Indoor Lighting

Indoor LED lighting: which fitting to choose in each room

Indoor lighting is decided in two steps: first the ceiling or wall you have, then how the room is used. Here you have all the indoor ceiling lighting and indoor wall lighting in the catalogue, from recessed indoor downlights to indoor LED strip lights, indoor wall lights, indoor pendant lighting and decorative indoor lighting. There are nine families: LED Downlights (slim panels and recessed spotlights), surface mounted LED Ceiling Lights, LED Panels in 60x30, 60x60, 120x30 and 120x60, LED Strips, LED Wall Lights, Ceiling Lamps (fixed, adjustable, decorative and pendant), LED Table Lamps, LED Ceiling Fans and LED Emergency Lights.

Indoor ceiling lighting: recessed or surface mounted

This is the first question and the one that rules out the most. If you have a suspended ceiling with a void behind it, you can recess: LED Downlights are the natural option, as a slim panel, which needs barely a few centimetres of depth, or as a classic recessed spotlight. LED Panels are also recessed and are standard in offices with modular ceilings, because 60x60 and 120x30 fit the standard grid.

If the ceiling is solid with no void, the installation goes on the surface: LED Ceiling Lights screwed straight on, spreading even general light. With no void there is no recessing.

Indoor wall lighting: wall lights and indirect light

The wall serves two purposes. The first is supporting and accent light: LED Wall Lights light a corridor, a headboard, a mirror or a staircase without taking up ceiling space and without glare.

The second is indirect light, with LED Strips. Inside a perimeter cornice, at the start of a suspended ceiling or behind a unit they are invisible: all you see is the wash of light over the wall or ceiling. It is the cleanest way to raise the light level without adding visible fittings.

Decorative and ambient indoor lighting

Decorative indoor lighting is the layer that gives character. Pendant Ceiling Lamps define the dining table, the kitchen island or a bar counter, and they work best when the light sits below the eye level of anyone seated. LED Table Lamps bring warm light at low height, the kind that makes a room feel welcoming. For wardrobe lighting, dressing rooms and display cabinets the answer is usually a low power LED strip with an aluminium profile: it lights without heating.

Room by room

• Living room: a ceiling light or downlights, plus a pendant or table lamp and a perimeter LED strip.
• Bedroom: soft general light, wall lights beside the bed and an LED strip in the headboard or wardrobe.
• Kitchen: neutral, powerful light on the ceiling, plus an LED strip under the wall units.
• Bathroom: downlights or a ceiling light in the centre, a wall light beside the mirror and the right IP rating in the shower.
• Corridor and stairs: wall lights or downlights spread out, with a presence detector if possible.
• Wardrobes and dressing rooms: an LED strip with a profile, coming on as the door opens.
• Home office: an LED panel or neutral downlights, with no reflections on the screen, and a desk lamp for support.

How to choose: lumens, colour temperature and IP

Lumens measure the light the fitting gives, not the consumption. Work out the level from the square metres and the use: a circulation or relaxation area needs less light than a kitchen or a home office.

Colour temperature is measured in kelvin and changes how the space feels. From 2700K to 3000K is warm light, for the living room and bedroom; 4000K is neutral and works better in the kitchen, bathroom and home office; 6000K is cool, for garages and technical spaces. Many models have a CCT selector and let you choose it on the fitting itself.

The IP rating indicates protection against dust and water: in a dry room IP20 is enough; in a shower, bath area or laundry you need IP44 or higher. Finally, decide whether you want dimming: to dim the light, both the fitting and the driver have to be dimmable.

Ceiling fans and emergency lights

LED Ceiling Fans bring general light and ventilation together in a single installation point, with a remote to control both separately. LED Emergency Lights do not decorate, they signal: they have their own battery, activate when the supply fails and mark escape routes and doors, essential in any premises open to the public.

At FactorLED you have all the indoor LED lighting gathered by family so you can go straight to the one you need. If you are unsure between recessed and surface mounted, write to us and we will help you decide before you order.

Frequently asked questions about indoor lighting

What is indoor LED lighting?

It is the set of LED fittings for covered spaces: downlights, ceiling lights, panels, strips, wall lights and lamps. They are grouped by installation (recessed, surface or suspended) and by function (general, supporting or decorative light).

Recessed or surface mounted: how do I know?

Check whether you have a suspended ceiling with a void behind it. If you do, you can recess downlights or panels. If the ceiling is solid, you need surface fittings such as ceiling lights.

How many lumens do I need per room?

It depends on the square metres and the use. A kitchen and a home office call for more light than a bedroom or a corridor. Work it out by adding up the lumens of every fitting.

Which colour temperature should I choose?

2700K to 3000K (warm) for the living room and bedroom, 4000K (neutral) for the kitchen, bathroom and home office, and 6000K (cool) for garages and technical spaces.

Can I put any fitting in the bathroom?

No. In the shower and bath area you need IP44 or higher. In the rest of the bathroom, away from the water, IP20 may be enough.