Types of light fittings: which one for which room?

Short answer: A light fitting (luminaire) is the complete unit that holds the light source, connects it to power, protects it and directs the light. A bulb only produces the light; in most LED fittings the light source is built in. At home the common types are downlights, track and magnetic track systems, linear and panel fittings, wall lights and pendants; outdoors, garden, floodlight and facade fittings with a high IP rating. Room, light output (lumens), colour temperature and protection rating decide the choice.

What is a light fitting?

"Lamp", "bulb" and "fitting" are often used interchangeably, but they are different things:

• Bulb (light source): the part that makes light, fitted into a lampholder such as GU10 or E27. See types of LED bulbs.
• Fitting or luminaire: the body, reflector or lens, diffuser, driver and connections. It decides where the light goes.
• Lamp: an everyday word for both bulbs and products such as table or ceiling lamps.

Most LED fittings sold today have integrated LEDs: there is no bulb to change. Fittings with a lampholder let you change colour and output by swapping the bulb.

Indoor fittings

Downlights and spotlights: recessed or surface-mounted, giving focused light. They are the basis of general and accent lighting in suspended ceilings. See types of spotlights, cut-out sizes and our downlight category.

Track spotlights: spots that slide along a ceiling track and can be aimed, ideal for shops, galleries and living rooms whose layout changes. See track spotlights and choosing and fitting track lights.

Magnetic track: a slim low-voltage track carrying magnetic spot, linear and pendant modules, giving a clean modern ceiling. See magnetic track lighting, what magnetic track is and magnetic or standard track.

Linear fittings: long, narrow fittings giving a line of light, recessed, surface-mounted or suspended, common in offices, corridors and kitchens. See linear lighting and linear lighting sizes.

LED panels: even, low-glare light from a flat surface; 600×600 models are standard in office grid ceilings. See how many watts a 60x60 panel needs and our LED panels.

Wall lights: for corridors, bedsides, stairs and entrances. See wall lights and wall light types and mounting height.

Pendants: hang from a cable or rod over dining tables, kitchen islands and high ceilings. See our pendant lights, or living room lighting without a central light.

LED strip: LEDs on a flexible tape for indirect light, under cabinets and inside wardrobes, powered by a driver. See LED strip, types of LED strip and concealed lighting.

LED neon: silicone-covered flexible LED giving a continuous line, used for signs and decorative lines. See LED neon flex and how to connect it.

Stair and step lights: small recessed fittings casting low light downwards. See stair lighting and how to light stairs.

LED bulbs: light sources for fittings with a lampholder. See LED bulbs.

Technical and outdoor fittings

Batten fittings: long, simple bodies for storerooms, car parks and plant rooms. See batten fittings.

Weatherproof and industrial: dust and moisture protected, or powerful high-bay fittings for workshops and warehouses. See industrial lighting and weatherproof and high-bay fittings.

Emergency lighting: keeps running on battery during a power cut and marks escape routes. Requirements depend on the building and local regulations; see emergency lighting and our emergency fittings.

Floodlights: powerful fittings for gardens, car parks, facades and work areas. See what wattage floodlight and LED floodlights.

Wall washers: linear facade fittings lighting a wall along its length. See wall washers and what a wall washer is.

Street lights: pole-mounted fittings for roads and paths. See street lights and street and estate lighting.

Garden fittings: bollards, ground spots, wall lights and post lights. Look for at least IP54 where exposed to rain above ground, IP65 for heavy rain or washing, IP67–IP68 for in-ground. See garden lighting and how to light a garden.

Which fitting for which room?

• Living room: downlights or magnetic track for general light, wall lights and LED strip for indirect light. See living room lighting.
• Kitchen: spots or linear on the ceiling, strip under cabinets, pendants over the island. See kitchen lighting.
• Bedroom: warm white, low-glare spots, bedside wall lights, dimmable light. See bedroom lighting.
• Bathroom: fittings with the right IP rating for each zone. See bathroom zones.
• Corridor and stairs: spaced spots, wall and step lights, optionally a motion sensor. See corridor lighting.
• Office and shop: panels or linear in offices, track or magnetic track with high CRI in shops. See office and shop lighting.
• Outdoors: wall washers and floodlights on facades, bollards in the garden. See facade lighting.

What to check

• Output: compare lumens, not watts; see lighting calculation.
• Colour temperature: usually 2700–3000 K at home, 4000 K for work areas; see lumens, watts and colour temperature.
• CRI: 80 is common for general use; higher values show colours more naturally in kitchens and shops.
• Beam angle: narrow for accent, wide for general light.
• IP rating: decisive in bathrooms and outdoors; see IP ratings.
• Glare (UGR): low-UGR fittings where people work at desks.
• Driver and dimming: see LED drivers and dimmable LEDs.

Installing fittings and new circuits is electrical work: follow IEC-based local wiring rules and use a qualified electrician.

Brands in our shop

Most of our lighting comes from Lamptime (magnetic track, linear, panels, spots, industrial, outdoor and wall washers, many made to order with your choice of colour temperature and finish) and Molled (spots, track, magnetic, wall lights, strip and neon, stair and garden fittings), both of which we are authorised dealers for. Our own designs are ENGN Lento garden light and the GU10 recessed spot ENGN Vion. Our shop is in Nilüfer, Bursa, Türkiye.

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