How to plan LED lighting and downlights for your home

Step 1: Map each room and how you use it

Grab a sheet of paper or a floor plan and go room by room. For each one, jot down:

• What happens there: cooking, reading, working, watching TV, entertaining.
• Where people sit, stand or work, such as benchtops, desks and reading chairs.
• Features you want to highlight, like artwork, a feature wall or a pendant over the dining table.
• Approximate room dimensions and ceiling height.
• Where your existing switches are and whether they are in a sensible place.

Step 2: Think in layers, not just downlights

Lighting designers talk about three layers. Ambient light fills the room. Task light sits over places you work, such as benchtops or a study desk. Accent light adds atmosphere, for example wall lights, pendants or LED strip under kitchen cabinets. Most rooms feel better with at least two layers.

In a kitchen, that might mean downlights for general light plus a strip under the overhead cupboards so you are not working in your own shadow. In a living room, dimmable downlights with a floor or wall lamp often feel more relaxed than a bright grid overhead.

Step 3: Choose colour temperature and dimming

LED lights come in different colour temperatures, usually described as warm white, neutral white and cool white.

• Warm white feels cosy and suits living areas and bedrooms.
• Neutral or cool white feels crisp and can suit kitchens, laundries, garages and workspaces.
• Some fittings let you switch between colours, which is handy if you are undecided.
• Dimmers suit living, dining and bedrooms; ask your electrician to confirm the lights and dimmer are compatible.

Step 4: Avoid common planning mistakes

Placing every downlight in the centre of the room is the most common mistake. It lights the floor rather than benchtops and walls. Other pitfalls include putting lights directly above where a TV screen will reflect them, forgetting switches at both ends of a hallway, and overlooking outdoor areas like the alfresco and side paths.

Mixed fittings can also look patchy. If you are replacing old halogen downlights, consider changing them all at once so the colour and brightness match.

Step 5: Brief your electrician

Bring your sketch, a list of rooms and any photos of fittings you like. A licensed electrician will check ceiling access, insulation, existing wiring and the switchboard, then suggest positions and quantities. Our LED lighting page has more on what we install. If lighting is part of a bigger project, the renovation planning guide can help you think about power points at the same time.

We help homeowners in Rosanna, Templestowe and Eltham North plan lighting that suits the way they live.

Frequently asked questions