceiling lights. Flush mounts are made from a variety of materials and they also come in different types of finishes. When choosing a flush mount for a specific room, the interior décor of the space as well as your individual design preferences should be taken into consideration. Determining the best fixture would also involve a few other factors, such as the flush mount’s design, size, material, price, and brightness.

Flush Mount Designs

Flush mounts come in a variety of designs, from traditional to contemporary. There are fixtures with clean, minimalist look while others are more lavish. Size and shape are important factors to consider when choosing your flush mount ceiling light. You do not want to overwhelm your space with a fixture that is too large or understate it by installing one that is too small for your room. The material, color, finish, and style of your flush mount should not clash with the rest of your interior décor, but complement it.

Traditional

Traditional

Traditional flush ceiling light fixtures possess antique and heritage designs that evoke a rustic feel. These classic flush mounts usually come in bronze, brass, or iron tones.

Transitional

Transitional

Transitional light fixtures are a blend of traditional and contemporary designs. They are available in the market in a wide range of styles, and are typically made with a bowl shaped glass or plastic. Some transitional flush mounts include traditional elements like antique iron or bronze, while some have a more modern finish such as nickel or stainless steel.

Contemporary

Modern-Contempo

Contemporary or modern flush mount ceiling lights show clean, simple lines that evoke subtle elegance. They typically have minimalist and understated designs, but there are fixtures that feature futuristic and experimental styles.

Styled

styles

There are flush mounts that are available in niche and eclectic designs that appeal to a particular style preference, such as nautical, animal, children’s, Tiffany, and rustic themes. Branch patterned lighting and floral themed flush ceiling lights are some examples of styled flush mounts.

Determining the Right Size and Wattage for Your Flush Mount

Width

When choosing the right fixture, get the one that will fit well within your room. Start with this rule of thumb – in feet, add together the width and length of the room then convert this sum to inches. This would dictate the approximate width of your flush mount. However, like all rules, this one might not apply to every situation, so use your best judgment or consult a lighting expert.

Wattage

As flush mounts provide ambient lighting to a space, determining the right wattage is necessary so that you achieve sufficient illumination for your room. To do so, multiply the room dimensions in order to acquire the room’s total square footage. Then multiply this square footage by 1.5 to get the total number of watts needed for this room.

Purchasing a flush mount ceiling light is the best way to maximize a space that has low ceiling height without sacrificing style. With careful consideration of significant factors such as style, size, material, and finish, you can successfully achieve not just illumination for a room but a totally impressive fixture that is sure to give your guests a great impression.