Lighting is an integral aspect in any home, business or any type of establishment. Not only does it provide illumination, but lighting also aids in setting an area’s mood or ambiance. Lights differ in colour, brightness and other factors. There are also various types of lights, and two of them are downlights and spotlights. There are several differences these two types have, and they also have differing uses, depending on individual needs. Here are some key differences.
Overall Look
Downlights are more sophisticated and polished-looking, as they are placed within the ceiling recesses, meaning they do not protrude. They are more discreet than spotlights, as spotlights can be mounted on walls, floors and ceilings. Spotlights give a room a more cluttered look because of the size and number of the bulbs.
Lifespan
LED downlights have a longer lifespan than LED spotlights. This is due to the components of the fitting being manufactured to work seamlessly as a whole. The transformer integrated into the kit is paired exactly to the LEDs it lights up.
Better Light Output
Downlights emit better light output than spotlights due to the fact that downlights have more area where LEDs can be positioned, and the reflectors can be designed such that the area is maximised.
Light Direction
Spotlights can be focused on more than one area. They can be moved from one place to another, depending on the light requirement of a room. Downlights, on the other hand, have a fixed focus. They cannot be moved to light up another area once they have been installed.
Installation
Spotlights can be installed in several different ways, like track-way mounting and embedding. Downlights are installed in ceiling recesses, so they do not protrude. Aside from the ceiling, downlights can also be installed under cabinets for dramatic illumination or anywhere else there is a space for the casing of the downlights.
Price
Generally, spotlights cost more than downlights. This is due to the fact that they have more components and most do not come in integrated kits, compared to downlights.
Each of these two types of lighting has its own advantages and disadvantages, and depending on your specific lighting requirement, you can weigh these pros and cons to help you arrive at the best decision. Downlights and spotlights use LED bulbs, which means that they are both energy efficient and are more environmentally friendly. LED bulbs have successfully replaced harmful-to-the-environment traditional and conventional lighting such as incandescent and CFL bulbs.
When choosing whether to install downlights or spotlights in your home, office or any other place that needs lighting, the first thing to consider is how the lighting will be used. If you need illumination for an entire room, then downlights are suitable. But if you need to provide special lighting focus on an object, such as a painting, a sculpture or a picture, then a spotlight will be perfect for such purposes.
Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net (Stuart Miles)
