Ceiling lights for Family Room, Dining Room and Lounge Room

Solo · Mar 10, 2008 6:00 pm

I have low ceilings (2.4 m) in my new house and I need to replace the pendant lights left from the previous owners with something closer to the ceiling. The current pendant lights are way too low and starting to deteriorate. I am thinking of using one of the following Oyster lights:

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What do you guys think of the above? The first one is currently my favourite, followed by the second. The third and fourth are alternatives if the first two are too hard to install or are impractical. I got the images from:

http://www.cromptonlighting.com/cat07/s ... at=20&id=4

I am basically looking for something that:

1. Is not too difficult to install
2. Has a diffuser that isn't too difficult to remove
3. Doesn't expose the lamp. I don't want to find too many dead insects when i come to replace the lamp.
4. Is bright enough to light up the room
5. Isn't too expensive
6. Somewhat stylish.

Any comments?

Edit: There is also this one from Beacon Lightings:

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http://www.beaconshop.com.au/index.php? ... &Itemid=1#

bec · Mar 10, 2008 6:15 pm

I like the last one a lot!

Solo · Mar 10, 2008 6:35 pm

I like it too. But i don't know if the single lamp version will be bright enough to light the whole room.

Is there is anyway to calculate how many lamps are required to sufficiently light a room? Most Oyster lights seem to come with a single lamp and a multiple lamp version. Obviously, the multiple lamp version will be bigger and more expensive.

haywgl · Mar 10, 2008 7:09 pm

Solo = Looks like we have very similar taste

I actually posted a pic of the same light (the first one) in a thread not to long ago to ask about its lighting capacity etc..

I don't really like downlights in main areas and and hoping to use oysters rather than standard battons throughout, I want them to be bright enough to light up a room and was originally thinking 1 per small bedroom, dining, kitchen, bathroom and 2 for the main bedroom and living area/family room (however I'm not sure if two in the same area would look weird?)

A freind of mine has the first one in her living space and it lights a small area, however, not hugely bright - she has a halogen globe thing in hers...

Hopefully someone can help

Btw - LOVE the last one you posted - so stylish!

Casa2 · Mar 10, 2008 7:19 pm

Keep looking.

Solo · Mar 10, 2008 9:28 pm

Quote:

I want them to be bright enough to light up a room and was originally thinking 1 per small bedroom, dining, kitchen, bathroom and 2 for the main bedroom and living area/family room (however I'm not sure if two in the same area would look weird?)

Instead of having two, why not buy a bigger version that can hold two (or three) lamps? It would be cheaper than having two lights.

Quote:

Btw - LOVE the last one you posted - so stylish!

2 votes for this one already. I am now starting to lean towards it for the family, dining and lounge room. For the corridor/hallway, i might just get a simple round oyster light.

haywgl · Mar 10, 2008 9:45 pm

Thanks Solo - didn't even know you could get 2 or 3 lamp oysters - I thought they were all single.

Great idea will ask M about it

stonecutter1309 · Mar 11, 2008 9:30 am

I think Ewan mentioned something about being able to go for much brighter bulbs as well.

I'd go for a 100w or 150w equivalent in a single bulb (if you couldn't get a 2 bulb fitting)

vpande · Mar 11, 2008 9:57 am

I like the square one too. Just wondering if one can fit the cfl golbes in them. our current oyster has a fluoro circular tube but gives white light. I prefer the warm light
hawgl -- I must caution u re M's electrical consultant... (that is if she's not sacked yet) we wanted lights in the raised servery behind the glass doors .. she said its not possible as its an island bench ... then 6 months later find it being done at a kitchen showroom with electricals from the dishwasher in the island simple!!.. :twisted:

ewan · Mar 11, 2008 10:05 am

I'll try to answer your questions:

1. Is not too difficult to install

These can be DIY, if you have experience with electrical, but i highly recommend an electrician to do the work.

2. Has a diffuser that isn't too difficult to remove

Very easy, once you open it up its self explanatory.

3. Doesn't expose the lamp. I don't want to find too many dead insects when i come to replace the lamp.

You'll still find dead insects, but its enclosed fairly well so there'll be less.

4. Is bright enough to light up the room

With the lights you chose, no problem. You can use energy saving globes in these oysters, which is ideal.

5. Isn't too expensive

Nah, not expensive at all. Roughly $45 each, from memory. Crompton is the best if you're look for something inexpenisive.

6. Somewhat stylish.

Thats up the individual.

Solo · Mar 11, 2008 6:06 pm

Thanks for the response ewan. Do you know if a single lamp (say 20W CFL @ 4200K) will be bright enough to light up a room that is approximately 4m x 4m ?

Edit: Also, with regards to the Crompton ones, they seem to recommend a certain wattage for their oyster lights. e.g. For the first one in my initial posting, their website would say:

"Suitable for 1 x maximum 100W GLS ES lamp "

The equivalent CFL lamp would the 20W version. However, would it do any harm to the light if I was to use a 30W CFL lamp?

The square from Beacon Lighting (the last one in my initial posting) doesn't recommend a particular wattage. So, i am assuming i can use any CFL lamp?

ewan · Mar 12, 2008 1:58 pm

It will be just sufficient.

However in the 4mx4m room that light will look very small. As the light is only 300mm x 300mm.

Let me illustrate:

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The red square is the light in comparison to the room.

So u would probably need 2 in the room, which will definately be enough.

haywgl · Mar 12, 2008 4:59 pm

Ewan,

If you don't mind I'd like to ask your advice - your previous post has made me think.
On our electrical plan it shows place for standard batton holders , we plan to use oysters instead and are wondering would it be best to just use an oyster where they have the battons or have more/less oysters.

Eg. Dining area has provision for 2 battons hence would we need 2 oysters?
Bedroom has provision for 1 batton so therfore 1 oyster?

I just don't want it to look 'overcrowded' with oysters..

Cheers
Belinda

ewan · Mar 12, 2008 5:20 pm

If your bed room is 3mx3m or roughly that size, u can just purchase a 300mmx300mm oyster. That would look perfect.

If its 4mx4m or larger, you can do:

1. Buy a larger oyster, maybe something like 500mmx500mm or 600mmx600mm.

2. Put 2 or more oysters.

Kind Regards

Ewan

haywgl · Mar 12, 2008 5:32 pm

Thanks Ewan

I think the larger oyster will look better...will see what M offer..

Cheers

Solo · Mar 13, 2008 10:48 pm

I went down to Beacon's Lighting this evening to check out the last Square Light in my initial post. The sales assistant told me that the single lamp version will be good for a room of 2x2 sqm to 2.5x2.5 sqm. The double lamp version will light a 3x3 sqm room. At 3.5x3.5 sqm, it may be OK, but it won't be "bright", mainly because of the diffuser.

Since there aren't too many 3 lamp oyster lights and since I am not keen on having more than one oyster light in the room, I have started to look at 3 lamp pendant lights that are close to the ceiling.

This is what I have found:

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It has a height of 300mm and can take 3x40W globes. More info here:

http://www.onlinelighting.com.au/produc ... ts_id=2101

Another option is this:

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It has a height of 230mm and can take 3x60W globes. More info here:

http://www.onlinelighting.com.au/produc ... ts_id=2175

Yak_Chat · Mar 13, 2008 11:51 pm

Re Bulbs, you should be looking at Fluro lamps to go in them - which would be in the 11 to 20 watt range and similar our greater output to the wattages you mention here.

depending on the room and your ceiling colour, but doa few tests with a standard CFL and put it near the ceiling and then point it down to work out what sort of lighting effect you like.

I'm currenty replacing some 3 lamp ceiling pointing pendant lights, and putting in some some wall mounted LED's and oysters to get a different style of lighting in some of my rooms and living areas. But I'm not after stark white blind your eyeballs type lighting, as I feel lighting is very much a mood thing that should be done in sympathy with the house and environment.

Steve

nzfiona · Mar 14, 2008 6:24 am

Solo -

Beware the 'bug-catchers'! :lol:

Seriously, they look great, but I wouldn't have 'em - we had similar lighting in the place we built in Brisbane and I HATED cleaning bugs from them. Ick.

Fiona

MICA · May 03, 2008 11:50 am

Hi there Solo,

We have only recently joined the forum, and not sure if you still require any assistance with your lighting requirements.

If you haven't bought them yet .... good! As these days, there are so many lighting options, that you can use single globes (via better technology) that will emit heaps more light.

kexkez · Jun 24, 2008 12:45 am

HI IN your collection of light shades in the first post. The 2nd last one was the circle with the 3 silver claws( i think of them as birds claws) We have those in our current rental house or at least something very like them. The insects love them and as they are open there is quick gathering of dead flying creatures in the base .