If you want clean and simple lines for your lighting at home, consider installing downlights. Downlights are unobtrusive, space-saving and can provide both ambient lighting and task lighting. With LED downlights, you can also regulate the colour temperature and enjoy other benefits such as a cooler environment and lower energy costs.

If you choose to have downlights installed, it’s important to set them up properly so that you’ll need fewer electrician services down the line. It will also be much easier to replace them later on.

Here are some tips for setting up your downlights at home, with the help of your sparkie.

Determine how many downlights you need

To ensure the area gets proper illumination, you have to install the right number of downlights. If you go with too many, the lights may be too blinding, and if you go with too few, the area may be too dark. The lumens, layout of the downlights and your personal preference for brightness are also factors in getting the right level of illumination in the area.

Consider the ceiling height

Recessed downlights are a great option for lower ceilings. When positioning downlights, measure a distance of about 60cm away from the edge of the walls; this will be your starting point. Leave even spaces between each downlight for a balanced lighting. As a rule of thumb, the space between each downlight should be half the height of the ceiling. For instance, if the ceiling height is 244cm, the downlights should be 122cm apart.