ᐅ Planning for LED Recessed Lights – Request for Advice

And once again the advice ... mark your living plan, especially in the kitchen. The recessed lights shown there seem rather random—where exactly are they supposed to provide lighting?

One more piece of different advice: Please stop calling them "spots" when you actually mean recessed downlights, which can indeed provide broad, even lighting. Whether you choose LED panels or smaller round downlights is a matter of personal preference.

Regarding dimmers: I would always recommend using them, and if possible, consult a more competent electrician who won’t spread misleading information. Of course, if you want a reliable setup, it usually costs more than the standard, super-cheap GU10 sockets with bulbs from China, but it’s worth it. In general, I think the number of recessed downlights you have planned should be sufficient (plus wall lamps, floor lamps, and other ambient lighting), provided the downlights are chosen correctly. For example, in about 50m² (540 sq ft) of living/dining area, we have only eight dimmable recessed downlights (four in the living area, four in the dining area) that deliver enough power and a wide beam angle. This setup allows for a cozy, normal, or very bright atmosphere, depending on the need.

I fully support the advice to draw in all the furniture before planning, no matter what.

K1300S schrieb:

One more piece of advice: Please stop referring to "spots" when you actually mean recessed downlights, which can provide broad-area lighting. Whether you design them as LED panels or smaller round downlights is a matter of personal preference.

Regarding dimmers: I would always recommend using them and, if necessary, consulting a more competent electrician who doesn’t spread wrong information. Of course, if you want a proper setup, it usually costs more than the standard cheap GU10 socket fittings with bulbs from China, but it’s worth it. Fundamentally, I think you can manage with the number of downlights you’ve marked on your plan (plus wall lamps, floor lamps, or other ambient lighting), provided the downlights are chosen correctly. For example, in about 50m² (540 ft²) of living/dining space, we have “only” eight dimmable recessed downlights (four in the living area, four in the dining area), but they have enough power and a wide beam angle. This allows for cozy, normal, or very bright lighting depending on the need.

I completely agree with the advice to include all furniture in the plan before designing the lighting layout.

We plan to make the main lighting dimmable using recessed downlights and are still looking for suitable models. K1300S, which ones did you install? Alternatively, a track lighting system.

Thanks in advance!

You should take a look at the company Illuxtron. They have a good range of products. 🙂

cschiko schrieb:

I don’t agree! If you choose recessed lights with the right beam angle, you can illuminate a room perfectly.

A recessed light with a wide beam angle

K1300S schrieb:

One more completely different suggestion: Please stop calling them "spots" when you actually mean (recessed) downlights, which can certainly provide even, diffuse lighting. Whether you prefer LED panels or smaller round downlights is a matter of taste.

Thank you!

To the original poster: Lighting is a fundamental factor for comfort. If you arrange ceiling lights like that, you’ll rarely use them.

Melli-H. schrieb:

Therefore, you can create a cozy atmosphere.

But not from above. A cozy atmosphere is achieved, among other things, with eye-level lighting, not with lights coming from above. For general lighting, spotlights are too expensive. An electrician installed spotlights for general lighting in both our bathroom and bedroom. One every meter! In the bedroom, a surface-mounted lamp would have done the job just as well.
Regarding the plan: in the kitchen, you will cast shadows in the work area if you don’t have additional task lighting (which should be sufficient).
The same applies to the office. In the wardrobe, a lamp would be useful. In the dining area, a light should be aligned with the hallway, but that would conflict with the bay window, so it should be omitted.
In the living room, one spotlight that illuminates everything is generally enough, for when you’re searching for something, plus one or two floor or table lamps and an accent light for watching TV.