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There are four basic varieties of ceiling lighting fixtures: pendants, chandeliers, hanging lamps, and flush-mounted ceiling fixtures. Ceiling fixtures are the true workhorses of ambient lighting. These light sources provide the general illumination for a room and really set the tone for the remaining fixture choices but they can also serve in task lighting roles as well. While there really is no set formula for choosing the right ceiling fixtures, there are some things to keep in mind when making a selection.

One of the things you need to consider when choosing lighting fixtures is just how much light they need to produce. To answer this, you have to think about what activities will take place in the room and how much light is needed for them. For a stairway, ceiling light fixtures may be the only source of light and are necessary for safety reasons. Ceiling fixtures such as hanging lamps that cast light downward instead of bouncing it off the ceiling are probably more practical. In a dining room where wall sconces and other forms of light are available, chandeliers that bounce light off the ceiling for a more subdued effect are probably the superior lighting fixtures to choose.

Once you decide how much light you need your ceiling fixtures to produce, you are going to want to think about how it will work with the rest of your décor. For people with a contemporary design scheme, pendants generally make a great choice. If you have a traditional or even an Arts & Craft décor, then chandeliers and hanging lamps will most likely be the perfect complement. The two areas that you will want to make your first decisions for ceiling fixtures are the entry way and the dining room. Your choices in these two rooms will set the tone for the rest of your home. If you have just purchased a home and really do not know what kind of décor you will be using, then consider the age of the home when deciding upon what ceiling fixtures to use. Older homes with a lot of exposed wood or ornate molding will definitely benefit from traditional hanging lamps in the living room and a classic chandelier in the dining room.

Finally, what sort of role do you need your ceiling fixtures to play? If you need task lighting for a buffet or breakfast island area, then a series of hanging pendants will serve you admirably in a contemporary décor. Also, for a breakfast nook in an older and more traditional home, a Tiffany style hanging lamp or pendant would be a perfect choice for some subdued ambient lighting. Pendants are ceiling fixtures that can be used for task or ambient lighting while hanging lamps and chandeliers are best suited for only general illumination.

Choosing the right lighting fixtures involves: deciding how much light they need to produce, how they work with the décor and character of the home, and what kind of role they need to play. No matter your needs or design layout, lighting fixtures are available in an endless array of styles, sizes and varieties so there will be no problem find the ones that perfectly meet all of your needs.

Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including http://www.barnesandwagner.com. Her store offers a complete product line of indoor lighting such as trendy Ceiling Fixtures and Chandeliers, as well as outdoor lighting from the industries leading manufacturers. Everything to light your home in style.