Downlight

How it is used

Also called recessed lights in the US, or can lights and pot lights. Designers choose the beam angle, the colour temperature and whether they are fire-rated, and plan their positions on a reflected ceiling plan to avoid a ceiling full of random holes.

Example sentences

1. We'll space the downlights 1.2 m apart and keep them away from the wardrobe doors.

2. Too many downlights make a living room feel like an office.

Common collocations

• LED downlights
• recessed downlight
• fire-rated downlight
• adjustable downlight

Related terms

• ambient lightingThe general, even light that fills a room and lets people move around safely, usually from ceiling lights, downlights or daylight.
• reflected ceiling planA drawing of the ceiling as if it were reflected in a mirror on the floor, showing lights, ceiling heights, bulkheads, vents and smoke detectors in the same orientation as the floor plan.
• colour temperatureA measure of how warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish) white light looks, given in kelvins (K): about 2700 K is warm white and 5000 K or more looks like daylight.
• accent lightingDirected light used to highlight a particular object or feature, such as artwork, shelves, a textured wall or a plant, so that it stands out.

More terms: Lighting

• task lighting
• natural light
• dimmer
• pendant light
• wall sconce
• lighting plan