Guest Picks: 20 Fabulous Ceiling Lights

heatherryan Thank you so much for posting this, Laura. You've discovered so many great options!

jinglebelle The 2 obvious reasons for the unfairly maligned standard dome fixtures are 1-The builder provides something generic, knowing people will change them later to suit their own style, and 2-The ridiculous prices of (most of) the kinds of fixtures shown above. In addition, the fixtures shown here don't necessarily appeal to everybody. It's hard to find well-made, nice looking fixtures at reasonable prices.

Kimberly Hicks I used the Murray Feiss Lucia light in my recent remodel. I love it. Gorgeous lighting, and you an also remove the shade for a different look. Used a matching sconce, too, and I'm thrilled with it as well. Feiss lights are wonderful.

Wred Great finds Laura. Love that top ceiling light: lotus, sort of looks like a Lotus Blossom doesn't it. Thanks for finding something original and not builder grade. Found this on the same website... I am looking for something for a beach house

nonnie22 My problem is a dark house! So many lighting fixtures cover the bulb(s) to mute or soften the lighting and this so diminishes the amount of actual light that they produce. The third one in this display of fixtures that has the mirrors and the bulb exposed is very interesting to me. Maybe I'll try to locate that or one like it. It's the only one without the company name, of course!

JourneyChic Re: @jinglebelle's comments - I completely agree that it's difficult to find attractive lights (whether they are flush mounts, chandeliers, or pendants) that are "inexpensive" (which is a relative term, but I consider that to be under $100). It made putting together this ideabook difficult, since most inexpensive options are pretty much what the builder installs, which is what I loathe. However, I've been able to find some awesome deals by shopping around the internet, using online coupon codes, and stalking sites like OKL and Joss & Main. Naturally, any ideabook you'll read will have some items that you like, and some that you don't. That's what makes each individual's style so unique and decorating so much fun!

amandamoore And to think I survived all this time having never realizing my hallways were lined with boobs. I won't tell my husband.

Mariko Jackson I'm laughing about the boob lights. You're totally right. We hated most light/ceiling fan combinations for that exact reason! Thanks for the different style options.

daisy4me I liked a lot of your lights posted but my problem is a slanted low ceiling. Flushmounts help the low ceiling but the slant would make them not right. I need to find 2 exact lights that have more than one bulb in. Any ones you saw when putting this together that would work?

JourneyChic @daisy4me: I actually think that recessed lights look best on slanted ceilings that are low. If the ceiling is high, I'd forgo the flush mounts and get a pendant light fixture. The mount will be at the angle of your ceiling, but the light will hang straight down. Usually you can adjust the chain and cord length to the right height. My husband even took a hack saw to a bargain chandelier that I found to make it work for the height of our baby-to-be's nursery. In my experience it's easy to replace an existing flushmount with a pendant light or chandelier (use a medallion to cover any dirt rings left by the old light). However, if it's just not possible for you, I'd go with a fixture that's flat and low profile, so it won't "bump out" of your slanted ceiling. Something like this:

kennedytarheel Thanks for featuring a wide array of fixtures at a wide array of prices. There's something for almost everyone. What i liked best about your article is that you gave all of us a kick in the pants to pay attention to our light fixtures. Perhaps fixtures are overlooked, or the last item on the budget, but I'm going to look around my house and see what can be "updated" as a quick fix to a room. If you have suggestions for other than round shapes, I'd love to see them. Thanks.

Elaine M. Rushlow C.K.D. Love love these lights thanks for the post!

fivecats I prefer vintage, but in the absence of that, the Lotus light is pretty darned nice.

Ann Smitt Streamliner flush mount because of the style and price.

Gene Guindon The LOTUS flush mount is a beauty, so is the FACEtED Mirror. Thos are @_G_E_N_E_ 's pics ;)

Lynne Barton Bier - Home on the Range Interiors I like the Quoizelle - great transitional fixture and i love that it also comes in a semi-flush

audreypenny I am so glad to hear I'm not the ONLY person who thought they looked like boobs on the ceiling!

frankenvini Love lana del rey.......blue jeans

wfroh Nonnie22, here's a good looking fixture that puts out a lot of light with its reflective mirror.
http://www.shadesoflight.com/mosaic-mirror-bowl-ceiling-light.html