Lights are available in different forms, typical are ceiling lights, lighted ceiling fans, wall lights, and outdoor lights. Ceiling lights are further categorized as: 

• Chandeliers - really dress up a room.
• Flush mount lighting - provides general overall illumination and typically used in bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.
• Semi flush mount lighting - similar to flush mount only hangs slightly lower into the room.
• Pendant lighting - typically used above seating areas in the kitchen, and above islands, vanities, and entryways.
• Recessed lighting - often used in living rooms and seating areas.
• Track lighting - functional and modern lighting to highlight specific areas and objects in the home.

Selecting the proper light fixture is easily accomplished with a little know-how from a Manchester, NH handyman.

General Lighting
General illumination throughout an area, or ambient lighting, should provide enough light to effectively perform tasks. General lighting is typically accomplished with ceiling lights, chandeliers, lighted fans, recessed and track lights, as well as wall mounted fixtures and lamps. Outside the home, general lighting is accomplished with spot or flood lights, wall fixtures, and light posts.

Task Lighting
Task lighting is used for specific tasks such as reading and writing, cooking, and tabletop work. Task lighting with recessed and track lights, pendants, and lamps is typical.

Accent Lighting
Accent light is used to "show-off" an item or an area. The illumination provided by the accent light needs to greatly exceed the ambient light level in the room. Track lighting, recessed lighting, and wall mounted lights are used to spotlight features. 

Various types of lighting controls are available to accomodate styles, colors, and special needs such as dimmers and timers.

More About Light Fixtures
Light fixtures require the use of light bulbs. Not all bulbs are the same. Bulbs vary by size, shape, color, and wattage.

• Incandescent - the most common screw in light bulb available with different base sizes: medium (the most common), candelabra, intermediate, and others.
• LED - the "new" alternative. Light emitting diodes consume less energy, and last longer than an incandescent buld producing the same amount of light.
• Halogen - produce an intense white light, get very hot and should never be touched.
• Fluorescent - compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs provide more light for the same amount of watts as an incandenscent bulb.

Lumens
All bulbs can be compared by a common factor known as "lumens". Lumens is a measure of how much light emits from a source. A 60 watt incandescent bulb is rated at 890 lumens. For comparison, a 12.5 watt LED is rated at 800 lumens and a 15 watt CFL is rated at 900 lumens.