How To Use Recessed LED Downlights in a Modern Home

Ambient light is an important element in the layered light of rooms, and downlights are a popular choice for them. With their versatility, it is easy to incorporate ceiling downlights into any room of any decor style or lighting need. In this article, we’ll explore modern LED downlights and answer some common questions surrounding them.

 

What Are LED Downlights?

LED downlights, sometimes also referred to as LED downlighters, are recessed lights that are placed in the ceiling. Ceiling downlights come in a variety of styles and designs, making them a versatile lighting option for various styles of rooms. Recessed downlight fixtures are fitted into the ceiling, meaning they sit flush with it and remain unobtrusive.

 

Why Use LED Downlight Fittings?

Modern LED downlights possess benefits that exceed the perks of traditional bulbs, such as halogen bulbs. When you choose LED lights, down lights in your space will not only provide illumination but also bring practical benefits.

 

• ENERGY EFFICIENT. LED bulbs output most of their energy as light, as opposed to halogen bulbs which output most of it as heat. Because LED lights consume less energy to operate, they are energy efficient. This fact not only makes it possible to lower your carbon footprint, but it may also lower the cost of your energy bills.

• LONG-LASTING LIFE. The average life of a traditional halogen bulb hovers around 1,000 hours. LED lights, on the other hand, tend to last a minimum of 20,000 hours.

• LOW MAINTENANCE. Because LED lights last so long, you won’t have to replace them as often. This can also contribute to the lower price of using LED bulbs over time.

• LED lights come in a number of different colour temperatures and brightness levels. By being able to choose the brightness and the warmth or coolness of a light, you stay in control over the way your space looks.

 

Advice on Different LED Downlight Colour Temperatures

As mentioned, modern down lights often use LED bulbs. With recessed LED downlight fixtures comes the ability to choose their colour temperature.

Colour temperature refers to a light’s warmth or coolness levels. They are measured in Kelvin units. When a light has a lower Kelvin rating, you can expect warmer light temperatures. On the other hand, higher Kelvin ratings indicate a cool light.

There is a large spectrum of colour temperature options when it comes to concealed spotlights and other types of concealed ceiling lighting. The colour temperature you choose for your recessed ceiling light comes down to personal preference, but each temperature has its place.

If you are installing a concealed spotlight in a commercial environment such as an office building or retail environment, cool light tends to be better. Cool LED light in a ceiling spotlight has been shown to boost productivity in offices. In retail environments, they better highlight the products on display.

Conversely, warmer colour temperatures are often preferred for domestic settings. Warm colour temperatures are inviting and easy on the eyes but remain bright and clear enough for you to still be able to see easily.

 

How Powerful Are Recessed LED Downlights?

LED lights are every bit as powerful, if not more so, than traditional lights. Whereas old-fashioned lights had their brightness levels measured in wattage, LEDs measure theirs in lumens. Lumens are much more accurate in determining the power or brightness of a light.

For example, a 220-lumen light is equivalent to a 25-watt incandescent bulb. A 1300-lumen light equates to a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

 

Do LED Downlights Need To Be Fire Rated ?

Fire rated downlights are fixtures designed to slow the spread of fire when compared to standard downlights. Any concealed light in rooms requires a hole cut into the ceiling to install it. This immediately reduces the existing fire rating of that ceiling. In this way, the hole where the concealed ceiling lights go may allow a fire to spread more quickly.

If your recessed LED spotlight or other concealed light is not fire rated, this could pose a risk to your home or business. Having fire rated lights may give you more time to flee the building in the event of a fire and stop it from quickly spreading through floors.

For this reason, it is recommended that your concealed lighting be fire rated. Some are even rated at 30, 60 or 90 minutes, which indicates how long they can offer protection.

 

Can You Use Recessed LED Downlights in a Bathroom?

Downlights can be used in any room: from wardrobe spotlights to help you see your clothing better to kitchen spotlights that assist with preparing and cooking food.

Downlights can just as easily be used in a bathroom. A recessed spotlight over the shower can add plenty of light to see, for instance.

In order to add spotlights to a bathroom, it’s important that you first know the zones of such a space. Zones indicate what lights can be placed where.

 

• Zone 0 – This zone refers to the area inside the shower or bath. The fittings here have to have high IP ratings, such as IP65.

• Zone 1 – This area sits right above the shower or bath where you might want to place a spotlight. Lights here should also have an IP65 rating.

• Zone 2 – This area surrounds the bath’s perimeter and requires a minimum IP44 rating.

 

How To Space Recessed LED Spotlights in a Room and How Many You Should Use

To determine how many lights you will need in a room, you’ll need to determine how many lumens the space needs to be well lit. This will depend on a few factors, such as the:

 

• Colours in the room
• Height of the ceiling
• Purpose of the room
• Shape and size of the room

 

With this in mind, you can also measure the room to figure it out. Begin by measuring the square footage of the room. Then, multiply its depth by its width.

Multiply that number by 1.5, which will give you an idea of the wattage needed. Translate that to lumens and then choose lights that will fill that lumen count.

When it comes to spacing out the lights, it is recommended that you position them about two feet from the walls to avoid any shadows. Then, you can divide the height of the ceiling by two to decide how far apart to place the lights from one another. For example, if your room is 8 feet high, you should place lights four feet apart.

 

LED Ceiling Spotlight Beam Angles Explained

A beam angle is a way to measure the manner in which light is distributed from its source. Traditional lights often have a 360-degree beam angle, but LED lights tend to have a range of them.

Most LED spotlights and recessed lights possess a rather narrow 40-degree beam angle on average. You can consider anything within five degrees of this to be the standard. There are wider and narrower beam angles to choose from, which serve different applications depending on the need.

The only downside of having a wider beam angle is that the light is not as intense. A wider beam angle provides a greater wash of light instead of a bright and intense streak of it like a smaller beam angle produces.

 

• 15 DEGREES. This beam angle brings concentrated light, which is perfect for accent lights and for highlighting things such as plants, pottery and artwork.

• 25 DEGREES. This narrow beam angle also generates intense light. It’s good for showing off smaller details in a room or illuminating surfaces. For this reason, lights with a 25-degree beam angle are commonly used in kitchens.

• 36 DEGREES. This beam angle is ideal for both office and home use. It offers a softer, gentler wash of light without losing its intensity.

• 60 DEGREES. Best for larger rooms, this beam angle covers a larger area of space with softened intensity. It is sometimes called floodlighting.

 

How To Use Recessed LED Spotlights on a Sloped Ceiling 

Recessed LED downlights are an attractive choice for those who love minimalist design. They are an especially stylish choice for sloped and vaulted ceilings. Using recessed spotlights on your sloped ceiling maintains the open atmosphere that this ceiling style affords without taking away from the clean architectural lines.

Due to the angle of a sloped ceiling, you may worry that recessed downlights LED fixtures are incompatible. Fortunately, that is not the case. If the pitch of your ceiling is low, then having standard recessed LED ceiling lights installed should not pose an issue.

When deciding what size light you want to install, you can choose according to the scale of the room. Larger rooms need recessed ceiling spotlights around six inches, while smaller rooms will benefit from fixtures that are four inches.

Alternatively, you can use smaller light fixtures no matter the size of the room. Small fixtures blend in well with the ceiling and aren’t as noticeable. The size of light you ultimately choose will depend on your aesthetic and design goals.

Much like with a light on flat ceilings, it is recommended that you take into account the room’s dimensions to determine where to place your LED recessed spotlights on a slope. You want to ensure an even distance between the lights along the length of the ceiling.

 

Why Dimmable LED Recessed Downlights Are a Great Choice 

Adjustable lighting fixtures are a win no matter where you’re installing them. Dimmable lighting allows you to better control the brightness in a room at any given time. With dimmable fixtures, you can have the perfect light levels for reading, studying, working, doing chores, relaxing or any other activity you please all in the same room.

Whether you want to change the light levels according to the time of day or want to create moody accent lighting at night, dimmable lights are the way to go. Dimmable recessed ceiling lighting can make the transition from day to night smoother in terms of the lighting levels in your home.

Everyone has different preferences about brightness levels in a room, so adjustable brightness downlights will allow you the most comfort. This transforms your living room or bedroom into a more relaxing space.

Not only this, but dimmable integrated ceiling lights are also more energy efficient. A dimmer light uses less power, therefore being a smaller drain on your energy bill. Furthermore, you may also be able to extend the lifespan of your lights. Using bulbs at a lower capacity than they are capable of will consume less wattage, prolonging the overall life of the bulbs.

 

Why Are LED Recessed Ceiling Lights The Most Energy Efficient?

Energy efficient light fixtures are coming to be an increasingly important element of lighting for homeowners and business owners alike. Energy saving ceiling lighting is not only good for lessening costs on your electricity bill, but its low energy consumption is also good for lowering your carbon footprint.

LED lights in general are more energy efficient than other types of traditional lighting. They use 80 percent less power as opposed to halogen bulbs, which makes this possible. Beyond that, their efficacy allows them to produce more light per watt of power, ensuring ample lighting is generated for minimal energy input.

 

Ideas for Designing a Home Lighting Scheme Featuring Recessed LED Spotlights

Recessed LED spotlights can be incorporated into any room in the house seamlessly. Here, we’ll explore how to go about incorporating recessed downlighters into your home.

First, you’ll want to consider the different functions of each space:

 

• LIVING ROOM. Plan to add layered lighting, including ambient lights, directional recessed lights for task lighting and accent lighting. You may want to supplement the ceiling lighting with floor lamps and wall lights.

Be sure to distribute the downlights evenly in order to avoid any dark spots. Elevate the vertical space in the room using wall-washing lights to supplement them.

• DINING ROOM. Use dimmable LED lights in the dining room to allow you to dine under dim lights for a romantic evening. You can also install accent recessed lights above a statement dining table to create a focal point.

 

• BATHROOM. LED bathroom recessed downlights can provide beautiful ambient lighting in modern bathrooms. Supplement it with vanity lighting and waterproof shower downlights.

 

• BEDROOM. Modernising recessed lights in the bedroom can change the entire feel of your bedroom for the better. Use dimmable ceiling lights to create a more relaxing ambience. Add bedside lamps and reading lights to layer the lighting in the room.

 

• OFFICE. Since the home office is a task-heavy space, you’ll need to be sure your lighting accommodates this. Use focused recessed lighting over desks to ensure plenty of task lighting to get work done.

 

• KITCHEN. You can use recessed lights both as ambient and task lighting in the kitchen. Place recessed lights under cabinets and over countertops to give yourself plenty of illumination to perform tasks.

In each room, you can define separate areas with lighting zones. This is a particularly good idea for open plan homes. Use recessed spotlights strategically placed to zone out different areas in the room through brightness levels.

Focused downlights in task-heavy areas are always a good idea. Get creative with the style of lights you use in different zones, such as mixing up circular and square recessed LED downlights.

You should also consider the colour temperature of the lights you’re going to use. Generally speaking, domestic settings benefit from warmer colour temperatures. Choose lights between 3000k and 3300k for best results.

 

Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting LED Downlight Fittings 

Be sure you get your downlighting right by avoiding these common mistakes.

 

• DON’T ORDER AN INCOMPATIBLE LIGHT. There is a huge variety of LED downlights out there for you to choose from. It can be easy to choose a light that is not well suited for your home. In order to ensure the best results, consider the decor and design style of your room, and choose materials and finishes that work well with them.

 

• BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE ROOM SIZE. Pay attention to the lumen count to get an idea of how bright and intense the light is going to be. The more lumens there are, the brighter the light will be. Keep in mind that desk and task lighting requires around 50 lumens, floors need 20 lumens per square foot and raised surfaces like tables will require 30 lumens per square foot.

 

• AVOID CHEAP MATERIALS. It is worth it to spend a little extra to get quality fixtures. If not, you run the risk of constant, expensive maintenance or outright replacing them, which can be very costly.

 

• PAY ATTENTION TO THE IP RATING. If you plan to use your lights in a bathroom, you’ll need properly rated lights to do so. Not getting waterproof or water-resistant lighting can damage your light fixtures in a humid bathroom.

 

• UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LUMENS AND WATTAGES. Lumens are how LED lights measure brightness, while wattage measures brightness for fluorescent, incandescent and halogen bulbs.

LED lights are much more efficient than traditional bulbs. This means for each watt, an LED bulb will output as much as 80 percent more illumination. Be sure you aren’t simply buying a light with an equivalent wattage count. Otherwise, chances are it will be far too bright.

 

 

Ideas for Downlights

 

1. CSL022 5 Watt Round Recessed LED Downlight Fitting

The CSL022 5 Watt Round Recessed LED Downlight Fitting is a simple and elegant downlight for your home. It has a sleek metallic exterior finished in your choice of black, rose gold or white. The product outputs 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it ideal for domestic settings. It has an IP rating of IP20.

 

2. CSL024 5 Watt Square Recessed LED Downlight Fitting

Enjoy a more modern look in your home with the CSL024 5 Watt Square Recessed LED Downlight Fitting. This downlight has a square shape with clean lines and angles that contribute to the contemporary nature of your room. It is available in rose gold, chrome, white or black finishes and outputs 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light. The light is IP20 rated.

3. LDC734 5 Watt Anti Glare Recessed LED Downlight

The LDC734 5 Watt Anti Glare Recessed LED Downlight is unique from many other downlights with its anti-glare properties. The LED bulb sits deep inside the fixture, preventing glare when you look up at it. The light shines 430 lumens of gentle light and is IP20 rated.

 

4. LDC724 8 Watt 800 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight

With its sleek square shape and anti-glare design, the LDC724 8 Watt 800 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight is modern in every way. The ultra-bright light outputs 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it great for larger spaces. With a rating of IP20, the product is well-suited to most indoor applications.

 

5. LDC701 5 Watt White Gimbal Tilting Recessed LED Ceiling Spotlight

Thanks to its ability to be tilted and turned, the LDC701 5 Watt White Gimbal Tilting Recessed LED Ceiling Spotlight is a good option when you need accent lighting. The fitting is able to be rotated 350 degrees as well as tilted up to 60 degrees to give you better control over where the light shines. The 430 lumens shine at a 24-degree beam angle.