What are the space requirements for the light, and what characteristics determine whether the chosen light is suitable for the installation site? LED lights are very versatile, already suitable for many different spaces. The choice of light is influenced by many factors, such as the application, the way the lighting is controlled and the installation method. Read our tips on how to choose the right LED lights for different spaces.
Choosing the right LED light is not just about maximising wattage and lumens - modern options can also help to influence the ambience, comfort and energy efficiency of a space. In this article, we go through the key points to help you find the right LED light for your home.
Humidity and temperature differences at the installation site affect the choice of LED
Are you planning new lighting for your bathroom, kitchen, terrace or garden? Each space has its own lighting requirements and it is important to choose lights that meet these requirements.
As a general rule, in wet rooms, be careful that the lights can withstand the stress of moisture and that water cannot condense on the electrical components. Lights suitable for wet rooms will always work in dry rooms, but not vice versa. This is why we at LedStore have focused on the materials and the tightness of the lights. Many of the LED lights in our range are not only suitable for wet rooms, but also for dry rooms, so you can choose a consistent style for any part of your home.
- Bathroom and toilet: due to humidity, lighting must be shielded. For example, LED lights near the shower must be well sealed to withstand splash water and water vapour. For bathrooms, a minimum IP44 rating is recommended, which means that the light is resistant to water splashes. Our designers will be able to recommend you the best lights for your bathroom, taking into account safety distances to water points.
- Outdoor lighting: LED lights in courtyards and terraces can withstand large variations in weather conditions: frost, rain and direct sunlight. All our outdoor luminaires are either powder coated and/or anodised aluminium or stainless steel. LED lights for outdoor use should be IP65 or IP67 rated to withstand moisture, rain and dust.
- Kitchen: bright light is needed at worktops and directed towards the work surface, while softer lighting in the dining area makes for a pleasant environment. For practicality in the kitchen, if the task light is near steam and splashing grease, make sure it is easy to clean and heat resistant. A dense aluminium profile with a lid is the best protection for the LED strip in the kitchen.
- Recreational and work areas: where precision work is carried out, lighting should be effective and correctly directed to reduce eye strain. Where there is a lot of dust in the air, easy-to-clean, dust-tight solutions are best.
✅ So always remember to check the IP rating of your light - it tells you how resistant it is to moisture and dust. Waterproof and dustproof lights are always suitable for dry and cleaner rooms, but not the other way round!
LED lights suitable for different control modes - here's what you need to know
How you want to control your LED lights: With a wired switch or dimmer, a remote control or a smart system? Today, there are many different ways to control your LED lights. The most suitable option for you depends on whether you want easy manual control or intelligent, programmable functions.
- Traditional wired control: the wall switch solution is simple and commonly used. Almost all the lights in our range can be switched on/off or dimmed with a wired dimmer. In this case, the light is powered by a triac driver, for example.
- Wireless control: this allows you to control the lights with remote controls, as well as with motion sensors. We also offer a wide range of options for wireless control, using RF, or radio frequency, technology. Wireless lighting controls are created by selecting the desired light source, an RF driver with a built-in receiver, and an RF controller, which can be remote control-shaped or wall-mounted, which can be freely installed in the desired location, even on top of a box to cover an unnecessary switch location.
- Smart control and home automation: led lights can be connected to a smart home, allowing you to automatically adjust the lighting, schedule it or change the colour temperature of the lighting to suit the situation. All our lights that can be wirelessly controlled can also be used for home automation. Zigbee and/or Tuya technology. We have a range of stylish smart home control panels and other smart home products in addition to lighting.
What about brightness and colour temperature control?
Lighting control naturally adds comfort and ambience to the rooms. Dimmable LED lights give you flexibility, allowing you to adjust the intensity of the light to suit different situations. We therefore recommend slightly over-rather than under-ratioing the amount of light in a room by including dimming. There's nothing more frustrating than new lighting that doesn't have enough light!
CCT lights, on the other hand, allow you to change the shade of light from warm white to cool daylight. If you want this feature for active use, the control mode is an important design consideration. Dimmers alone will not work with colour temperature controlled lights, but the controller must also have a control for this feature. Admittedly, there are also many lights in our range for which the colour temperature control can be made from three to five options when installed in place, which makes it easier to balance the colour temperatures at the installation stage, but the light-specific control remains in the installation mode, and in use the light is simply dimmed.
We have a guide for each of these uses. In addition to the above, we also offer control options for DALI and 1-10V potentiometer dimming, as well as building your own Zigbee smart controller on your own server with a memory stick hub connected to the Conbee 2 USB port.
Influence of the installation method on the choice of LED
In the LedStore range we have also taken into account the ease of installation, and we have experience in installing all our lights!
The way the light is installed will have quite an impact on the amount of time it takes to install it. Whether you want the lighting to be discreetly recessed into the ceiling or more clearly visible as part of the interior will influence the choice of luminaire.
Surface-mount LEDs are easy to install and are suitable for many spaces without major modifications. For example, our surface-mounted LEDs include drivers and are installed on top of a box directly on the mains. Led strip lighting is also an easy surface-mount light source when choosing a surface-mount aluminium profile. However, the positioning of the low-current cable coming from the end of the Led and the transformer are details that need to be taken into account.
As a detail on surface installations, installation on a log wall can be challenging, as it is often not possible to hide the wiring. It is therefore important to plan the lighting during the construction phase to ensure that the wiring holes can be machined into the logs. If there are enough sockets, supplementary lighting in a log house can be provided by 'loose' lights, table lamps and floor lamps.
Flush-mounted LED lights require sufficient recess depth and drilling of mounting holes, but the end result is neat and modern, with the power supplies hidden in the ceiling. Also for indirect lighting, mounting grooves are made for installation, or light traps, which require their own design.
✨ Tip: Consider at the design stage whether you want the lighting to be a visible part of the interior or to blend in discreetly. This will help you to choose the right installation solutions.
Summary: led lights for different spaces
When choosing LED lighting, it is worth taking into account:
- Space requirements - humidity resistance, brightness and the purpose of the lighting.
- IP rating - to ensure that the light can withstand environmental conditions.
- Control options - do you want a wall switch, remote control or smart control?
- How to install - surface or recessed lighting?
- Conductor types - mains current vs. low current will affect the flexibility of the installation.
See the link to the lights for detailed information on these features! We know our lighting solutions very well, so you can always come and talk to us about your lighting questions! We also offer a design service as well as an installation service for the LED lights you buy. Check out our services online or come and visit us.
The list below shows the products discussed in this article.
undefined
Welcome to Lamppukauppa LedStore’s showroom to explore lighting possibilities and design the perfect solution for your space. We serve a wide range of customers—consumers, resellers, and businesses alike.
You’ll find us at Mesikukantie 16, 01300 Vantaa (Koivuhaka).
Feel free to contact us by phone at +358 45 251 4510 or by email at myynti@ledstore.fi.
