indoor LED lights
INDOOR LED LIGHTS
Getting LED indoor lighting right starts with choosing the right type of fixture for the ceiling, the use of the room and the light level you need. A drywall ceiling, a suspended grid ceiling and a cove do not call for the same product. This page covers the main LED families available at LEDCO, from 3 and 4-inch downlights to 2x2 and 2x4 panels, with practical criteria for each. For a room-by-room guide, see our LED home lighting, room by room page instead.
LED indoor lighting: start from the ceiling and the use
Before looking at spec sheets, ask yourself two questions: what ceiling, and for what purpose? The quick selection guide:
- Drywall ceiling: slim LED downlights, round or square.
- Suspended grid ceiling: LED panels that take the place of the tiles.
- Cove, furniture, staircase: LED strip in an aluminum profile.
- Accent that needs to change: track spotlights.
- Garage, workshop, utility basement: integrated LED fixtures.
DLX, DLS, DLF and DLT LED downlights: how to choose
LED ceiling downlights are the most versatile indoor fixture: invisible in the ceiling, they provide general or accent lighting depending on their beam. Diameter guides the choice: 3 inches for accent, 4 inches for everyday residential lighting. The 4" round DLX slim downlight also comes in square and in 3 inches; the 4" DLT trimless downlight blends into the drywall; the DLS and DLF series add more powerful versions, in 24V or in RGBW.
For a counter, a hallway or a contemporary ceiling, the 10W-18W linear LED downlight draws a line rather than a point. Before buying, check that the downlight is dimmable with your dimmer, TRIAC or 0-10V depending on the model.
LED strip and aluminum profile: light that follows the architecture
LED strips paired with a surface aluminum profile offer a flexibility few fixtures can match. The profile acts as a heat sink, which extends the life of the strip, and as a diffuser to soften the light. You find them in coves for indirect lighting, under kitchen cabinets, under the nosing of stair treads, in bookcase shelving or at the base of a wall.
Strip wattage is chosen according to the effect you want: low for ambient lighting, medium for accent, high for task lighting. Power is 12V or 24V depending on the length of the run. The custom builder cuts the profile and strip to the exact length of a wall, a cove or a piece of furniture.
2x2, 1x4 and 2x4 LED panels for drop ceilings
In an office, a meeting room, a clinic, a store or a basement with a suspended ceiling, ceiling LED panels are the go-to drop ceiling LED lights: they sit directly in the grid, in place of the tiles or the old fluorescent fixtures. The 2x4 LED panel (36W-40W-45W) and its 2x2 and 1x4 formats run on 120V-347V and offer three selectable colour temperatures (3CCT).
Track spotlights: accent you can move
LED track spotlights can be aimed one by one along a ceiling-mounted track. They suit spaces where the accent needs to change: a gallery or a wall of artwork, a kitchen island, a store or showroom that refreshes its displays, a living room with an art or plant collection. Tracks, connectors and spotlights are all in our LED ceiling track lighting.
Integrated LED fixtures: wraparounds, vapour-tights and workshop linears
Integrated LED light fixtures have their LEDs built right into the housing: nothing to assemble, surface or suspended mounting. The 4-foot LED wraparound and its 2, 3 and 8-foot versions light a basement, a games room, a laundry room or a storage room; the 4 or 8-foot vapour-tight fixture suits a damp garage, and the 46-inch linear workshop fixture suits the workbench.
Dimmers and controllers: setting the mood
The same fixture can serve for work in the afternoon and for ambiance in the evening, as long as you can adjust its intensity. LED dimmers and controllers adjust the light of a strip or a dimmable fixture, and some control the colour of an RGBW strip. Always check compatibility between the dimmer, the power supply and the fixture before buying.
Technical tips for LED indoor lighting
Aim for the right light level. Allow 150 to 300 lux for a hallway or bedroom, 300 to 500 lux for a kitchen or office, and 500 to 750 lux for a workshop.
Line up the downlights. A regular grid, parallel to the walls, looks neater than a random layout and lights more evenly.
Always hide the strip. In a profile or a cove, you see the lit surface, never the points of light.
Check dimming before you order. A non-dimmable fixture on a dimmer flickers; the spec sheet tells you whether it is compatible.
Questions about choosing a product, a power supply or dimmer compatibility? Contact the LEDCO team.
LED Indoor Lighting FAQ
Which LED fixture for a suspended ceiling?
The LED panel, in 2x2, 1x4 or 2x4 format, which sits directly in the grid in place of a tile or an old fluorescent fixture. These suspended ceiling LED lights give even light across their whole surface and run on 120V-347V. For a drywall ceiling, slim downlights are the better choice.
What is an integrated LED fixture?
It is a fixture whose LEDs are part of the housing: no tube or bulb to change. Wraparounds, vapour-tight fixtures and workshop linears are examples. They mount directly to the ceiling, on the surface, which makes them the simplest solution for a basement, a garage or a laundry room.
Downlight or LED strip: which one to choose?
A downlight lights the room from above: that is general lighting. A strip in a profile gives indirect light that highlights a cove, a piece of furniture or a staircase: that is ambiance and accent. Successful LED indoor lighting often combines both.
How many lux does a room need?
For a hallway or bedroom, 150 to 300 lux is enough. A kitchen or office needs 300 to 500 lux, and a workshop or precise work surface 500 to 750 lux. The number of fixtures follows from that level and the floor area of the room.
Will my LED downlights work with my dimmer?
It depends on the model: some downlights dim with TRIAC, others with 0-10V. Check the spec sheet of the downlight and that of the dimmer before buying. If needed, our team will confirm compatibility with you.
