How to choose the right recessed spotlights?
How to choose the right recessed spotlights?
Looking for new or replacement LED spotlights? There are a few important things to consider. In addition to ensuring the looks match the space, there are also various features of the recessed spotlights that are important. What should you pay attention to and how do you make the right choice? You can read more about it in this blog!
The right recessed spotlight for your space
When installing a new recessed spotlight, you first need to consider the space where the spotlight will be placed. We distinguish between the following three categories:
Dry spaces
Humid spaces
Wet spaces and outdoor spaces
The most important factor where the right spotlight differs for these spaces is the IP rating. This value represents the water resistance of the spotlight and determines whether an LED recessed spotlight can be used in your space. IP ratings consist of the letters IP followed by two numbers, such as IP20 or IP44. The first number, the 2 or 4, represents dust resistance. The second number, the 0 and the other 4, represents water resistance. The highest possible value for dust resistance is 6, and for water resistance, it is 9. This means that a spotlight with an IP44 rating is more dust- and water-resistant than one with an IP20 rating. We explain which IP rating is most suitable for each space, so you can always make the right choice.
Recessed spotlights for dry spaces
The first category is the easiest to choose the right one for. In a generally dry space, you don’t have to worry about moisture and weather conditions, which means the IP rating doesn’t matter much. A higher dust resistance is always practical, but IP20 spotlights should be sufficient. Water resistance shouldn't matter in these spaces, so you have a wide choice.
Recessed spotlights for humid spaces
As soon as you deal with humid spaces, the IP rating becomes important. By humid spaces, we mean places where the air can be moist, but the spotlights won’t come into direct contact with spray water. This includes kitchens, bathrooms where the spotlight is not directly above the shower, or outdoor spaces such as a covered porch or garden shed. The minimum IP rating for your bathroom spotlight in that case is IP44, but to be sure, you can always opt for IP54 or IP65.
Recessed spotlights for wet spaces
The final category is wet spaces. These are places where there is a lot of moisture in the air, such as above the shower or in a sauna, and where the light comes into direct contact with splash water, such as sparsely covered outdoor spaces. In these spaces, a waterproof IP54 recessed spotlight is the minimum requirement. The risk of using an IP44 spotlight here may seem small, but it can still be quite problematic if it goes wrong. There is also a wide range of LED spotlights available that are suitable for these spaces.
Purpose of LED recessed spotlights
Another important factor in choosing the right recessed spotlights is the purpose of the spotlights. Depending on what you want to use them for, you may need a specific fixture or type of LED lamp. Here, we can make a few distinctions based on factors like the light color and beam angle of the spotlight. These factors determine whether a spotlight is more suitable for ambient lighting or accent lighting.
LED recessed spotlights for ambient lighting
If you want to install recessed spotlights for ambient lighting, you’ll want them to illuminate the space well and effectively. For this, a wide beam angle is needed, which is often around 120°. This means that when the light shines straight down from 2 meters high, it covers an area 7 meters wide. This is perfect when the recessed spotlight is the main light source in, for example, a living room or garage.
LED recessed spotlights for accent lighting
If you need a spotlight for accent lighting, you’ll quickly find that a spotlight with a small beam angle is required. The smaller the beam angle, the more concentrated the light beam. With accent lighting, you typically want to highlight something, such as a bookshelf, painting, or a specific area of the space. A beam angle of 45° is perfect for this. At this angle, a beam shining straight down from 2 meters high will cover an area 2 meters wide.
Recessed spotlight light color
The light color is also important in your choice. It is the main factor in determining the atmosphere created by your light, indicating how warm or cool the emitted light is. Light color is expressed in Kelvin (K) and ranges from 2000K (extra warm light) to 6500K (white light). The lower the K-value, the warmer the light, and the higher the K-value, the cooler and whiter the light.
For spaces where you want to relax, use a warmer light color, ranging from 2000K to 3000K. The goal here is not so much to see better, but rather to enhance the atmosphere. A warmer light color brings out the colors of furniture and walls more vividly. Recessed spotlights with a warm light color make a living room feel cozy and warm on a dark winter’s day.
If you need light to see better and concentrate, or to illuminate a space with mostly white furniture, white light from 4000K to 6000K is most suitable. This white light helps prevent fatigue and is also great for boosting energy when the days start getting darker.
Tiltable and dimmable recessed spotlights
Two additional things to consider when making a choice are tiltable and dimmable LED spotlights. Sometimes you might be unsure about the light color or beam angle of a LED lamp. For instance, in a workroom, you may occasionally want a warm atmosphere instead of white light, or when a spotlight that shines straight down doesn’t light the right area but you don’t want a wide beam angle.
In these cases, you can use a tiltable or dimmable recessed spotlight. As the name suggests, with tiltable spotlights, you can tilt the light and choose the direction in which it shines. If you make a recessed spotlight dimmable, you can adjust the light color. This allows you to adjust the ambiance in the space at any time, rather than only being able to turn the light on and off. By installing a dimmer, you can make any recessed spotlight dimmable. If you have a smart recessed spotlight, you can even connect it to a smart home system like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.
Cutout size and installation depth
The last thing to pay attention to is the cutout size and installation depth. If these aren’t right, your recessed spotlight won’t even fit in your ceiling! So, let's explain these two factors.
The edge of a recessed spotlight is always wider than the hole it fits into. This creates the impression that it seamlessly blends into the ceiling. The cutout size is how big the hole should be to fit your recessed spotlight into the ceiling, ensuring it stays in place. It’s always slightly smaller than the diameter of the spotlight, so the spotlight can fit through the two securing clips, leaving a little bit of wiggle room.
Finally, you also need to consider the installation depth, which is basically the height of the fixture. However, this doesn’t mean that with an installation depth of 80mm, a space of 80mm will be enough for your recessed spotlight. You often need to account for about 2mm of wiggle room to ensure the entire spotlight fits.
To make sure you choose the right installation depth, measure the space between your ceiling and lowered ceiling, and then add the thickness of your lowered ceiling. That, plus the 2mm clearance, forms the installation depth of your recessed spotlight.
Buy LED recessed spotlights at Lightexpert.nl
With all these options, the choice is no smaller. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what you want or need and the available options. Whatever you need, the range at Lightexpert.nl is extensive, so you’re always in the right place on our webshop. Be sure to check out our range for your needs and contact our Customer Service if you have any questions!