LED downlights to have no doubt grown to become a top choice for homeowners and businesses looking for better, brighter, and more energy-efficient lighting solutions. With the sheer variety of LED downlights on the market, picking out the right bulb to replace your CFL or halogen can be a challenge. If you’re looking to switch your existing recessed lights to the LEDs similar to what we offer at LiquidLEDs, here’s a guide on how to make an informed purchase.
Watts LED downlights use very little energy to generate the same level as their incandescent and fluorescent equivalent. For instance, a standard halogen downlight consumes 50 watts of electricity to generate the same level of light emitted by a 5- to 10-watt LED downlight—most downlights even generate more light.
Beam Angle Beam angle or beam spread refers to the wideness of a light bulb’s glow from the ceiling. Most downlights have a narrower beam angle than other bulbs, as their job is to shine a light in one direction—they’re also made to be used as a group to illuminate large spaces.
Colour Temperature Choosing a specific colour temperature for your downlights boils down to preference and the intended use of the downlight. Some people like to use cool bulbs for task-oriented spaces, like the laundry room or kitchen. Warm bulbs, on the other hand, are best for living rooms and bedrooms because they’re more relaxing. It’s best to stick with one colour per space because mixing colours are only going to create an unpleasant effect that irritates the eyes.
Dimming Features If you want to have direct control over the brightness or dimness of your light bulb, you can get a dimmer installed. Dimmers can let you make the bulbs as bright as you want or tone it down to the desired light output. This would be a perfect feature for a bedroom.