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A Low-Cost Way to Transform Your Lighting
Lighting can make all the difference to a home – or commercial premises, for that matter. Traditionally, light fittings have been bulky and therefore like works of art in themselves – chandeliers and big stained-glass styles, for instance. But if you are looking for an altogether different effect where you get good, evenly distributed lighting that you hardly even notice, downlights might be the thing for you. As a bonus, they are not as expensive as you might think – see our guide on how much it costs to fit and install downlights for a full breakdown.
Short of Headroom? Downlights Take up Zero Space
The beauty of downlights is that they are recessed into the surface of the ceiling: the bulk of the unit is hidden above, with just the business end – the light source – visible. So, if you have a low ceiling, you can make the most of what height you do have.
Want the Whole Room Equally Bright?
Downlights cast relatively small areas of light that make up a cohesive whole. The old idea of one big bulb doing the whole job is outdated: little and multiple is the name of the game now. You see it with car headlights: lots of little dots taking the place of one big light. Downlights do the job in the same way.
What if I Want to Pick Something out?
Lighting is a great way to draw attention to something beautiful or noteworthy and the job was traditionally performed by a prominent spotlight. But you can do it just the same with gimbal lights (AKA directional or eyeball lights).
These are embedded in the ceiling just the same as fixed downlights, but can be angled to showcase a picture, a trophy, a piece of furniture or whatever you want to stand out in the room. Just as with fixed downlights, the light source is doing a job discreetly, rather than drawing attention to itself. If you’re weighing up fitting types, our guide to choosing LED lights to replace downlights is a useful next read.
Is my Room Suitable for Downlights?
A good electrician can advise you on the suitability of a room – particularly from a safety point of view. There needs to be enough space in the ceiling itself to accommodate the light fitting and the heat it generates. This is one of the main reasons we recommend making the switch from halogen to LED downlights, since LEDs run far cooler and reduce that risk considerably.
Having established that all is well in that respect, the decision is down to you. Kitchens and bathrooms are generally regarded as eminently suited to downlights. Offices and showrooms too, if the design is done intelligently and the work is carried out well. Some would say bedrooms and living rooms are less suitable because such uniform lighting can be sterile or lacking in character. But those issues can be addressed in other ways: perhaps a carefully placed lamp here and there can do the trick while the downlights do the bulk of the work.
Another great advantage of downlights is that they work perfectly with dimmer switches, so you can change the mood quickly and simply in that way. For more ideas on tailoring your lighting to how you actually live, take a look at our thoughts on customising lighting in your property to suit your lifestyle.
Do I Need a Specialist to Install Downlights?
Bearing in mind the safety aspect as mentioned above, yes, you need a competent electrician, preferably one accustomed to carrying out this type of lighting installation. In the Sydney area, our LED light installation team at One Point Sydney Electricians is the perfect answer, as a company benefitting from great all-round experience and priding ourselves on excellence and first-class customer service.
Downlights are a very 21st century option but you don’t have to live in a new build to use them so why not get in touch to find out the price to install downlights?
