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Why *not* halogen?

I think a visit to a lighting store is in order...

You could go with positionable track lighting, with non-halogen bulbs. I know they make some neat track lights with long flexible necks, but I don't know the name. Alternatively, you could get some small pendant lights, run the wiring through the ceiling beam, and rather than hang straight down, attach the cords to the ceiling in a radial pattern out from the beam with the pendants close to the ceiling. Hope this helps.

I think you should stick to halogen, but find some nicer light fixtures. IKEA has some similiar ones that look alot better than the ones you have.

Not halogen due to the additional energy costs. This is the primary lighting in the living area and as our winter nights are long the costs end up being substantial.

I share your dislike for the halogens.

Your situation may be the one time I would support repositionable spot lights.

Personally, I've added flat ceiling fixtures to walls to resolve problems like yours in the past.

The other part of the solution will likely be floor/table lamps.

I can't tell if it is an MR16 or GU10, but both are available in LED instead of halogen at The Home Depot. So if you do find another fixture you like but has the bulbs you don't like.. there are other alternatives out there.

You could get a flex track lighting system and then add pendants to the track.

yeah, but you also get some additional heat from halogen bulbs if you have long and cold winters.

"Not halogen due to the additional energy costs."

Um, Halogen is actually more energy efficient than incandescent.

"This is the primary lighting in the living area..."

Overhead lighting should never be the primary lighting source in any living room - You need table lamps.

"Um, Halogen is actually more energy efficient than incandescent."

Um, ok, but halogen and incandescent are less efficient than fluorescent and LED. The pros and cons of those have been debated on AT at length so I won't go there, though, but it's not like halogen and incandescents are the only types of lighting out there.

i definitely agree though that table lamps would be a great addition to the living room and more efficient for tasks like reading.

"yeah, but you also get some additional heat from halogen bulbs if you have long and cold winters."

true, but you end up being so far away from the light/heat source, and heat rises... so instead of having efficient lighting and efficient heating, you get inefficient lighting and inefficient heating.

Bepsf beat me to the punch-- overhead lighting should never be your default lighting. Makes a room look flat and hideous.

These lighting fixtures are the primary ones but not the only ones. More suggestions regarding the initial question would be appreciated.

elementarian--

Not all the heat from a halogen light bulb travels skyward.

Redsmurf--

Well, since the initial question was incomplete and unclear as to your reasons and needs, some additional information (and hence, discussion) seemed to be in order.

patrick: yeah obviously not all the heat from a halogen light bulb travels skyward! but my point is, is it really sensible to defend the use of halogen lightbulbs at close to ceiling height as a source for heat on cold winter nights?!! seems kind of ridiculous to me.

If you're trying to both heat and light a room, it seems that a lightbulb that throws some heat makes some sense. Just sayin.'