Restaurant lamps and lighting are an integral part of your restaurant’s atmosphere. Finding the right light fixtures for your restaurant doesn’t have to be a mind-boggling and expensive process. There are different types of restaurant lights; the kind you will use depends on your budget and the type of look you want to create.

The first step in choosing the right restaurant light fixtures for your place is to decide which type of light best fits with your overall lighting budget. Consider these options when making your decision:

1. Lighten up any room with sconces as light fixtures in your dining room.

2. Use ceiling restaurant lighting fixtures to add style and versatility to your lighting plan.

3. Spotlight special sections of your business using recessed lighting fixtures.

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Add style to your restaurant with restaurant lighting for the walls

One of the most popular types of restaurant lighting for walls is a sconce. These fixtures come in countless shapes, sizes and styles, such as imitation candle sconces and lantern sconces. Pick the perfect style to go along with your décor and you are sure to be pleased with the effect it will have on the look of your restaurant. Because this type of lighting can get very artistic and elaborate, this style of lighting tends to be one of the more expensive types of restaurant light fixtures.

I recommend: Interior Deluxe has many types of restaurant lights for the walls that range in price from about $100.00 up to about $4,000.00. Go shopping on Lighting, Lamps & Chandeliers. Restaurant lights for the wall from this merchant range in price from about $30.00 up to about $600.00.

Brighten up the rooms using ceiling light fixtures for restaurants

Ceiling lighting replaces restaurant table lamps at individual tables. This type of lighting usually comes in the form of pendant lights hanging over the tables. These kinds of restaurant lighting fixtures tend to work better in family-friendly restaurants because they are bright and versatile. Another type of ceiling restaurant lights are the low-profile kind that hugs the ceiling. These could end up being the most expensive types of restaurant lighting designs, because the sizes, materials and workmanship can vary so much. For example, a crystal chandelier will be much more expensive than a plain, metal pendant lamp.

I recommend: Lunawarehouse.com has ceiling lights for restaurants for prices that start at around $9.00 and go up to about $14,000.00. Check out the Lighting Headquarters website. The prices for their selection of ceiling lighting ranges from about $20.00 to around $800.00.

Create the perfect ambiance with recessed restaurant lighting fixtures

Many restaurants use recessed restaurant lamps and lighting to highlight a certain area of the restaurant or pieces or artwork on the walls. This is also a great way to add mood lighting to the restaurant. You can find these types of restaurant lamps in establishments that cater towards couples and professionals because they fit right into a stylish and chic décor. Recessed lighting fixtures are less expensive than any other type of lighting fixture, but are more complicated to install.

I recommend: KK-Lite.com has a wide selection of stylish recessed lighting for your restaurant. For example, this type of recessed lighting runs about $6.00 and up. USA Light & Electric is a great place to find recessed lighting for your restaurant. For these kinds of restaurant lighting, expect to pay about $13.50 up to about $16.00.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to choose a style of restaurant lamps and lighting that will stay in style for a while. You will be investing a lot of time and money into researching the pricing and costs of restaurant lamps and lighting and the last thing you will want is for them to be out of style within a year.

Lighting plays a huge part in the look and feel of a restaurant. Think about it. It’s a romantic candlelight dinner, not a romantic fluorescent light dinner.

Direct lighting in a restaurant can help to create a bright and invigorating atmosphere, perfect for a busy sandwich shop or lunch counter diner. On the other hand, the soft flicker of votive candles creates an intimate setting, ideal for cozy little bistros and elegant restaurants.

Restaurant lights are as important to your décor as the color of the walls and the style of the furnishings. Despite this, it is easy to overlook restaurant lighting when designing the interior of a restaurant.

Restaurant lights dress up all parts of a restaurant, including the:

1. Dining room
2. Waiting area
3. Lounge or bar
4. Restrooms
5. Entryway

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Make a statement with your restaurant lighting fixtures

Banish boring fluorescent ceiling fixtures. Instead, select restaurant light fixtures that enhance the overall feel of your restaurant. Hanging pendant lamps add an elegant and intimate touch to utilitarian booths, while attractive wall sconces dress up typically plain areas, such as restrooms.

I recommend: LightingShowroom.com carries a wide variety of lighting fixtures for restaurants, including vanity lights and chandeliers. LampsPlus.com and Pottery Barn are two other vendors of attractive fixtures, ideal for every area of your restaurant.

Choose safe restaurant lighting

Open flames from candles and fuel cells present safety problems, including fire and burn hazards. Err on the side of caution by purchasing electronic candles. These rechargeable, battery operated restaurant lighting options are also much easier to clean up, with no wax or soot build up.

I recommend: DiningbyCandleight.com carries a large selection of rechargeable candles, as does RestaurantLights.com.

Enhance table settings with restaurant table lamps

Some restaurants need table lamps or votives more than others. An intimate table for two wouldn't be complete without the soft glow of a candle votive or other small restaurant lamp. Restaurant table lamps and lighting are also an easy and inexpensive way to add extra lighting without costly electrical work.

I recommend: TrinityLighting.com, Tabledecor International and Hospitality Designs all carry a large array of table lamps, glass votives and other small lighting fixtures that are both beautiful and functional.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Select restaurant lighting that can be dimmed in the evening and brightened in the day time, to create two distinct looks in your dining room.

There are many types of restaurant light fixtures to look into when opening or remodeling a restaurant. Many owners don’t pay much attention to the different uses for restaurant lighting, and therefore the look and feel of their business may always seems a little “off.” Choosing the right restaurant lamps can mean the difference between a booming business with many repeat customers, or a restaurant that fizzles out because the atmosphere isn’t welcoming enough.

Picking the right lighting doesn’t have to be a major project if you keep some restaurant lamps and lighting basics in mind:

1. Stay safe and in compliance with laws when you provide proper emergency light fixtures for restaurants.

2. Run the back of the house as efficiently as possible with bright fluorescent restaurant lamps.

3. Create the ideal atmosphere with the right type of restaurant table lamps.

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Keep your visitors and employees safe with bright emergency restaurant lamps and lighting

Some of the most important restaurant lighting fixtures are the emergency lights that illuminate exits and pathways. It is important that you have high quality, emergency restaurant lighting not only for the safety of your employees and patrons, but also to ensure that you comply with state and federal laws.

I recommend: Pegasus Associates Lighting has a large number of emergency restaurant lights such as these exit signs. The Exit Light Co. is the one stop shop for all of your emergency restaurant lamps and lighting.

Brighten up the workspace with plenty of overhead fluorescent restaurant lighting

Fluorescent restaurant lights are perfect for those behind-the-scenes areas of restaurants like the kitchen and office. These lights tend to last longer than other restaurant light fixtures, so you can take care of more important things like running your restaurant instead of worrying about how long the lighting will last.

I recommend: LBCLighting.com is the place to look for restaurant fluorescent lighting that is perfect for any commercial kitchen. Lightworld is sure to have the right fluorescent lighting for your restaurant.

Set the right mood for your patrons using restaurant table lights

Restaurant table lamps go a long way to setting the atmosphere of a restaurant. It is very important to match the table lamps with the mood you are trying to convey. If your restaurant caters mainly to families, then bright, whimsical table lamps would work well. On the other hand, if your restaurant caters mainly to couples, then your best bet would be to go with something like restaurant table lighting that mimics candlelight, for example.

I recommend: Check out the Table Decor International website for many types and styles of restaurant table lamps. Look no further than Restaurantlights.com for the perfect table lamps for your restaurant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Lighting for restaurants is an easy and low cost way to spruce up the look of your restaurant without spending a lot of time and energy. Whether you are update your look a bit, or if you have to replace a large number of broken or missing lamps, this is the perfect time to make a small change that will go a long way.

The lamps and lighting fixtures in your restaurant do more than just illuminate the diners and the food; they also set the ambiance for the establishment and the tone of the entire meal. By familiarizing yourself with key restaurant lamps and lighting terms, you’ll be able to communicate your vision to a designer or lighting wholesaler to get pieces that will suit the mood of your restaurant. From “candlestick lamps” to “sconces” to “pendants,” a little knowledge will go a long way toward achieving the best lighting and looks.

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Candlestick lamps

For a traditional look for dining room tables or hostess stations, consider candlestick lamps that use long-lasting fuel cells as opposed to traditional bulbs. Find the style and shade that suits the mood of your establishment.

I recommend: Get more information on candlestick lamps with different finishes and lampshade styles through Restaurant Source.

Recessed, wrap and striplight

Unlike the mood lighting used to set the ambiance in the dining room, your restaurant kitchen will require powerful fluorescent lighting. Common terminology for this type of lighting includes recessed styles inset in the ceiling, wrap styles covered with acrylic shielding, and striplights with reflectors to amplify light output.

I recommend: Discover the specifications and installation requirements for commercial kitchen lighting, including fluorescent recessed, wrap and striplight, at LBC Lighting.

Sconces

Add lighting to your restaurant without taking up any necessary table or floor space by installing sconces along the walls. Choose sconce covers that coordinate with your decorating style.

I recommend: Discover a variety of sconce styles at Louie Lighting.

Pendants

Also called hanging lamps, pendants drape over restaurant tables or hang in the establishment entryway for an eye-catching look. Choose a style that coordinates with other floor lamps or sconces throughout the restaurant for a unified look.

I recommend: See different pendant lamp styles, along with a variety of lampshade options, through Old Hickory.

Electronic candles

For the flicker of candlelight without the danger of an open flame on each table, consider electronic candles that use a flickering LED light. Although many battery operated models are disposable, they'll typically burn for 30 to 40 hours.

I recommend: Restaurant Lights features a selection of electronic candles including color LED tealights, real wax candles and rechargeable styles.

Emergency lights

In addition to regular restaurant lighting and mood lighting, your establishment may be required to have emergency lights in the event of a power failure or natural disaster. Check city or state requirements to determine the placement and amount of emergency lighting that you'll need.

I recommend: Discover different types of emergency lighting and signs, including required power sources, voltage and mounting specifications, at Pegasus Associates.