An oyster light is a flush-mounted ceiling light with a round or square base and a diffuser cover that sits close to the ceiling. Named for its shell-like shape, it spreads soft, even light across a whole room and is ideal for spaces with lower ceilings where a pendant would hang too low.

Match the fitting diameter to the size of the room:

• Small (250 to 300mm) suits hallways, robes, ensuites and small bathrooms.
• Medium (300 to 400mm) suits bedrooms, standard bathrooms and studies.
• Large (400mm and above) suits living rooms, kitchens and open-plan areas.

Also check the lumen output, as a modern LED oyster delivers more light for the same size.

For most homes, yes. LED oyster lights use far less energy, last between 15,000 and 50,000 hours, and many are sealed units with no globes to replace. Traditional oysters that take replaceable globes still suit anyone who wants to change the colour temperature or wattage later, or upgrade an existing fitting with an LED conversion kit.

Warm white (3000K) gives a cosy, relaxed light that suits bedrooms and living areas. Cool white (4000K to 5000K) is brighter and crisper, which works well in kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and garages. Many of our oyster lights are tri-colour (CCT), so you can switch between warm, neutral and cool white on the fitting itself.

Some oyster lights are dimmable and some are not, so always check the product specifications. If you want to dim, choose a model listed as dimmable and pair it with a compatible LED trailing-edge dimmer. Tri-colour and sensor oysters are often non-dimmable.

Many are, as long as you choose the right rating. For bathrooms, laundries and covered outdoor areas such as alfrescos and porches, select an oyster with an IP44 rating or higher so it is protected against moisture. Standard oysters without an IP rating should only be used in dry, indoor rooms.

In Australia, yes for any hardwired 240V oyster. Installing or replacing a hardwired fitting must be done by a licensed electrician, and it is illegal to do the wiring yourself. You can safely wipe the diffuser, and on some models swap a plug-in LED module, but the connection work needs a qualified sparky.

Most people replace an old oyster with a modern slimline LED oyster of the same or a slightly larger diameter, so it covers the existing ceiling mark. If the base is sound, an LED conversion kit upgrades the internals without a full replacement. Choose a tri-colour (CCT) model so you can fine-tune the white later.

A good-quality LED oyster is rated to around 50,000 hours, which is roughly 15 years at eight hours a day. Cheaper units can fail within one to two years, so the length of the warranty is the best quality signal at the point of purchase.

Yes. A sensor oyster light has a built-in motion or microwave sensor that switches the light on when someone enters and off again after they leave, which suits garages, stairwells, entries, hallways and laundries. Check the sensor option on the product page and match the IP rating to the room.