Spotlight: all you need to know before choosing this type of light

Are you thinking of spotlights for your home décor? Read this article, and find out all you need to know about this type of lighting.

Spotlights are a very modern type of illumination, and it can be a wonderful choice for your home. The types of spotlights on the market are so very numerous, that it would be hard to not find something that matches your taste. And, another good news, we can position them basically wherever we want. But beyond their design and shape, which is merely a matter of taste and aesthetics, there are other details that are important to consider, starting from the materials and the light source. We don’t want to underestimate the technical characteristics and, above all, the function of this light source. Here is a quick guide that will sum up all there is to know about spotlights: find out if this is the right choice for you.

How do you like this spotlight design by Side?

Let's start from the materials

All spotlights have an internal structure that supports the lamp and is generally made of plaster, metal, steel or another material that has a strong thermal resistance: this characteristic is fundamental to withstand the heat of the lamp and the weight of the spotlight. The body of the spotlight is called flange, and it is usually made with anodized aluminum or stainless steel, in order to regulate the heat loss.

This modern spotlight is designed by Arcluce.

What kind of light does a spotlight produce?

A spotlight lets you direct the light exactly where you want it. In a kitchen, for instance, the spotlight could project the light on a precise point of the countertop that would otherwise be dark and not very functional. This type of lighting is called accent light, which could also be useful for highlighting specific details of your home décor, like a work of art, or a vase of flowers. The accent spotlights can help you create sort of choreographic effect in your interiors: strategically directing them in different trajectory, highlighting some special details, will make any room dynamic and interesting.

This room is a perfect example of how to correctly use accent lights. These spotlights are from Licht Im Raum.

Built-in spotlight

Built-in spotlights are the most common type: they are discrete and minimalist, yet they provide with a strong accent light. Where can we place them? There is no limit to your imagination! We can instal them on any surface, as long as we can drill a hole in it. Ceilings, wood panels, shelves, walls, and even floors: every flat surface can host a built-in spotlight. This will allow you to have a 100% customized interior design, exactly the way you want it.

The spotlights in this room are from the brand Xal.

Fixed or adjustable?

The spotlights are not only built-in: there are other types of solutions, installed externally on the wall surface. The model you see in the picture below, works as a beautiful ceiling light, using a simple design and asymmetric positioning. Other spotlights, instead, can be adjusted even after the installation, allowing you to highlight different parts of your room, according to your mood, your changes of taste, or whatever criteria you choose.

Take a look at all the lighting design created by Disegnoluce.

Light source: halogen or LED

A spotlight can have a halogen or LED light source. Halogen light bulbs are the evolution of classic incandescent lamps, but fewer people make this choice, for it is quite an energy consuming solution. The LED light sources are, instead, the most used, for they are more performing, guarantee maximum luminous efficiency and better energy savings (up to 80%) and have an average life span of up to 15 years. LED spotlights produce a light that tends to be more white, versus the classic halogen bulbs spread a warmer light, more gentle and tending to the color yellow.

Will you choose LED or halogen? Find out all the ways Flos utilizes these types of light source.

Do not underestimate the humidity factor

One last thing we want you warn you about: don’t neglect to consider the humidity factor. If we place LED spotlights in the bathroom, for example above a tub or a shower, or in an environment where we frequently use water or where steam is likely to form, it is very important that they have a suitable degree of protection against humidity. This is a fundamental characteristic to guarantee not only our comfort, but, most importantly, our safety. Spotlights can be a great choice for your bathroom, but you have to make sure the light is humidity-proof.

Arkos Light has high-performing spotlights, which will resist humidity safely.

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