Lighting
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The Best Home Lighting and Office Lighting Buying Guide
Light sources help provide the perfect atmosphere and aesthetic, visibility and security at your home or office.
There are many excellent lighting options available at Sam's Club. Use this lighting buying guide to help you make the best decisions for your lighting project, whether it's landscape lighting, home decor, or crystal chandeliers.
What to Consider when Buying Light Fixtures
Where will this lighting fixture be installed?
Smaller spaces benefit more from wall sconces or other wall-mounted light fixtures that evenly light the room. Overhead light fixtures work well over a shower or toilet. You can also beautify a foyer or dining room with a chandelier, pendant fixture or track lighting.
What comes with lighting fixtures?
Sam's Club offers a wide selection of lighting fixtures. Check if the ones you're interested in come with accessories.
Note that many lighting fixtures don't come with their own bulbs. Bulb specifications are provided in the product descriptions, however.
Sam's Club also offers a large selection of ceiling fans with lights.
What wattage can lighting fixtures use?
Lighting fixtures use a range of wattage. Check each lighting fixture's description to determine its wattage.
Sam's Club offers many energy-efficient options such as various styles of LED lighting.
How much do lighting fixtures weigh?
The weight of lighting fixtures varies. Make sure you install heavier fixtures with the proper precautions so as not to cause damage to your ceiling or wall.
What is the easiest lighting fixture to install?
Installing lighting fixtures can be difficult, so it's best to call a professional if you need assistance. Lightweight fixtures, such as LEDs, are popular for their relative ease of installation.
Buying Chandeliers & Pendant Fixtures
What's the difference between chandeliers and pendant fixtures?
Chandeliers hang in a layered, branched formation with multiple lights. Many modern styles of chandelier diverge from the classic look.
Pendant lights usually have one to three bulbs that hang from a single cord or chain system but can have as many as five bulbs.
What size chandelier do I need?
Your chandelier should have a diameter that's about half to three-quarters of the diameter of the table or surface it's hanging over.
For example, if your table measures 44 inches wide by 70 inches long, an appropriate diameter for a chandelier would be 22 inches to 33 inches.
What kind of bulbs do I want in my chandelier?
The product descriptions at SamsClub.com explain which bulbs to use with your chandelier. Some chandeliers come with bulbs, but others require you to buy them separately.
How high should I hang my chandelier?
With an 8-foot ceiling, chandeliers should hang 30 to 36 inches above the surface of a table or countertop. With a ceiling that's 10 feet or more, hang your chandelier at least six inches higher than you would with an 8-foot ceiling.
To hang your chandelier in a bedroom, a safe measurement is about 7 feet high, and slightly lower if it's right over the bed.
Buying Lamps
Bright overhead light can actually reduce visibility when you are trying to read or study. Task lighting is the best option when you're focused on a localized project, as it allows control over where the light is directed, even more so if your lamp has swing-arm light or gooseneck.
For more ambient light that fills a room, you can place a stylish floor lamp or desk lamp by a chair or in the corner of a living room.
Height
For table lamps, make sure the lamp is no more than 1.5 times the height of the surface it will sit on. A general rule for floor lamps is that the bottom of the lamp's shade should sit at the eye level of a seated person to avoid glare.
Width
For safety, a lampshade should extend 3.5 inches away on all sides from the lightbulb. Lampshades also should not be so big as to overlap the sides of the table.
Shades
How much illumination will you need in your space? Do you want a lamp that provides task lighting or ambient light? A solid metal lamp shade, for instance, provides more concentrated light than a lamp with a metal, mesh shade.
Aesthetics
At Sam's Club, we have an incredible selection of lamps to match any interior style, whether that be modern, industrial, classic, playful, or anything in between.
Room Positioning
Placing lamps in the corners of rooms helps more light reflect into the center of the space. Other popular areas for lamps include next to a couch, chair, table, or bed.
Buying Bathroom Lighting
How bright should bathroom lighting be?
Overhead light or natural light in a bathroom can be useful, but it is also beneficial to have wall lights in your bathroom to fully illuminate your space. Sam's Club offers light bulbs with a wide range of wattages to match any level of desired brightness.
What is the best type of bathroom lighting?
Spotlights are great for illuminating the inside of a shower or the area over a sink or toilet. Wall lights and sconces, however, evenly distribute light throughout the room, and can be installed alongside a bathroom mirror for increased brightness on your face.
What is the best vanity lighting?
Incandescent bulbs are generally best for vanity lights, as they provide more natural coloration to your skin than LED lights.
What is the best shower lighting?
Spotlights provide the best shower lighting, as they focus light directly where you need it.
Buying Light Bulbs
What are the different types of light bulbs?
Sam's Club offers traditional incandescent and energy-efficient LED bulbs in many different styles for both indoor and outdoor use.
What is the difference between watts and lumens?
Watts describe how much energy a bulb uses, and therefore how bright it is. These days, with more energy-efficient bulbs on the market, a bulb's brightness is often expressed in lumens. A 60-watt bulb translates to 750-900 lumens.
What is color temperature?
Sam's Club offers light bulbs in a range of color temperatures. Soft white bulbs provide warmer, yellow-toned lighting. For light fixtures that mimic natural light, look for bulbs labeled “bright white.” We also offer bright white LED bulbs.
What shape lightbulb should I buy?
You can use any shape of bulb as long as the wattage is appropriate for the fixture and the bulb does not get too close to the lampshade. When replacing an old bulb, your light fixture should indicate the proper size and type of bulb to use.
Buying Security Lighting
Where should I place my security lights at home?
Security lights can be placed inside and outside the home. Consider placing indoor security lights in hallways, entryways, or your basement.
Outdoor security lights work best at front and back entryways. They are often motion-sensitive and can be attached to the side of your home or garage.
What are the different kinds of security lights?
Sam's Club carries programmable motion-sensor lights, night lights, floodlights, and security lights with hidden cameras.
When should I have my security lights on?
Motion-sensor lights are considered some of the best security lights because they only turn on when there is movement in front of the sensor. Indoor security lights are useful to have on at night as burglar deterrents.
What kind of bulbs do I need for my security lights?
Many security lights available at Sam's Club use energy-efficient LED bulbs. Each security light is different, however, so check the individual products for specifications.
Buying Outdoor Lighting
What are the different types of outdoor lighting?
- Outdoor wall lighting and sconces
- Landscape and walkway lights
- Light ropes and strings
- Ceiling lights and chandeliers
- Holiday lighting
At Sam's Club, we offer these categories of outdoor lighting and more!
Does outdoor lighting increase my curb appeal?
Outdoor lights can certainly increase your home's attractiveness and safety. Try brightening dimly-lit pathways, installing decorative lights in your garden, and illuminating your entryways.
How high should I install my outdoor lighting?
Generally, outdoor entryway lights should be installed with the center of the bulb at eye-level, or at least 5.5 feet high. Smaller lantern style lights do well at a height of 1 to 2 feet from the ground and 3 to 6 feet apart in order to reduce shadows on your path.
How many lumens should an outside light be?
Lumens should be based on your personal preference and need for visibility. Some outdoor lights also come with a dimmer and can change their brightness as you need.