Choose the Right LED Downlights for Your Home by Answering These Questions
Recessed downlights are often called “can lights” and they oftentimes serve as the backbone of most awesome lighting designs. When well-chosen and well-placed, they can literally disappear into the ceiling while still providing the exact amount of light you need just where you want it. Install them wrong, however, and you will get a ceiling that looks like a block of Swiss cheese with glare -inducing spots. Here are some of the questions that you should answer to make a better decision when talking business with your LED downlights AU professional.
How High Is Your Ceiling?
Beginning with an easy decision – as a general rule of thumb, the higher the ceiling is, the larger the diameter of the opening for the downlight should be. That way, if you have a taller ceiling, a larger opening on it will enable more light to push down to the room. If you have a standard 8- to 10-foot ceiling, go with fixtures with 2- to 3-inch openings. If your ceiling is 12-foot and higher, go with fixtures with 3- to 4-inch openings. In most cases, due to stronger LED lights, 5- to 8-inch openings are not necessary as they create bigger holes in your ceiling and can create more glare.
What Colour Is Your Ceiling?
If the room that you are working on with your LED downlights AU professional has a white ceiling, you have it easy. Most downlights have a white flange or flat ring on the ceiling which covers the rough edge of the ceiling’s cutout. On the other hand, if your ceiling has a colorful paint, metal panels or wood planking, it’s a good idea to switch up your downlight trim. A standard white downlight will not look good at all on a beautiful blue ceiling, for instance. So yes, in this case, choose the color and finish based on the material your ceiling is made of.
What Are You Lighting?
And let’s not forget the most important question as there can be a great difference between the lighting scheme in different rooms. For instance, fixed adjustable downlights are perfect for providing general illumination in a space. However, if you want to illuminate counters, cabinets, tables and reading areas, it’s a better idea to go with recessed adjustable downlights that enable you to focus the light where you most need it. Wall wash trim lights, on the other hand, are best for illuminating art on walls, or in floor-to-ceiling built-ins. If that’s what you need, choose a downlight fixture that has a wall wash trim that delivers smooth light up and down the wall.
