LED downlights trick #1

Glare is a serious pitfall of LED downlights. The "sparkle" in the ceiling that you're accustomed to seeing from traditional downlights is very different to the glare of a cheap and/or poorly designed LED downlight.

Fortunately there are easy ways to assess the myriad of LED downlight options - and discover the best version for your home. We'll start with assessing for GLARE.

The further back the light source (LED chip) is in the fitting – the less glare it’ll produce. As a rule of thumb - avoid fittings where the LED is within 10mm of the face. Some lights incorporate a cover which reduces glare - these can also be a good option.

Always get a physical sample, look where the LED is and keep reading for lighting trick #2 for choosing the best LED downlights in your home.

**How do you know if it's glary in your home? If holding your hand above your eyes like you're shielding them from the sun makes the room more comfortable, then you've got glare.

Some lamps incorporate a cover which reduces glare - these can also be a good option.

So – always get a physical sample, look where the LED is and keep reading for lighting trick #2 for choosing the best LED downlights in your home.

How do you know if it's glary in your home? If holding your hand above your eyes like you're shielding them from the sun makes the room more comfortable, then you've got a glare problem.

The BCA guidelines require lighting not exceed 5W/M2 in your home. So what does that mean?

No more halogen downlights is the most obvious result, but simply replacing 50W downlights with LED versions isn't going to get you over the line either. The biggest problem home owners are facing is ending up with poor quality light in their homes, and no way to simply solve the problem. LED downlights range in quality from the laughable to the exquisite - and pricing usually matches. Without a detailed understanding of the properties of light and what current technologies are capable of, this new lighting world is a minefield.

Of course, the most interesting lighting opportunity to rise out of all this is.... we don't have to use downlights in our homes.

There are literally thousands of options for lighting your living spaces. Creating a design that meets aesthetics, budget and energy from that huge range is where engaging an independent lighting professional gives you the ultimate advantage.