Shortly after venturing into the world of lighting, you’ll probably realize that it’s a bit more complex than you might have thought. Incandescent, fluorescent, downrods, baffle – it’s easy to get lost out there. Our glossary of lighting-related terms will aid your search for the perfect light. If you can’t find the answer here, call us with any questions you may have, (800) 675-4037. We have a trained staff of lighting experts who can help you.
Ambient: Ambient light, also known as "general light", is an overall level of lighting in your room. Ambient light should provide a comfortable amount of light to suit how the room is used.
Base: The decorative body of the lamp, a base can be constructed from an array of materials: metal, brass, porcelain, crystal, hydrocal, or wood to name a few. Bases should be solidly constructed to resist tipping during normal use.
Color Rendering Index: Light bulbs offer a varying range of attributes that can produce different light outputs and qualities. The color rendering index (CRI) provides a base of mesaurability to render color accurately and consistently.
Color Temperature: Color characteristics of light (temperatures) measure the appearance of the light from warm (yellows/red) to cool (white). Color temperature is rated in degrees of Kelvin and do not reflect the physical temperature (or heat) of a lamp. Light sources such as incandescent bulbs (2700 degrees Kelvin) and halogen lamps (3000 degrees Kelvin)are at each end of the color spectrum.
Dimmer Switch: Gradually increases/decreases light intensity. Most torchieres are equipped with dimmers or high/low switches.
Downlight: A light fixture that concentrates light in a downward direction. Most often this refers to recessed lighting, though many ceiling fixtures now have more concentrated beams of light.
- Non-uniform Downlighting: Non-uniform downlighting uses less light sources and delivers a more "individualized" beam spread of light. This lighting technique creates a more interesting visual effect in a space as the beams do not overlap as in general uniform downlighting.
- Uniform Downlighting: Unifrom illumination bathes horizontal surfaces in light. Typically a general lighting technique, uniform illumination adds little dramatic impact to a space.
Downrods: An accessory for pendants and chandeliers to add length
General Lighting: General Lighting provides an area with overall illumination. General lighting is basically the lighting that replaces sunlight and is fundamental to a lighting plan.
Lumens: The amount of light a bulb produces.
Swag: Decorative motif, image of a garland of fruit and flowers or of a length of cloth, tied with ribbons and attached to a background. If tied at both ends and suspended from them in a loop, a swag is generally called a festoon.
Task Lighting: Task lighting is for those areas where tasks or activities such as reading, paying bills, etc. take place. Task lighting should work with a room's general lighting and enhances the use of a room. Task lighting can be provided by adding portable lamps, undercabinet lighting as well as the addition of recessed lights at specific areas.
UL and CUL: Underwriters Laboratory, Inc., like Electrical Testing Laboratory (ETL), is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization.
Uplighting: Uplighting visually expands a room by providing ambient light. Use them as a complement to recessed down lighting, and place them where they appear aesthetically balanced in the room.
Wattage: The amount of electricity consumed by a bulb.
Wall Lighting: The illumination of vertical surfaces can impact that perception of a space more than any other type of lighting. Light reflecting off walls creates a bright, spacious feel and adds visual interest. Dramatic effects can be achieved with light to illuminate vertical surfaces and highlight objects. Through proper lighting selection and placement a room can appear more spacious and interesting.
- Grazing: For dramatic effect on textured surfaces such as stucco, stone or brick, place fixtures 6-12 inches away from the wall. Grazing is not recommended on smooth surfaces as surface imperfections will be exaggerated.
- Light Scallops:Light scallop is an effect created when the fixture is placed closer to the wall resulting in a more concentrated and tighter scallop. Scallop light effects are often a part of the lighting plan for added drama, however they can be inadvertently created is fixture placement is not properly calculated.
- Wall Washing: For a gentle and even illumination of a vertical space, place fixtures the same distance apart as they are from the wall. Wall washing is best suited for smooth surfaces.
Address Light: This light fixture is usually composed of a backlight that illuminates street numbers. Affixed to the front of a house, or at the end of the driveway, and Address Light lets visitors find a house even in the dark.
Bathroom Ceiling Fan: Bathroom ceiling fans are used to clear out the hot and humid air that occurs when the shower is running.
Bathroom Vanity Light: Bath or vanity lighting refers to fixtures used to light the mirror in a bathroom. A bath strip is a long fixture that mounts along the top or sides of the mirror.
Ceiling Cloud: Ceiling clouds are indiscrete overhead lights that blend into their surroundings. They get their name from their white color and conventionally curved shape.
Chandelier: A branched, decorative lighting fixture that holds a number of bulbs or candles and is suspended from a ceiling. These fixtures come in a variety of finishes and are most often traditional or contemporary styles. This fixture is often used to elevate the decor of a room. Some manufacturers are now carrying select styles of outdoor chandeliers to illuminate your covered patio or gazebo. Additionally, many manufacturers have now begun to carry mini-chandeliers. Mini-chandeliers are best for hallways and smaller rooms.
Convertible Pendant: A convertible pendant is a dual function light fixture. It can be used as a hanging pendant with a chain or rod, and can also be mounted as a semi flush mount to the ceiling surface.
Deck Light: These light fixtures are mounted on deck surfaces and are used to illuminate hand rails, steps, as well as to create an overall ambience in your exterior living space.
Desk Lamp: This fixture is used on desks for work or study. These can be very utilitarian styles or a more decorative style such as a banker or pharmacy lamp. The light source should sit about 15" above work area.
Directional Light: A fixture commonly used for mood lighting. They can provide a decorative accent that draws attention to a particular area. Directional lights are also known as exhibit, display or spot lights.
Display Light: Display lights have a focused direction that is used to highlight or accent a specific element of the room. A wall mounted display light, for example, might be positioned over a painting to emphasize its impact in the décor.
Floodlighting: An indiscriminate way of lighting an area that is usually associated with outdoor security or utility functions. The light is projected in a broad beam. These lights often blend into the landscape of a home.
Floor Lamp: A standing lamp sometimes referred to as "stick”, which is used for general lighting. This fixture can have both decorative and utilitarian functions in any space.
Flush Mount: A fixture that is close to the ceiling or wall and does not have rods or arms leading to the sockets. This non-invasive style works well on low ceilings and narrow hallways.
Hanging Lantern: This fixture consists of a ceiling mounted bracket that maintains a chain or wire from which a lantern hangs. Used mostly in an exterior lighting setting, these fixtures are conventionally used to illuminate the area above a front door on a porch.
Heating Ceiling Fan: Ceiling fans are not solely intended for cooling a room. Heat rises naturally, and with the use of a heating ceiling fan, warm air that collects by the ceiling gets forced down towards the floor. During the chilly winter months, you will find that heating ceiling fans are a great way to save money and energy.
Industrial Ceiling Fan: Made for large spaces, industrial ceiling fans are used for garages, warehouses, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and more. Remember that industrial ceiling fans usually require a high ceiling clearance because of their scale and power.
Kitchen Island Pendant: This style is usually a multi lamp, horizontally hung fixture that is best suited for a kitchen island or poor table. These fixtures often add an element of style to a room.
Landscape Lighting: Landscape lighting is like accent lighting for the outside of your home. It provides illumination that highlights features of gardens, terrain and the exterior of a home or business.
Lighted Pot Rack: This fixture incorporates a traditional, ceiling mounted, hanging pot rack and lighting elements. The combination allows additional accent lighting in a kitchen space highlights your pots and pans for display and can often illuminate a counter surface below the pot rack.
Mini-Pendant: Typically, a fixture consisting of a single pole or chain extending from the ceiling canopy. Most often these fixtures have one light. Mini-pendants in groups of two's or three's create a dramatic look for a breakfast bar or kitchen island.
Mirror Lighting: A type of accent light that is typically a single strip with multiple lamps. This fixture is often used to add illumination for make-up application or to reflect light throughout a room.
Outdoor Ceiling Fan: Listed for damp or wet locations, an outdoor ceiling fan has the ability to be mounted on porches and decks while withstanding the elements. Outdoor ceiling fans are a wonderful way to create artificial breezes and cool down your exterior living spaces.
Paddle Ceiling Fan: Comprised of the same traditional motor structure of other ceiling fans, these differ in their blade selection. The wide paddle style of the blades is both useful for decorative aesthetic and increased surface area for superior air flow.
Path Lighting: A form of exterior lighting, path lights are used to line walkways, stairs, and driveways. Path lights illuminate areas of foot traffic for safety precautions and to add aesthetic lighting to the outside of a home or building.
Pendant: Pendants can provide both task and general lighting. They use shades or globes to avoid glare and are suspended from the ceiling. They are perfect for intimate areas such as breakfast bars, kitchens, desks and breakfast nooks. When used over end tables or night tables, they free up the space occupied by table lamps. In general, pendants should be hung about 30 inches above the tabletop and be about 12 inches narrower than the table on all sides.
Pool Table Lighting: Pool Table Lights are specifically designed to be suspended from the ceiling above a pool table, illuminating the playing surface.
Portable Fan: Portable fans are free-standing and provide multi-faceted uses with the ability to be moved from location to location.
Post Lantern: An outdoor light fixture, post lanterns are comprised of a lantern fixture and a support post that is usually driven into the ground.
Semi-Flush: A fixture that allows the option of suspended light when you do not have enough space for a chandelier or wall mounted fixture. These lights can also be used to add a stylistic element to any room.
Spot Light: A spot light focuses an exceedingly directional beam of light to highlight a specific surface. Spot lights can be found in a range of sizes and types, and can be used in exterior or interior lighting, depending on their design.
Strip Light: Sometimes referred to as a vanity strip, a strip light is most often used mounted in bathrooms above mirrors. Offering functional lighting, they are comprised of a series of globe-style bulbs that align in a row on a strip base.
Swing Arm Lamp: A functional floor or wall lamp with a horizontal double-arm. The light source can be moved from side to side for reading or project lighting. These lamps are an excellent choice for bedside lighting.
Task Lamp: A fixture most often used to illuminate an area where a visual activity like reading, sewing or food preparation occurs.
Torchiere: A standing floor lamp that diffuses or directs light upward. Depending on the setting, they can emit ambient (general) lighting or accent lighting. These lamps are often an ornamental piece.
Undercabinet Lighting: When it comes to task and mood lighting, nothing has the hard-working appeal of undercabinet fixtures as they cast indirect light that’s dramatic, yet inviting. They provide ample light in hard to fit spaces throughout your home. Quartz halogen, low voltage disc-lights provide high intensity white light to provide supplemental room lighting. For undercabinet areas where demanding tasks are performed or where it is difficult to place a larger fixture.
Wall Sconce: In general terms, this includes any wall fixture - although the purist definition would define only a candle-style wall bracket. It is recommended to mount a wall sconce 66" from center of sconce to the floor. Some manufacturers are now carrying Corner Wall Sconces to illuminate those once hard to reach areas.
Wallchiere: A wall mounted light fixture that diffuse or directs light upwards. Derived from the term torchiere, the wallchiere can have a shape that resembles a torch shape. These lamps can be both functional and ornamental, and are often used to flank beds, paintings, mirrors, and more.
Wall Lantern: Often used to light the exterior of a home or business, wall lanterns hold a traditional lantern shape and are mounted, usually with a bracket plate, to a wall surface.
