What are Downlights?

Downlights help improve a room's lighting plan, supporting the central fixture from hidden areas or within the ceiling. They affect the ambience and mood, providing the illusion of light coming directly from the ceiling. Recessed downlights are an energy-efficient and budget-friendly solution that also saves space. While their shapes are mostly round, some LED downlights come in a variety of choice, depending on the bulb used. 

Use of Downlights

LED downlights can be installed in a living or dining room, kitchen, or bedroom, as a support to the mounted LED ceiling lights or instead of them. While installation of wall lamps is more straightforward, recessed downlights create a more modern and stylish atmosphere.

Kitchen Downlights

Layered lighting is often an ideal design solution, from both a visual and practical point of view. The blend of direct and indirect lighting is usually the best choice. Kitchen is a workspace and lighting there should meet the diverse needs of food preparation, with some areas needing more focus than others. 

Suspended linear lighting and various types of pendant lights may look attractive, but not everyone likes to have hanging fixtures in a utilitarian space. Recessed led downlights never stand in the way and serve the function flawlessly, without compromising on appearance. 

Recommended LED colour temperature is 4000k for effective, natural-looking light.

Bathroom Downlights

Recessed downlights are ceiling spotlights, very convenient for use in a bathroom. Strategic planning and thoughtful spacing will ensure even distribution of light, accents on vital points, and an adequate level of shadows and contrast. The crisp white light reflected in polished surfaces will enhance the atmosphere, making a bathroom appear light and airy. 

Living Room Downlights

In an open plan living area, they can add to a visual definition of each zone. The rule of the thumb says that each fixture should be placed approximately 2 feet away from the walls and spaced evenly. Dimmable LED downlights are an excellent choice for these areas. With dimmer switches to control the different zones, it will become the vital element of the overall atmosphere. 

Types

• LED lamp encased in a downlight shell: Not available in a plethora of variations, but this is the most cost-effective solution.
• LED downlight with a light source integrated into the fixture: Mid-range option, with reasonably long life span.
• LED downlight with a minimised glare: Long Lasting, with many options and varieties, also the highest in cost among surface-mounted downlights.

LED VS Halogen Downlights

LED downlights are significantly more energy-saving than halogen downlights. That also means a lower carbon footprint. The same applies to maintenance and longevity costs - an LED bulb can last up to 10 years, with low maintenance requirements. 

Another advantage of recessed downlights is that their cool light has no adverse effect on fabrics, artwork, or other sensitive objects.

Brightness Level or Lumens

It's essential to keep in mind that high wattage of LED downlights doesn't imply high lumens, as these are not linearly dependent. While the brightness of incandescent light bulbs was indeed determined by the number of watts, with LED bulbs, it's expressed strictly in lumens.

That means, two LED bulbs of the same wattage can provide a different quality of light and level of intensity. Typically, LED light bulbs for domestic use feature a wattage between 5W-15W, and emit up to 500 lumens. Compared to fluorescent light of the same intensity, LED consumes only half the energy. 

Colour Temperature

LED downlights feature a range of colour temperatures, which means they provide a light spectre from cold, crisp white, to the white so warm that it appears almost yellow. Colour temperature is measured in kelvins; in general, 4000k and above provide cool white light, while below 4000k is warm white.

Cool white is a better choice for utilitarian spaces, where productivity matters, to improve the focus levels. Warm white is relaxing and easier on the eye. These shades may be adjusted to fit with the room's colour palette and specific needs of inhabitants.

Dimmable Downlights

Many downlights come with dimmers. It's an excellent option for rooms where the atmosphere can be adapted to the mood. Simultaneously, dimming optimises lighting’s energy efficiency. 

Downlight Beam Angle

A beam angle determines the illuminated zone, it’s the degree between the light fixture and a surface the ray of light will hit. The bigger the distance and the grade, the more diffused the illumination of the target. A typical beam angle is 36 degrees; however, high-quality smart downlights are available in a broader selection between narrow and wide angles.

Downlight Trim

Trim of the downlight is a plate that covers the cut out hole. A thin trim with a narrow finished front will provide minimum visual impact. While it doesn't affect the performance of the light, the trim comes in a variety of finishes to effortlessly blend with many ceiling designs.

Fire Rated Downlights

Fire-rated downlights are becoming more important as consumers become more safety-conscious. Fire-rated downlights meet stricter fire safety standards than standard downlights, to ensure extra protection.

Downlight LifeSpan

While halogen downlights last for 2,000 hours on average, the lifespan of LED downlights is 50,000 hours, which makes them quite a sustainable option. 

If you need help to find the best downlights for your home, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.