ᐅ Buying Guide for Recessed Downlights in Shallow Mounting Situations

Created on: 21 Nov 2025 22:34
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--Lars--
Hi everyone,

I currently need to purchase recessed spotlights for the entire house following a full renovation. The rooms involved are as follows:
  • Kitchen: 8x recessed spotlights, slim, dimmable, adjustable
  • Guest WC: 2x recessed spotlights, slim, fixed, non-dimmable
  • Bathroom 1: 6x recessed spotlights, slim, IP44, fixed, non-dimmable
  • Bathroom 2: 3x recessed spotlights, IP65, adjustable, non-dimmable
  • Built-in wardrobes: 2x recessed spotlights, slim, fixed, non-dimmable
In total, this makes 21 recessed spotlights, with each room having different requirements. Most ceilings are flat suspended drywall with about 4cm (1.6 inches) clearance height. Only in Bathroom 2 is there more space. Due to the sloping roof in Bathroom 2, the spotlights are positioned close above the shower, so I would likely choose IP65-rated fixtures here. In the kitchen, I want adjustable spotlights so I can direct the light toward the countertop. I also want dimming there, which I plan to control via a dimmer relay, so I'm not entirely sure what specific type of bulbs will need to be supported.

Which manufacturers would you recommend for this? Does it make sense to go with Paulmann, or are the options from Amazon similarly good? What bothers me about Paulmann is that dimmable and IP-rated options quickly become quite expensive, especially when buying individual units.
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MachsSelbst
23 Nov 2025 20:44
Use Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance. Yes, they are expensive, but maybe you can find a good deal during Black Week.
You can individually adjust brightness, white tone, and color, create scenes, automate settings based on the time of day and brightness (only possible with a motion sensor), and more.

I now mostly install Philips Hue, even in standard E14 or E27 sockets, which gives you complete flexibility in terms of brightness, color temperature, and color. This eliminates the need to try 2, 3, or 5 different bulbs and constantly go back to the hardware store to exchange them.

Too bright? Open the Hue app and dim it. White tone too cold? Open the Hue app and adjust it... and so on.
H
Hanniball2k
2 Jan 2026 21:42
How about a GX53 base, the light bulbs can be selected accordingly with different options (smart, wattage, color temperature).