What Type of Lighting Fixtures Are Available?
To accomplish all of the things outlined above, you need to have a good toolset at your disposal. Our lighting fixture consultants will help you based on your preferences and goals. While a crystal chandelier will work in the great room, track systems are great for a long stairwell. Each fixture brings a unique visual element (or lack thereof for architectural lighting fixtures) and functionality. A great whole-home lighting package combines and matches various types to create a layered lighting system that works throughout your Salt Lake City or Park City home.
When choosing fixtures, a lot of attention will be given to aesthetics, but how you use the lights matters just as much. When chosen properly, your fixtures should provide greater comfort, energy efficiency, and performance. With so many options, it can become overwhelming. We’ll do a walk-through of your property (or blueprints if in the build stage) to find the best options from outdoor fixtures that blend with your foliage to wall-wash fixtures that make the colors in your living room pop. The first step is giving you a better idea of what fixtures are available.
Central Pendant Light
A small but stylish centerpiece ideal for common rooms like a living room or media room. They offer general overhead illumination.
Cove Lighting
Add a cozy feel to any room while highlighting architectural finishes with cove lighting that offers a soft glow across your ceiling’s perimeter.
Wall Sconces
Vertical light sources that provide focused lighting to showcase artwork or other decor in your home. They also offer indirect lighting when watching TV.
Recessed Downlights
These traditional ceiling fixtures get an upgrade with enhanced CRI quality and smaller apertures for a ‘quiet ceiling’.
Central Pendant Light
Cove Lighting
Wall Sconces
Recessed Downlights
Flush Mount Fixtures
If you have low ceilings or a minimalist style, these fixtures provide ambient lighting without clutter, as they sit directly against the ceiling. Due to their general illumination, they’re a great fit in practically every room but are mostly used in bedrooms, hallways, and entryways where decorative fixtures are less common.
Surface-Mounted Downlights
If you have limited ceiling space and want to limit the extensive wiring required for recessed fixtures, surface-mounted downlights are a great option. They provide more focused lighting than their recessed counterparts and come in many shapes, sizes, and finishes. You get to choose how much of a focal point you want them to be. They can be used for all types of lighting (ambient, accent, task) in residential and commercial settings.
Recessed Lighting
Have all-purpose lighting without the clutter. These lights provide ambient illumination that won’t overpower other elements in the room, including other brighter task and accent lights in the room. Adjust their color temperature to change up the feel of any space. Bright lighting for focus, and warm, dim lighting to encourage relaxation at the end of the day.
Pendant Lights
Tie multiple pendant lights together via rod, chain, or cord to create a statement piece while providing focused lighting. Depending on your decor, choose from glass or metal options. Pendant lights offer focused lighting, so they’re best used for task lighting in areas like the kitchen or as accent lights to highlight artwork or other decor in the home.
Chandeliers
The ultimate decorative fixture. While many people envision a classic crystal design, there are many other options. Go modern and minimalist, ornate, or contemporary metal. In most cases, chandeliers should not be your primary ambient light, as they are typically too centralized and bright. Instead, let them provide some accent lighting at the center of the room.
Track Lighting
In most cases, these fixtures live on a track mount with multiple adjustable heads that let you direct light towards specific areas. They are mostly used in commercial spaces–particularly retail and galleries. In recent years, though, they’ve become a common fixture in modern homes as well. We see them most often used to highlight artwork, hallways, or architectural features.
Linear LED Panels
Efficient and performance-driven, linear LED panels provide a sophisticated solution for overhead lighting. These fixtures deliver a broad wash of even, glare-free illumination that is particularly effective in large, open environments like offices or contemporary living areas. Their slim profile allows them to integrate seamlessly into minimalist architecture, making any room feel brighter and more spacious without the visual clutter of traditional fixtures.
Wall Sconces
Wall sconces serve as essential task, accent, or ambient lighting depending on their specific design and placement. From classic candle-style fixtures to contemporary minimalist designs, these units add a layer of warmth and sophistication to hallways, living rooms, and bedrooms. Proper placement allows these fixtures to enhance architectural details while providing the functional light and atmosphere required for a well-designed space.
Swing-Arm Sconces
Swing-arm sconces provide a specialized solution for rooms that require adaptable, wall-mounted lighting. These fixtures feature an articulated arm and a rotating head, allowing you to direct illumination precisely where it is needed for specific tasks. This flexibility makes them an ideal addition to bedside areas, reading corners, or home offices where focused light is essential but surface space is limited.
Picture Lights
Are your favorite pieces of art or photographs getting lost in the mix? Picture lights are designed to bring attention to wall-hung decor. Some are decorative fixtures, other low-profile bars, and some even blend in with your art’s frame. All provide a soft but focused glow that brings out details and color without creating unwelcome glare.
Decorative Accent Fixtures
Add a little panache to your home with wall-mounted lights that provide a bit of stylistic flair. As to what that flair entails, it’s up to you. There are unique shapes, materials, and artistic elements to choose from. We’ve seen clients incorporate accent fixtures in the form of medal sculptures while the more common option is creating unique geometric forms with your lights.
Floor Lamps
A classic addition to any home, floor lamps are used for ambient, task, and accent lighting. Some ornate, traditional floorlamps make a great accent light while sleek, minimalist models may be great as task lighting next to a couch or table.
Reading Lamps
Never struggle with dim lighting while trying to read in the living room or office. Reading lamps offer focused, task lighting in your go-to reading nooks. They have adjustable necks and swivel heads to reduce eye strain while eliminating glare.
Desk Lamp
Desk lamps are great for any dedicated workspace where you want focused lighting to keep you focused and productive. These are ideal in home offices, libraries, or craft rooms. Adjust brightness and positioning to match your desired activity.
Table Lamps
Table lamps provide a blend of functional illumination and aesthetic appeal ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, and entryways. When positioned on side tables or consoles, these fixtures produce a localized, warm glow that enhances the room’s atmosphere while highlighting specific design elements. Add layers of light and visual interest to a space without the need for permanent electrical installations.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
Make your workspaces more beautiful and effective with under-cabinet lighting that provides just the right amount of lighting for cooking in the kitchen or reading in the office. These lights are installed under overhead cabinets to help eliminate shadows that typically happen underneath. These are almost always used for task lighting, though they help accent finishes as well.
Cove Lighting
Similar to under-cabinet lighting, cove lighting also lives in recessed areas—this time in molding or ledges by the ceiling. Unlike under-cabinet lights, these serve more of a stylistic goal. Their soft, diffused glow creates a border around the room that helps to add depth and warmth, while highlighting the room’s architectural structure.
In-Wall or Niche Lighting
Give a spark to your decor with in-wall and niche lighting that provides small but bright spotlights. These can be used to showcase artwork, alcoves, or architectural details. These bright lights help to create unique sightlines while promoting items like walls, displays, or bookshelves.
Porch and Entryway Lights
Create a great first impression while enhancing your guests’ safety with porch and pathway lights that guide the way to your front door. Make your home stand out on the block with lantern-style sconces or modern designs. With the right fixture selection, it’s easy to create a uniform look to your lighting, while relying on weather-resistant materials that survive the elements. Pair these with motion sensors to literally light the way as soon as people arrive.
Landscape Lighting
You worked as hard on your landscape design as you did your interiors, so why let it go to waste after dark? Choose from a wide array of fixtures to make your home pop after the sun sets. Highlight your vegetable garden, flower beds, water features, and entryways. Opt for low-voltage LED fixtures that provide long-lasting illumination and let you adjust brightness and color on command. We offer path lights, spot lights, niche lights, and well lights prepped for the elements.
Security Floodlights
Security floodlights are all business. They should provide wide coverage and bright beams for optimal visibility and deterrence. These should line your perimeter near your garage, backyard, and entry gate and be installed in a way that eliminates any dark corners where bad actors could hide. These fixtures should be part of a whole-home lighting package that incorporates sensors and schedules, so they activate whenever there is suspicious activity for ultimate peace of mind.
Garage and Driveway Lights
Create a safe, welcome environment for family, friends, contractors, and delivery men with garage and driveway lights. These lights help reduce the risk of accidents and damage to your property, while also making it stand out. Make sure that these are lining the driveway and placed above or beside the garage doors, never directly in front. That could create dangerous glare for people approaching your home. While some of these lights could be motion-activated, we recommend some being on a dusk-to-dawn schedule to general ambient lighting.
15° Beam Angle
A great tool in your arsenal for accent lighting. We typically see it used artwork, sculptures, or any other item that could use a literal spotlight.
30° Beam Angle
A workman’s beam, it’s great for anywhere that requires dedicated focus. The most common use is in kitchens and home offices, but any craft rooms or study rooms could use them as well. They create a well-lit work surface that doesn’t cast too wide a net.
45° Beam Angle
This beam will cover most of the room and would work for ambient and task lighting. For example, it could be a great option above a dining room table for focused but not overly bright lighting. It helps distribute lighting without casting too many shadows in the room.
60° Beam Angle and Above
This beam will mostly always be used for ambient lighting over large areas. We see it used for stairs, hallways, entryways, and sometimes even bedrooms.
Recessed Downlights
Recessed downlights are the most common types of fixtures, but even here, you don’t have to settle for generic options. In particular, the beam angles you choose could have a huge impact on your lighting design. The smaller the beam, the more focused it is. A 15° is great for a focus in accent lighting applications. A 30° beam is better suited for task lighting in a kitchen or home office environment. The more versatile option, best used in common areas like a living room, is the 45° capable of handling ambient and task lighting, The 60° is more in line with the ambient, recessed lighting you might be used to.
That’s only part of what goes into your lighting design. As your lighting fixtures consultant, we also consider mounting height, room layout, and your interior decor. That way we’re able to create a lighting fixture package that matches your high-end home in Park City or Salt Lake City.
Reduce Clutter With Architectural Lighting Fixtures
Architectural lighting fixtures offer stellar illumination while keeping wiring, housing, and hardware away from view. These fixtures are part of a ‘quiet ceiling’ movement that encourages layered, uniform lighting without sacrificing the space’s decor. How do these fixtures work? They are recessed-mounted to keep heat sinks hidden from view while using remote drivers. You get high-quality light without any visible fixtures on the ceiling.
What Makes for Great Lighting?
Great lighting design is all about creating balance in your interiors and exteriors. As we’ve mentioned, you want a mix of lighting (ambient, task, accent) but they should come together naturally so you don’t recognize each of the distinct varieties. A great example of layered lighting is in the bathroom. You’ll keep vanity lights (task lights) in a cool, diffused hue to put you in your best light. Meanwhile, wall sconces also add soft, indirect illumination for general ambient lighting. Both come together to make it easy to get ready in the morning while creating a comfortable environment to kick off the day.
Pair the Right Fixture to Your Lighting Design Needs
As we mentioned, lighting design requires integration of ambient, task, and accent lighting. How you accomplish that comes down to your space, decor, and lifestyle. With the right mix of lighting fixtures, you should have lighting that is beautiful and functional. We offer a carefully selected mix of decorative and architectural light fixtures for all our lighting designs. When paired with intuitive lighting control, they let you get the perfect lighting every time.
We’ve mentioned a few of these already. Recessed fixtures for subtle overall illumination. Pendant and under-cabinet options for task and accent lighting needs. Architectural fixtures hide from view while sconces and track systems add focal points to your rooms. All our fixtures are compatible with the latest lighting control systems to adjust brightness and color temperature, and feature LED technology for greater shelf life and energy efficiency.
Direct Ambient Lighting
Typically used in smaller rooms, these downward lights provide functional illumination. Anywhere that might want consistent lighting (like offices or living rooms) benefits from downward-facing pendants or recessed fixtures.
Indirect Ambient Lighting
For softer illumination, indirect ambient lighting uses reflections off walls and ceilings to create a diffused beam. Anywhere you want reduced glare or a warmer ambiance, you’ll want to use cove lighting or upward-facing scones to achieve this effect.
Mixed / Layered Ambient Lighting
Here is where you start seeing the blend points in your lighting design. Through balanced but flexible lighting, you create greater depth. This requires a combination of fixtures and intricate layouts to avoid contrasts. Combine recessed lights, pendants, and wall-mounted uplights in open-concept spaces to accomplish this.
Perimeter / Wall Wash Ambient
Wall wash approaches shine light along walls to bring out colors and, more importantly, make the space look bigger. Choose between wall-wash fixtures or LED strip lights on the ceiling to make certain areas of the room pop in a subtle way.
Spot / Pinpoint Lighting
Accent lighting utilizes a concentrated beam to highlight specific objects or architectural features. You can use track systems, adjustable recessed spotlights, or discreet under-shelf LED strips to produce this distinct visual layer. These directional sources provide the necessary contrast to showcase artwork or collectibles.
Wall Washing
Wall washing utilizes a broad, even distribution of light to emphasize the color, texture, and architectural nuances of a vertical surface. Illuminate large-scale artwork or textured feature walls while eliminating the harsh shadows often associated with standard overhead lighting.
Grazing
Grazing involves positioning light sources directly adjacent to a textured surface to deliberately accentuate shadows and highlights. By skimming the beam across the material, you can draw out the natural character of stone, brick, or other architectural elements. The resulting interplay of light and shadow provides a dramatic sense of depth to any room.
Backlighting / Back Glow
Position light sources directly behind an object or surface to create a soft, radiant halo. We typically use LED strips behind mirrors, digital signage, or decorative wall panels to produce a silhouette and separate the object from its background.
Focused Task Lighting
Focused task lighting directs a concentrated beam exactly where you need it, making it much easier to read, cook, or handle detailed projects. You can achieve this by adding pendants over a kitchen island, a dedicated lamp on your desk, or discreet LEDs under your cabinets. These fixtures ensure you have plenty of light for the job at hand without having to over-brighten the rest of the room.
Strip Task Lighting
Linear or strip task lighting utilizes long, narrow LED fixtures to provide bright, even illumination across a workspace. By installing these strips under cabinets or shelving, you eliminate shadows on your counters or workbenches, making it much easier to handle cooking prep or detailed projects.
Adjustable Task Lighting
Adjustable task lighting provides the flexibility to move your light source exactly where it is needed for specific activities. Portable options like clip-on lights or battery-powered lamps let you bring high-quality illumination to a crafting table, a temporary desk, or a favorite reading chair without being tethered to a permanent fixture.
Integrated Task Modules
Integrated lighting modules hide fixtures directly within your furniture or architecture. You can find these built into closet rods, shelving units, or even custom cabinetry to provide on-demand illumination for specific tasks. Keep your workspace or storage areas functional while maintaining the clean, intentional lines of your room's overall design.
Security Lighting
Security lighting blends the functional requirements of task lighting with the coverage of ambient illumination to deter intruders and improve nighttime visibility around your property. You can protect entryways, driveways, and other vulnerable areas by strategically placing floodlights, motion sensors, or perimeter fixtures. A well-planned layout brightens dark corners and provides the clarity needed to navigate outdoor spaces safely once the sun goes down.
Outdoor Lighting
Landscape lighting serves as a dual-purpose investment by improving property safety while highlighting the natural beauty of your gardens and architecture. You can eliminate dark patches around the exterior by uplighting mature trees or positioning accent fixtures near focal points to create a warm and welcoming environment.
What Can Great Lighting Do For You?
More Than Meets the Eye
Lighting impacts your daily comfort and long-term well-being more than most homeowners realize. A human-centric approach to design accounts for how light affects your body, often utilizing tunable LED systems that shift in color and intensity to mirror the patterns of natural daylight.
Bright, cool light helps maintain alertness during the morning and midday, while warmer tones in the evening encourage relaxation by supporting healthy sleep cycles. With dimming controls, you can further adapt these settings for specific tasks or personal preferences. High-quality fixtures also utilize advanced optics to minimize glare and flicker, which reduces eye strain and boosts overall comfort.
Modern systems can even adjust automatically based on occupancy, available sunlight, or the time of day by integrating sensors and smart controls. These automated changes create an environment that supports your performance and health without requiring constant manual adjustments.
Lighting Design At Its Best
Sometimes it’s easier to see it to understand. So for some of our favorite lighting fixtures, styles, and room applications we wanted to showcase some examples. When designing your project, think of what stylistic look you’re going for or which tasks you need help with. We’ll help you find a solution that works best for you.
Our Top Lighting Fixture Partners
Our team sources fixtures from manufacturers recognized for their commitment to innovation and high-end build quality. We select hardware engineered with advanced technology to provide consistent brightness, accurate color representation, and high energy efficiency. Every unit passes through strict quality control testing to provide long-term reliability and professional-grade performance for your Utah home or business.
These systems incorporate intuitive smart controls and streamlined designs that simplify both operation and maintenance. By offering smooth dimming capabilities and a focus on visual comfort, our curated selection provides a sophisticated lighting solution that enhances your environment.
Elevate your home’s lighting experience with Proluxe’s precision lighting control solutions. Designed for modern living, Proluxe goes beyond basic dimmers to deliver seamless control, dynamic scenes, and flawless performance across any space. With an emphasis on clean design and advanced technology, Proluxe lighting systems integrate effortlessly into luxury homes, enhancing both form and function. From architectural lighting to whole-home control, Proluxe empowers homeowners to create perfectly balanced environments that adapt to every moment, mood, and lifestyle.
WAC Lighting has been elevating lighting systems for over 35 years with cutting-edge LED lighting technology solutions like decorative lighting, landscape lighting, and architectural products for commercial, residential, and hospitality spaces. Integrate your beautiful and convenient lighting fixtures into your smart home technology ecosystem to easily control all your devices from a centralized interface. Discover the possibilities that WAC Lighting will bring to your home.
