When it comes to lighting one of the rooms in your home, the world is pretty much your oyster. LED downlighting is a popular choice because of their flexibility – you can create a focal point or you can combine them and light the whole room.
So, how many would you need?
The truth is that there is no simple answer to this question, as different rooms have different needs. A room may require more or less lighting depending on the size, use and type of decoration.
For example, a kitchen where the food is prepared may need more light than say, a living room, which usually has more of a relaxed atmosphere.
Having said that, there are some hints that can act as a guide, to help you achieve the perfect light level when using LED recessed downlights.
The first, and perhaps the most basic thing you can do, is make a plan.
Your plan does not need to be complex, simply sketch out a design and create the plans of your room. Getting ideas down on paper before you start makes things much easier later when you come to work out exactly where you want your lights to be positioned.
Remember to include your furniture in the plan, as this is essential to finding the focal points of the room. You may also need Downlight Covers to provide additional insulation, especially if your installing downlights in a loft. For more information, visit a site like www.thermahooddirect.com/
As well as the general atmosphere, downlights can be used to draw attention to certain areas of the room. Work out which areas need more light and use this as a starting point.
For example, if you plan layout in the bathroom, you may want to group lights above the sink where you need good visibility. Or if you opt for low lighting in the living room, you may have a certain reading chair that need more light.
A general guideline for downlight distance is that you should take your ceiling height and divide by 2. For example, if your ceiling is 8 feet high, then you should place your downlights about 4 feet apart from each other.
It is important to consider that this is only a very general rule and should be used with caution. You might decide that to space your lights closer to each other or further apart depending on the colour of your décor and the size and strength of your light fittings and their purpose.
You must always remember that even though it’s better to ‘overlight’, rather than the risk of not having enough light, you can always use dimmer switches will allow you to adjust the brightness level.
You ideally need to leave a gap of three feet between the edge of the ceiling and your downlights. The reason is simple – if you place a downlight too close to the wall, they will create unwanted shadows that really can make a room seem smaller than it is. A distance of about 3 feet will allow light to reflect off the walls and make the room feel lighter and airier.
