The lighting of your home should serve multiple purposes. Not only is lighting meant to be functional, but it can also be used to create ambiance and highlight some of your home’s best features.
This being said, there are a few rooms in the home that could benefit from downlighting, also known as recessed lights. Downlighting serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose.
Here’s how to incorporate this type of lighting in key areas around the house.
What to Consider Before Installing Downlighting
The lighting of your home should accomplish three main objectives: functionality (task lighting), illumination, and mood lighting (ambient lighting).
The great thing about downlighting or recessed lights is that it achieves all three of the above objectives. Downlighting is also neat, and sleek, offering a beautifully minimalist appearance.
Due to this, they can be placed almost anywhere inside (and outside) your home to create gentle and shadow-free light in any room. An added bonus is that LED downlights consume less energy, so this means you save on your energy bill.
But before you go ahead and install downlights, here’s what to consider first:
- Ensure that there are no joists, pipes, or wires in the ceiling that would interfere with the downlighting installation
- Use a plaster saw to cut neat holes in the ceiling before re-plastering for a sleek finish — learn more about how to fit downlights here
- Carefully consider your lighting placement — think about which areas of the room need light most
While downlights are best-suited to most rooms, they work really well in larger rooms or rooms with low ceilings.
They are especially efficient at lighting up the space, making the room feel warm, without being stuffy. This also helps to lift the ceiling, creating the illusion of more space.
The Best Rooms For Downlighting
Due to the fact that downlighting is so good at illuminating larger rooms, you may want to consider installation in the following areas of your home:
- Large, open-plan kitchens
- Large living room spaces
- A large master bedroom and en-suite bathroom
- Dining areas – both indoor and outdoor
- Patio/outdoor entertainment areas
Downlighting can be evenly distributed across your ceiling, meaning you can install more lamps than you would any other form of lighting.
Ultimately, light is able to reach all corners of the room, without lighting fixtures becoming excessive or obnoxious.
A Quick Guide on How to Install Downlights
In order to install downlighting, you will need to cut neat holes in your ceiling for each downlight, or lamp. As mentioned, the best tool for this job is a plaster saw.
Second, you’ll need to install a junction box in the area you are embedding your lighting. The junction box must be placed in the ceiling above each light fixture as it contains all necessary cables and wires, which are connected to your main power supply.
Make sure to double-check the insulation contact level (IC) of each downlight. It must be compatible with the type of insulation used in your ceiling. But before you dive into the physical tasks, you’ll need to plan first:
Why You Should Choose LED Bulbs
The general rule-of-thumb when choosing LED bulbs is to choose the right power wattage in order to avoid hazards, such as fire.
If you choose a bulb with a greater power recommendation than needed, this can pose a fire risk. LED light bulbs are great because they give off more light, and consume less energy than other bulbs variations.
Essentially, you can maximize your light output with LED bulbs, reduce your need for maintenance, and save on energy costs. LED bulbs also keep cool and protect your home from fire hazards!
Dust and Water Exposure
If you plan on installing downlights in a bathroom or outdoors, you’ll need to find bulbs that can withstand water and dust exposure.
This is generally indicated by the bulb’s protection level, also known as an IP. Make sure you go with an IP rating of 65 for both bathroom and outdoor downlighting.
Choosing the Right Size LED Bulbs
You can find a variety of different sized LED bulbs on the market today. So do your homework beforehand and choose the right size to suit each room.
If you’re looking for a more elegant, modern feel, it’s best to go with smaller downlights, rather than larger versions. But, this is also dependent on the size of the room.
If the room is on the larger side, it may be better to go with bigger downlights in order to supply sufficient lighting throughout the room.
When choosing the size and amount of downlights, create a lighting layout for each room. This way you can determine which areas need the most light and where to place your bulbs.
Carefully Consider Spacing
Generally, you want to place your downlights at least 1.5-2 feet from each wall. From there, you can determine the space between each downlight. To do this, simply measure the height of the room, and divide that number.
So, if your ceiling is 12-feet from the floor, you should leave a 6-foot space between each downlight. It may even be useful to draw a map of the ceiling and specifically plot out each spot for each downlight.
How to Determine Lighting/Color Temperature
The color temperature of a light bulb is measured in kelvin. This color temperature is what affects the overall color or hue of the room when it’s lit up.
When it comes to the bedroom or communal living areas, opt for a warm-colored bulb. This gives off a calming and welcoming ambiance in these rooms.
For the kitchen, you want to go for a natural, white light. This is a good way to highlight the best areas of your kitchen. It also provides strong, functional light that aids in kitchen tasks.
For other rooms in your home, such as an office, and bedrooms, go for a cool, white light. This casts a soothing, gentle hue around the room and can help to improve focus.
Brush Up on Your Property Market Knowledge
Downlighting is a sure-fire way to add value to your property in today’s market because it’s multi-functional, modern, and sustainable.
If you’re looking to learn more about the property market, real estate marketing, or require the services of a developer, be sure to explore this site for more
