I’ve been struggling with height my whole life. Being 1.53m means living with the humiliation of shopping in children’s clothing stores and jumping in the air anytime I want a sensor-regulated door to open for me. I’m not saying it doesn’t have its perks, one of them is the fact that I will probably never bump my head into a low doorway or ceiling. Therefore, when I bought my first apartment I didn’t have any problems with its unusually low ceiling at first. However, when it was time for me to choose the lighting, I faced the awful reality – no chandelier could ever fit in any of my rooms.
The standard room height is 2.4m and anything below that point is considered low. Most chandeliers and pendant lights extend to 50 cm in length, which means they are quite the space grabbers. This left me with the dilemma what lights to chose that will be enough illuminating, space-efficient and at the same time will act as a nice décor element. Fortunately, when I went to buy light fittings online, I was relieved to find that there are some convenient solutions.
Downlighting
Flashy chandeliers and large pendant lights can be an eyesore in a low-ceiling room. Moreover, the bright unfocused light coming from them can literally cause you eyesore too. Downlights on the other hand, have a baffled light source that throws light in a downward direction reducing the uncomfortable glare. If your ceilings are really so low that you cannot install any regular light fixture without risking to bump into it, then downlights are truly a convenient solution. Not to mention how their small and compact design allows you to install them virtually anywhere you please. Under the kitchen cabinets as task lighting, on steps as a safety feature improving their visibility, and perhaps the best place for low rooms – the floor. Putting downlights around the lower edges of the room can visually enhance it, and make for a warm atmosphere as if you were surrounded by candle lights.
Small but Eye-Catching Fixtures
It’s probably hard to come to terms that you will never be able to enjoy the sight of a sparkling and luxurious chandelier, however there are far more convenient alternatives that can fascinate as well. Remember, not all ceiling lights have to be of the hanging type. Flush mount lights come in sleek and thin designs that perfectly blend in with low ceiling without looking obtrusive. But if you were to choose a more extravagant design, it will help draw attention to the ceiling and visually extend the room. Combined with an interesting wallpaper, these types of lights can easily become the mesmerising design element a room lacks.
LED Light Strips
And finally, my favourite solution – LED light strips. Like the name suggests, this is a form of strip lighting which includes LED technology. This means you get the cost-efficient benefits of LED technology and you get to choose from a wide palette of colours. Just the right futuristic touch a modern home needs. Because these lights are lightweight, flexible and can be cut to any size you want, they are the perfect solution to install in low ceilings. Surrounding a low ceiling with LED light strips will make it appear wider and higher than it actually is. Plus, their soft light offers enough visibility without putting a strain on the eyes. For a stylish décor effect, combine these lights with the above-mentioned downlights and notice how the room appears bigger just by turning them on.
As you can see, just like we women can make ourselves taller with the right shoes and outfit, a room can also grow in size with the right lighting tricks. Luckily, if you want to buy light fittings online stores have a wide range of models that can complement even the lowest of ceilings.
