Glossary of lighting terms

Accent Lighting: lighting that focuses attention on a point of interest in your home, such as a piece of artwork, houseplant, or architectural feature.  As a rule of thumb, this kind of lighting should be at least three times brighter than the ambient light in the room.

Ambient Lighting: also known as general lighting, this is lighting that illuminates a wide, general space.

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL): a long-life, energy-efficient fluorescent lightbulb with a folded or spiraled tube, designed to fit into the same fixtures as incandescent bulbs.  There are also Micro Fluorescent Lamps (MLF), which are similar in size to downlights, but use a dedicated low energy fitting fitting, that meet the requirements of the building regulations.

Dimmer: a switch or dial designed to raise or lower the brightness of a light fixture.  They are a great way to adjust the mood of a room, save energy, and increase the lifespan of your lightbulbs.

Downlight: a light fixture installed in the ceiling or another high vantage point, which focuses light downward.  They are available in 12v / Low Voltage or as 240v / Mains Voltage.

Fluorescent Lightbulb: a long-life, energy-efficient lightbulb in which electrical current is run through a phosphor-coated glass tube containing inert gases.  The gases light up when activated by the electrical current.

Halogen Lightbulb: also known as a tungsten-halogen or quartz bulb, this is a lightbulb containing halogen gases. Low-voltage halogen bulbs are longer-lived and more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent Lightbulb: this is the most traditional form of bulb, in which a filament is heated by an electrical current, producing light.

LED: standing for light emitting diode, this is a collection of tiny bulbs attached to an electrical circuit.  LED's are extremely long-lived and energy-efficient, and they can be found in green, red, white, or blue.

Low Voltage: a low voltage light that uses 12 to 24 volts of electricity (normally 12v).

Pendant: a hanging light that can be cylindrical, square, or rectangular.  These provide both ambient and task lighting. These generally give a more contemporary look than a classic chandelier.

Portable Lamp: a movable light source such as a table or floor lamp.  These are usually used for task lighting but can provide ambient light as well. Recessed Downlight: a light fixture attached in a ceiling recess, focusing its light downward.

Sconce: a decorative wall light fixture that can give accent or task lighting.

Task Lighting: a bright light source focused on an area where a specific task, such as reading or cooking, is performed.  Task lighting must be bright with little glare or shadows, so that the eyes are not strained.

Transformer: an electric device that converts the high voltage electrical current coming out of a wall socket into a voltage low enough to be used by lamps and other electrical devices.  Modern transformers include electronic circuits that offer surge protection and a stablisied voltage for increased bulb life.  They are also dimmable by both leading edge and trailing edge dimmers. Uplight: a light placed on the ground or below a featured object, aimed upward.

Wall Washing: focusing a wide floodlight over a wall for a smooth, even illumination. This technique is used to make a small room look larger, highlight or even out the texture of a wall.

Wattage: this is a unit of measurement that measures the amount of electrical power used by an electrical device such as a light fixture.