When installing a new lighting scheme, the number and placement of downlights depends on the function of the room.
Downlights are fixtures designed to distribute light downwards, in a cone-shaped manner, due to the beam angle. They are often installed on the underside of the roof of a room at an appropriate ceiling height, or to provide ambient illumination from a wall on an otherwise dark spot. They can also be used to illuminate ceilings for general lighting and are a large part of track lighting installations.
LED's are among the most common types of bulb used in downlights. They are also available with either diffusing glass (to disperse light evenly over an area), or frosted glass (which reduces glare). Frosted glass is most often used where ambient lighting such as offices, lobbies and stairwells is required while diffusing glass is most often used in kitchen work surface, bathrooms or corridors.When installing a new lighting scheme, the number and placement of the downlights depend on the function of the room (e.g., kitchen versus bathroom) and its size and features.
Downlights are made in various downlight wattage per unit, which reflects their brightness output: 60-200 watts and 250-600 watts are most commonly used in residential settings; 1000+ watts is more common in commercial spaces such as offices.
The wattage rating of the downlight should be based on how it will be used. For example, if a space is being illuminated with ambient light (the standard for spaces such as offices and hallways), a less powerful downlight may give the desired results than if it were to provide task lighting which requires much more focused illumination (the standard for kitchens). LED downlight's have a range of different colour temperatures, from warm white to cool white.
One thing to note is that a downlight should be placed on the underside of the roof at an appropriate height in order to provide ambient illumination, depending on the beam angles.
Keep in mind that for general ambient lighting, greater illumination can be achieved through a series of downlights since more downlights create a stronger beam. Other aspects to look out for include ceiling heights, distance, spacing, available items, and the position of the work surface, as this will guide you in installing the right number of light fixtures in an efficient way.If a downlight is to provide task lightings such as for a kitchen or bathroom countertop, it should be placed directly over the area where light is most needed. Regarding distance, a good rule of thumb is to install exactly one (1) downlight every 5 feet 0 inches (or 1.52 m). When designing each room, be sure to determine how much direct light may already exist from adjacent rooms/windows etc., which can also help you determine whether more lighting would be useful.
Living rooms are typically the largest in a home and commonly range in size from 12x12 up to 25x25 feet (3.65x3.65m - 6.1x6.1m). The average living room has 10-15 led lights installed on the ceiling or walls for general illumination purposes, while some larger homes have 20 or more LED lamps for general purpose lighting. The energy used is measured in lumens. These lights are usually installed along the perimeter of a room in order to provide overall illumination as opposed to providing focused task lighting to maximise energy usage. LED Grid Ceiling downlights are used in shopping malls, hotels and other commercial spaces.
Kitchens are the heart and starting point of domestic living and can range from 8x8 up to 15x15 feet (2.4m x 2.4m - 4.5m x 4.5m) depending on how much cooking space is available. The average kitchen has only 3-5 lights installed for general illumination purposes, while some larger kitchens may have 5 or 6 additional lights for task lighting purposes. These focused light sources are usually installed directly above key work surfaces where food prep takes place such as over kitchen counters, food preparation/dishwashing station or sink area. They can also be used to spotlight an open cabinet or shelving area above the island countertop or other workbenches. In short, it varies depending on a couple of factors.
Wattage of the LED downlights, which determines how much light they emit.
Size and function of the room (e.g., kitchen versus bathroom versus residential living room).
How much light is already present in the space (indirect lighting can help determine whether additional lighting would be useful).
Most bedrooms are around 2.4x2.4m - 3.65x3.65m and have 8-10 lights installed for general lighting purposes. Some bedrooms may have added lights installed to provide focused light above a dresser, nightstand or bedhead etc. Downlights should be located at the perimeter of the room to obtain maximum coverage with general lighting; however, they can also be located directly over a bed if there's no ceiling fixture present. Bathroom downlights and hallway downlights are an excellent choice due to their ability to create more ambient light versus spotty tasking lights.