What is a downlight?
Types of downlight
Should I use halogen or LED light bulbs?
Why choose a downlight?
How many downlights per room?
Where to place and position downlights?
Using downlights in bathrooms
How to select light temperature
How to change downlights
Should I install a dimmer with my downlight?
Downlight Buying Checklist
Quick buying tips

What is a downlight?

Downlights are one of the most common lighting options you will find in homes today. Their popularity is due to how effective they are at providing general lighting in any colour temperature while also remaining unobtrusive with a subtle profile. But with so many options, you might wonder which downlight is right for you?

Types of downlight

From size to style, LED or halogen, warm or cool; there are plenty of options for downlights that might make it intimidating to pick just one. Let’s break it down so you know each option and what it’s suitable for.

Most commonly, downlights are built with a 90mm diameter — making them the easiest to find and replace while also being budget friendly. If you’re looking at downlights, make sure to check the diameter and keep different sizes in mind as they may be more expensive or difficult to replace down the line.

Downlights come in several options, these include recessed and surface lights which come with a wide range of choices for beam angles and colour temperature. Recessed lights sit embedded in the ceiling with a subtle profile, while surface lights extend from the ceiling slightly. For beam angles, the most immediate difference is whether the light is classified as a downlight or spotlight. The difference between the two is that spotlights have a very narrow beam angle designed to light individual objects or features, while downlights have a wide angle to cover a room. With wider angles you require less lights to illuminate a room

Should I use halogen or LED light bulbs?

A common question is which bulb is better for a downlight, LED or halogen? We would firmly recommend LED bulbs, as they offer a wide range of advantages over halogen bulbs. While halogen bulbs are slightly cheaper initially, the cost of power when running them quickly overtakes the total cost of an LED bulb, with an annual cost over ten times higher than LED bulbs. Not only that, LED bulbs can also have a lifespan of up to 25 times that of Halogen bulbs, meaning they will almost never need to be replaced. Also, not all halogen lights have dimming capabilities, while almost all LED downlights do. With a wide range of customization in colour temperature for most LED lights, they can match anything a halogen light can produce. In short, there is no reason you would want a halogen bulb over LED. If your downlight already has a Halogen bulb or the downlight you’ve purchased comes with one included, replacing the bulb with an LED is simple and quick.

Why choose a downlight?

If you’re looking for a subtle lighting option that provides full, bright lighting in colour temperatures to match the room and with indoor and outdoor options, then a downlight is the perfect choice. Due to their small profile, you can arrange downlights in a variety of layouts. With considerate measuring of the room, it is possible to eliminate any unwanted shadows in the room with a stunning accuracy which is not possible with other fixtures.

How many downlights per room?

Depending on the width of your downlight’s beam angle you may need less or more lights to cover the whole room. If you’re unsure about which beam angle to choose, lights with beam angles of 90-120 degrees are the most common and versatile. Below is a visual guide of downlight angles.

Generally, wide angles will suit spacing of 1.2 to 1.5 metres apart for each light. With tighter beam angles you will want to space them 1 metre away from each other.

Where to place and position downlights?

Downlights are by far most popular in bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms The reason that they are so common in kitchens and bathrooms is due to how many of them have high IP ratings to resist moisture, dust and water damage. In kitchens this means any mess, stray steam or oil won’t damage the light and will be easy to clean. Similarly, bathroom downlights can resist steam and water while providing effective lighting.

Using downlights in bathrooms

If you’re selecting a downlight for a bathroom, all options need to have an IP rating of at least IPX4 to protect from splashing water, so a rating of IP44 would be acceptable. Next, you want to think about colour temperature to match your preferred feel. A cooler option would provide a more refreshing, natural feel while warmer options create that cozy atmosphere you might find with a hot bath and lit candles. For more information on bathroom lighting, see our guide here.

How to select light temperature

When selecting a downlight, keep the function of the room in mind. For a room that often gets hot, you will want to have a cool white temperature. For living spaces or rooms where you want a cozy ambience and warmth, you will want a warmer temperature for the light. If you’re unsure, a warm white light ranges from 3000k to 3600k and is most popular in homes with a warmer colour pallet — such as beige walls. If you have cool colours in your home like grey walls, cooler options between 5000k and 6000k would be more suitable. A good all-rounder temperature is 4000k, which resembles a skylight and remains cool and natural. Luckily, many LED downlights have colour temperature changing switches installed in them, these allow you to customise the light to suit your preference. Be sure to check what temperature ranges your light includes and if those suit your home before buying a downlight.

How to change downlights

If you’re using an LED downlight, you’ll find you may not need to change the light for decades.  If however, you are using halogen bulbs, or are wanting to switch a halogen bulb for an LED, the process is simple and quick. For globe downlights, simply twist the centre ring and pull it out, then replace the bulb and refit the ring. Other designs will usually be able to be pulled from their installation socket by slowly pulling down while holding the edges of the light. Be careful to do this process slowly so as not to damage your ceiling and to avoid hitting your fingers with the springs in the light.

Should I install a dimmer with my downlight?

Most LED downlights come with dimming capabilities. If you want to utilise this you may need to install a dimmer with the light, these come with several things one needs to look out for. The best way to find a dimmer for your light is to see if the supplier has a dimmer compatibility list. If the brand does not have this list, or if your light does not appear on any list, an extensive period of trial and error may be needed before you find a working dimmer. Incompatibility between a light and dimmer can cause incorrect lighting ranges and flickering. Be careful and try your best to find out about the compatibility of the dimmer and lights you are buying.

Quick buying tips

• Measure your space to see how many downlights you need and the distance between them
• Consider different colour temperatures to suit the room
• Make sure you have an adequate IP rating for your downlight if installing in the bathroom, kitchen or outdoors
• Make sure if desiring a dimmer to check the compatibility with your light
• Ensure you have spoken to an electrician before installing your downlight

 Now that you've read our guide please check out our collection of downlights.