Table of Contents
LED display lights are an integral part of your retail shop lighting. Small items such as jewellery and other products with fine details need enough light to be seen to promote sales, especially through glass.
In this article, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about interior cabinet lighting so you can ensure your displays are up to par.
What Types of Lighting Are Best For Display Cabinets?
It is generally recommended that you use LED lights for glass display cabinets. LED lights will give you control over important elements such as CRI, colour temperature and brightness. LED lights also have a practically non-existent heat emission. This is especially important for jewellery display lighting.
There are a variety of different LED lights for display cabinets to choose from, including:
- TRACK LIGHTS. Track lights are one of the most commonly used styles for glass cabinet lighting. These consist of small light heads attached to a track, which allows you to adjust the angle of the lights on a whim. For cabinets that have rotating inventory, this is especially convenient.
- RECESSED DISPLAY LIGHTING. Recessed lighting is installed in the ceiling or sides of the display case, right into the surface itself. This creates a flush, low-profile appearance which is useful in display cases that don’t have a lot of room.
- POST LIGHTS. Similar to track lights, post style cabinet display lights have a vertical orientation where light heads are installed along the post. These are great for display cabinets that are taller than they are wide. They are also ideal for tiered display cabinets to avoid shadows.
- PUCK LIGHTS. Puck lights are ideal for smaller cabinets where saving space is important. They attach to the top or interior sides of the display cabinet and shine focused illumination. This allows you to spotlight certain items in a cabinet.
- STRING LIGHTS. LED string lights allow you to line the interior of the cabinet with illumination without having fixtures in the way. These are usually run along the sides and tops of the cabinet, shining light all around from a concealed light source.
What is The Best Colour Temperature For Display Case Lights?
Colour temperature is an important element to consider when it comes to showcase display lights. It is the metric to describe how warm or cool a light is, and is measured in units Kelvin. The spectrum ranges from 1,000k to 10,000k, with warm light towards the bottom and cool light towards the top.
Different colour temperatures are appropriate for different uses. Even LED lights for display cabinets need different colour temperatures depending on what’s inside.
In a display case full of gold jewellery or warm-coloured gemstones, glass cabinet lights with a colour temperature between 2200k to 3000k warm white is recommended. This helps draw out the oranges and reds of the items within and makes them more noticeable.
For cabinets that have diamonds or other special jewellery you want to display, 5000k to 6500k lighting is recommended. This is often referred to as “daylight” colour and gives the most accurate representation of the items. It also improves the sparkle factor of the gems, giving them a more attractive and opulent appeal.
Any other kind of jewellery or similar items tend to work best with cool white light. This tends to run around 4100k. It is ideal for general purposes since it is more neutral in appearance.
How Do You Avoid Glare and Reflections When Using Display Case Lighting?
Glass cabinet illumination requires striking a balance between brightness without causing glare. Avoiding glare is crucial if you want customers to be able to see what’s inside clearly. There are a few ways you can prevent glare in your display cabinet lighting.
Non-Reflective and Matte Backdrops
Be sure your display cabinet has a matte finish inside. Glossy finishes tend to cause glare, especially when looked at head-on. Matte finishes will absorb some of the light and prevent glare from occurring. Shelves and back panels both should be matte to achieve the best results.
Angled Lighting
By positioning the lights at an angle instead of right in front of or above the lights, you can prevent glare. This works by directing light away from the line of sight while still providing ample illumination. Using angled lighting will highlight products without making any direct reflections on the glass.
Play around with different angles to determine which angle provides the best results for your specific display cabinet LED lighting. Adjustable fixtures, such as track lights, will give you the most control of the light angle.
Anti-glare or Frosted Glass
Some fixtures take glare into consideration and use diffusers to spread the light more evenly. By scattering the light, there is less of a chance of harsh reflections, especially with glass cases. Besides improving the overall visibility, it also enhances the overall appearance of the display case.
Choose lights with built-in anti-glare features to get these results. You could also buy diffusers separately and attach them to the lights.
Indirect Lighting
Reflecting lights off the sides and top of the cabinet can eliminate glare. This provides even, soft illumination that showcases the items without using any glare-causing direct light paths.
Strip lights on the back or edges of the display case can create indirect light sources. You can also specifically install reflective panels or materials to intentionally bounce the light around.
Dimmable Lights
A simple way to eliminate glare when using bright lights is to make the lights less bright. Dimmers allow you to control the brightness of display cabinet light fittings so you can create a balanced look.
Control them using dimmer switches outside of the cabinet, or connect them to a smart system for even more precise control.
What Maintenance do Display Cabinet Lights Need?
LED display light fixtures will need the same sort of general maintenance that other lights might need. In order to ensure your retail showcase lights work their best for as long as possible, keep these maintenance tips in mind.
Clean Them Regularly
Be sure that you inspect the lights on occasion and clear away any dust or debris. Using a damp cloth, wipe away any debris that might be blocking the light from shining fully from the lens.
Avoid High Temperatures
One way to avoid damage and prolong the life of a display light is to avoid heat. Fortunately, LED lights give off very little heat. Even so, having a vent at the back of the cabinet to allow excess heat to dissipate is a good idea.
Look for Damage
When cleaning the lights, check them for things that need your attention: faulty wiring, burned out bulbs or cracked housings.
Will my Display Cabinet Get Hot Inside When I Use Display Lights?
Many people wonder about the heat from their display light damaging the items within. This is an especially big concern for those using exhibit display lighting and don’t want to damage artwork and sculptures.
The risk of the inside of the display case getting hot is only really present when using incandescent and halogen bulbs. Both of these bulb types give off a high amount of heat, which can cause warping, fading or discoloration of the items inside the case. Fluorescent lights may cause this issue, too, but to a smaller degree.
Using LED display shelf lighting will help you avoid the issue altogether. LED bulbs are incredibly energy efficient and do not use heat to create light. Therefore, they output minimal heat and are not going to damage items in the case.
Take a few extra steps to protect the case from overheating by:
- monitoring the temperatures
- including ventilation
- operating lights on a schedule
How Long Will LED Cabinet Lights Last?
LED lights are famous for their long lifespans. As opposed to the life of halogen bulbs, which tend to average around 1,000 hours, LED bulbs go for tens of thousands. Due to their long operating times, you won’t have to worry about replacing the bulb any time soon. In fact, you can expect to use them for decades without needing new ones.
What Are The Pros And Cons of Battery-powered LED Cabinet Lighting?
Accent lighting for displays can get tricky when it comes to actually powering the lights. Threading wires discreetly into a display case is something many shop owners struggle with. Battery-powered LED lights are an alternative, but they are not without their drawbacks.
Pros of Battery-Powered LED Lights
- EASY INSTALLATION. Without the need to attach lights to wires, they can be installed in minutes with ease.
- PORTABLE. Independent of wiring, these lights can be moved around the display case on a whim.
- VERSATILE. You can find battery-powered LED lights in any number of styles, such as strip lights, puck lights and spot lights.
- SAFETY. Since there is no electricity going to the lights, you don’t have to worry about electrical fires or short-circuiting.
Cons of Battery-Powered LED Lights
- LIMITED USAGE TIMES. Battery-powered lights aren’t going to last as long as wired lights. They’ll require frequent battery changes, which can get expensive over time.
- BRIGHTNESS ISSUES. LEDs that run on batteries may not be as bright as wired lights. This could be an issue if you have jewellery in your cases that need bright, clear lighting.
- HIGHER UPFRONT COST. Higher quality battery powered lights will cost more money to purchase. Pair this with constant battery changes and you’re looking at steep costs per light.
Why is CRI Important For Retail Display Cabinet Lighting?
CRI or colour rendering index is a way to indicate how accurately a light shows the colour of an item. It measures this ability on a scale that ranges from 0 to 100. Higher numbers indicate a clearer colour reading. Lower numbers indicate the opposite.
Having a high CRI is crucial in retail shops, especially when it comes to high-ticket items such as jewellery. Good CRI ratings can show off the details of the jewellery or other small items, which is important for items behind a glass case.
CRI can also change how a potential customer sees the product for the worst. Bad CRI may negatively influence their decision to buy. Choosing lights with a higher CRI may also future-proof the sale by ensuring the product looks the same in the case as it does when they take it out into the world.
Display Cabinet Lighting Ideas
The LSD016 1 Watt Black LED Cabinet Display Spot Light is a compact display case light head for display cases of any size. Measuring only 20 millimeters by 20 millimeters, it can easily be affixed anywhere on the top or sides of a case. This fixture shines 70 lumens of 6000k cool white light, making it especially good for jewellery. The light shines at a 30 degree beam angle so you can stay in control of the illumination. It is manufactured using high quality aluminium given a neutral black finish.
Light your tall display cabinets with the LSD017 2 Watt Black Twin LED Cabinet Display Spot Lights. The post light features two heads attached to a 183-millimeter post. From the lights shine a total of 140 lumens of 6000k cool white light. The 30 degree beam angle allows you to control precisely where the light is shining. Each light head measures only 20 millimeters by 20 millimeters, taking up minimal space. It is fashioned out of premium aluminium and is finished in black.
Save space in your display cabinets with the LDC367 3 Watt Black Triple Recessed Cabinet Display Spotlights. This recessed fixture features a strip with three light heads attached to it, each of which can be twisted and tilted into the preferred position. The product generates a total of 210 lumens of 6000k cool white light at a 30 degree beam angle. Overall, the light measures 160 millimeters by 40 millimeters and is crafted out of durable aluminium.
