nethead

I generally don't have all the over heard lights on, but sometimes you do need the option.

Jerseygirl

I too like to have overhead lights. Like you we don't use them very often but it's nice to have the option as they tend to light the room up more.

md95065

My pet (a cat) is peeved about pretty much everything - which, of course, is exactly what you would expect from a cat ...

Egg and Cress

I can't explain why I don't like them either - but there's a big difference between overhead artificial light and sunlight. I suffer from periodic depression and sunlight seems to help break it up & make me feel better. But overhead incandescent light makes me angry and overhead fluorescent light gives me the jitters. Someone once told me the fluorescent lights "buzz" at a very low level and cause subliminal reactions. So what's with the overheads at home?

Egg and Cress

True. Like when you've dropped something and can't see it for love nor money, except with a bright overhead light. I do like the overhead spots if placed well, but if I'm under one, I sometimes have the feeling I'm going to confess to something I didn't do!

paranoidandroid

As far as I'm concerned, it's more about having the option to use a ceiling light, not keeping one on all the time. The option to have a light that actually lights the place up if you walk in a room to look for something. The idea that somehow the lamp that's hooked up to the lightswitch that controls the power from the socket in the corner will do for everything, when you're looking for the remote, or need to replace the bulb of the lamp in the corner, just pisses me off.

paranoidandroid

You did it. Just confess, and stop complaining about it like a big girl.

robin1234

Thinking about this question of whether or not a property has a central, overhead light in each room, or a wall switch by the door that controls one or more outlets, allowing the resident to set up various lights... could it be that the lack of a central overhead light is related to apartment blocks, where they avoid having cable runs above the ceiling? Because if all you have is outlets, then all the electrics can be under the floor..

Jerseygirl

I've found that it's usually only the main living/family room that doesn't have a ceiling light. Admittedly our condos are in Canada...but we have ceiling lights in all rooms apart from the living room.

paranoidandroid

As far as I know, we're all taking about houses, not apartments.

Under the floor, the concrete floor? Whereas the ceiling fan has power to where?

robin1234

Yes I forgot about ceiling fans... I remember those from when we used to visit southern climes! Anyway forget my earlier foolish foray into practicalities of construction & electrics, I'll get back to my ivory tower cogitations!

paranoidandroid

I had to give you food for thought.. I knew you were getting hungry.

nethead

I feel like that too. When I first go into a room, especially when coming into the house at night, I like to put the main over head light on, not too much to ask is it?

SultanOfSwing

Exactly. If it's too bright then don't put 100W bulbs in it (the previous owner of our house did that with all the overhead lights - even the 3-bulb ones, it feels like you're inside the sun if you put them on )

We don't always use the overhead lights (same as back in the UK) but if you're looking for your keys or something small, or doing the hoovering and cleaning, it is nice to be able to say 'put the big light on' so you can see what you're doing.

Egg and Cress

I admit - it is about the option of having the overhead light - and we have them in all rooms in our house - but I'll go get the flash light (okay, torch) rather than turn on the ceiling light. It's stupid, I know....


Yeah, maybe I did do it - but you don't know what it was that I did!!

And do you mean to say that only big girls complain???