RECESSED LUMINAIRES

Recessed luminaires

Spotlights are a common solution for interior lighting as they integrate perfectly into any context and blend in with any style, from classic to modern. Each type of spotlight - or light point - is designed for special lighting requirements. The structure can be made of various materials - Parisian plaster, metal, steel or heat-resistant material - that can withstand the heat of the lamp and the weight of the reflector itself. Unlike diffused lighting, spot lighting allows you to direct the light to precise points, enhance any room and highlight furniture, details and special objects, making it a versatile, practical and modern design solution for great light play. For example, instead of a classic chandelier, a few ceiling spotlights can create interesting lighting effects in the living room.

Recessed and wall lights, small spotlights illuminate the house

A spotlight is an unobtrusive luminaire that is often designed to to fit in the room, recessed spotlights meet this need with a large number of variants. Many modern homes have a suspended ceiling that makes it easy to place spotlights. The installer simply hides the reflector structure and transformer above the ceiling, leaving the free edge flush with the wall. Spotlights for suspended ceilings and walls create a unique shape that gives the surroundings a touch of modernity. Many of them are ideal plaster fixtures for flush mounting: gypsum fixtures can be easily plastered and painted on the wall, so they remain completely hidden in the drywall. Halfway between recessed and non-recessed, semi-recessed spotlights, consisting of a structure hidden in the wall and a visible projector, are often adjustable and in some cases extendable, this is certainly the most versatile and aesthetic type of installation. In the case of a plasterboard partition wall, you can also opt for flush mounting in the wall, but a solution illuminating the suggestive atmosphere can be achieved simply by pointing the reflector up, the beam of light illuminates the room more gently and diffusingly. Do not underestimate one type of mounting that has recently hit the market, these are wireless lamps and spotlights, in this case there are two elements: one is a recessed panel into the wall or ceiling that can transmit energy to the lighting fixture, The other element is a magnetic radiator, which draws energy from the mounting bracket without the need for electric wires. You are free to move the spotlight and reposition it in the area you occupy; the spotlight literally moves with it when needed.

How do you arrange spotlights in your home to illuminate every room?

When choosing lighting, the first question that arises is: What steps takes place in the room that I want to illuminate? If this is a work area, we need direct light on the countertop, the dining room needs more light, so a flare lamp is more suitable. In the living room, on the other hand, small, direct points of light can be added to the diffused light to illuminate the top objects or furniture. In aisles such as an entrance hall or hallway, small spotlights can be positioned perfectly along the path. You can also take advantage of direct light in the kitchen, for example with spotlights that can be directed at the stove or sink. Having determined that the direct light from your headlamps is exactly what you need, you should choose the type of headlamp that best suits your needs. If you are unfamiliar with the selection of furniture, we generally recommend the type of radiator that offers the greatest freedom. These are adjustable spotlights, which, depending on the angle at which they can move, are perfect for when we want to move the furniture layout from time to time, so we can also adapt the beam to the new arrangement. There are headlamps in the market that can be tilted from a few degrees to headlamps that can be rotated 360 °, there are many combinations in the market for you to choose from, just filter them as per your need. If the illuminated room requires more light, a single spotlight will not be enough. That is why we choose several spotlights arranged in a row, as the sum of individual light points or embedded in one body. If the area to be illuminated is enlarged, we can always opt for light spots, but this time placed on rails that allow them to slide, these are track lights or cable reflectors.

LED floodlights or conventional light sources ?

The choice of indoor lighting must follow precise rules for studying lighting technology, but not everyone has the knowledge to make an informed choice unless advised by an expert. The offered headlamps usually have a number of technical data to help you make your choice. The selected type of light source creates a breakthrough, in most cases the best option is LED spotlights, which combine the directivity and warmth typical of LED light and adapt to different environments in the home, from the living room to the kitchen. So far, the choice of LEDs has been the most beneficial in many ways, from energy saving to durability. All the data suggests that we prefer this solution to classic halogen headlamps, which in fact run shorter, consume more energy and are less efficient in everyday use. Even fluorescent or incandescent lamps lose in comparison to LED lamps in terms of switching capacity and heat generation: fluorescent lamps light up gradually after switching on and remain warm for longer. After selecting the light source and making sure that the holder is compatible, we evaluate the beam angle of the reflector. Usually in the datasheets of the article there is always a small graphic that shows us the width of the spotlight cone. To make sure that the object or part of the room you want to illuminate falls into the cone of light, just place the spotlight at the right distance. It is also necessary to estimate the lumens and the amount of light needed to illuminate the room. In this calculation, we take into account whether the room is lit only by spotlights or there are other light sources, we add the amount of light expressed by the existing lamps to understand how many spotlights are needed to perfectly illuminate the room. Finally, pay attention to the IP protection class of the reflectors, this abbreviation indicates the degree of protection of the luminaire against external influences such as water, dust or solids. Therefore, it is recommended that the position of the light spot corresponds to the protection class of the product. For example, we will pay close attention to IP when selecting outdoor spotlights that are mostly exposed to dust and moisture.

Design spotlight shapes and materials

Born as small projectors for lighting museums or display cases, spotlights have found their way among the endless variety of lamps on the market. Manufacturers are now competing for the marketing of modern headlamps, which have received top awards for innovation and design. The ability to play with shapes and materials means that selective lighting gives designers the opportunity to express their creativity, and thus combine aesthetic taste and technology. Round spotlights are the most popular design on the market, with a rectangular body with several light points or square spotlights perfect for integration into modern living spaces. The colors make the spotlights, like shapes, an addition to the equipment, the most common are two: classic tone-sur-tone, a spotlight selected in the same color tone as the rest of the house, disappears onto the wall or ceiling. On the contrary, contrasting colors, often black spots on white surfaces, become the heroes of the scene. There is no shortage of eye-catching variants, be it golden or bronze headlights or with elegant details such as the Swarovski headlights. Let's not forget that headlamps are a functional element, not an aesthetic element. The materials from which they are made must take into account certain properties such as strength, lightness and processability. Most of the spotlights on the market are made of metal or Parisian plaster, the latter is suitable for mounting, while the example combination of spotlights is made of aluminum. Endless possibilities for personalization by choosing the finish that best suits your taste, metals are particularly suitable for painting, especially steel radiators, also in stainless steel versions, which combine durability and aesthetic taste.

Spotlights for decorating with light

Sometimes the light is used to decorate a room that is already well lit, for example with wallwasher spotlights which emit a cascading beam of light that, like incident light, evenly floods the selected area. Usually, this type of lighting is directed towards a wall with a certain texture or when it is decorated with wallpaper, so the illuminated wall is enlivened by the wallwasher. Installation of this type of lighting is carried out according to strict rules, the light beam must be as close as possible to the illuminated surface, optionally floor or ceiling spotlights, as long as they are not more than a meter from the wall. It will be easier to shine the light evenly.