Best Residential Lighting Fixtures for Your Home

Selecting the right light fixture is crucial for any home, as it impacts the functionality and aesthetics of your living spaces. Certain lights are better suited for specific installations based on their unique characteristics. This article showcases the top residential lighting fixtures and discusses the best applications for each.

Flush mount ceiling fixtures are popular lighting options often used in kitchens, hallways, foyers, dining rooms, walk-in closets, and offices. These fixtures are installed directly onto the ceiling and come in a variety of styles and sizes to fit your design preference. Ceiling lights are especially beneficial in rooms with low ceilings where pendant or chandelier lighting might be obtrusive. Proper placement is key for these fixtures; it might be necessary to install multiple fixtures in larger rooms or hallways to ensure even light distribution throughout the space.

Recessed downlights, also referred to as recessed can lights, offer a sleek and modern lighting solution for residential homes. These lights are set into the ceiling, resulting in a low-profile finish that seamlessly integrates into any space. You can install recessed downlights in your kitchen, dining room, hallway, reading nook, office, and bathroom. These lights are also good for installation on slanted ceilings. Additionally, can lights come in a variety of different trims that are all best suited for specific applications. Choose from baffle, flush, gimbal, reflector, or smooth trims based on your needs. For example, recessed downlights with a gimbal trim can pivot to direct light in a desired direction, making them ideal for accentuating design features and artwork. 

There are a variety of recessed downlight fixture types to choose from. If your ceiling is insulated, you must choose a downlight that is rated for direction contact with insulation (IC-rated). Some recessed downlights require an existing can, while other recessed downlights are canless. Additionally, figure out if you need a recessed light with a built-in junction box or if you can extend your wiring to a nearby junction box. Retrofit downlights install into existing cans, making it easy to upgrade your interior lighting to LEDs. If you want to connect your downlights to your home automation system, you can install smart recessed lights.

Track lights offer a flexible and stylish solution in residential home lighting design. These fixtures allow homeowners to direct light precisely where needed, making them perfect for highlighting certain features of a room or creating task lighting for specific areas. Common installation areas include kitchens, living rooms, and home galleries. Given their versatility, track lights are often chosen for spaces that require a combination of ambient, task, or accent lighting.

There are various solutions for replacing outdated fluorescent troffers in your basements and drop ceilings. LED tube lights are designed to be installed into existing fixtures to provide bright, reliable lighting. Certain LED tube light types are designed to work with your existing ballast for a simple plug-and-play installation. You can also opt for magnetic strip retrofit kits which attach directly to the metal fixture. These lights are able to light large spaces effectively due to their high lumen output and wide beam angle. Make sure you properly remove or bypass the existing ballast if needed.

Under-cabinet lights are one of the most popular lights for kitchens. These fixtures ensure that your kitchen counters receive ample illumination in what would otherwise be a shadowed area. The most common types of under-cabinet lighting are LED strip lights and linear light bars. Strip lights are useful for under-cabinet lighting where you need long runs of light, RGB or RGB+W color display options, or specific aluminum channel mounts that fit your cabinet design. Linear light bars are best if you want a plug-and-play fixture that comes ready to install.

Another draw to installing under-cabinet lights is that these low-voltage fixtures can be easily installed without the need for a licensed electrician. For an in-depth look at how to install under-cabinet lights, consult our step-by-step installation guide.

The lighting design of your home extends past interior lighting to also include your outdoor spaces and architectural features. Outdoor wall lights provide essential functionality to your exterior space while also contributing stylistically. Modern gooseneck lights, nautical bulkhead lights, sconce lights, and up/down cylinders can transform your outdoor space with their bright illumination and durable construction. These fixtures are typically installed in outdoor entryways, patios, garages, and along exterior walls to create welcoming pathways and deter potential intruders.

Outdoor motion sensor security lights are essential for the safety and protection of your home. Proper security lighting helps scare off any potential burglars and makes it easier to monitor activity on security cameras. Motion sensor lights also help with energy savings as light is only turned on when motion is detected. Therefore, you don’t have to keep your exterior lighting on all the time. Discover our top picks for outdoor security lights here.

Installing patio string lights can help transform your deck or patio into a relaxing outdoor space. These lights create an inviting atmosphere for outdoor dinners and evening gatherings. Patio string lights provide soft, gentle illumination that complements your outdoor decor. With traditional white and RGB festoon bulbs available, you can choose the best options for your space. Hanging string ligths can also provide various benefits to your outdoor space.

An often overlooked area of your home that needs ample lighting is your garage. Installing shop and garage lights ensures you have enough light to get in and out of your vehicles and navigate around other objects in your garage. Garage lights are built to light up larger spaces effectively to handle tasks that require precise lighting. These fixtures are also great if you have a workbench space that requires bright task lights.