LED residential lights
LED RESIDENTIAL LIGHTS
LED home lighting is planned room by room, from the kitchen to the deck, with one principle that never changes: general light, task light and accent are laid in layers. LEDCO equips Quebec homes with dimmable recessed lights, LED strips in custom-cut aluminum profiles, CRI 90+ LED mirrors, puck lights, outdoor and solar fixtures and their controllers. Here is the plan, room by room, for a new house, a renovation or a condo.
LED home lighting in three layers: general, task and accent
A well-lit room never has a single source. It stacks three, each with its own control:
- General light: the recessed lights or the ceiling fixture, dimmable, to move around and see the whole room.
- Task light: the strip under the cabinets, the bathroom mirror, the pendant over the island, wherever you work.
- Accent: the strip behind the TV or the headboard, the niche, the stairs, what gives the room depth in the evening.
When a room feels flat or glaring, it is almost always because a layer is missing or one layer does all the work. Dimmers and controllers then tie the three together.
Kitchen: recessed lights in the ceiling and LED strip in the #86 profile under the cabinets
The kitchen needs two kinds of light: dimmable LED recessed lights in the ceiling, in 4000K, for crisp light during food prep, and an LED strip in an aluminum profile #86 under the cabinets to remove the shadows on the countertops. Above the island, a pendant or LED track lighting focuses the light on the work surface and creates the room's focal point. The details are on our LED kitchen lights page.
Living room and bedroom: dimmable 2700K, strip behind the TV and the headboard
The living room benefits from layered lighting: dimmable 2700K recessed lights for general light, track spots for artwork and the bookshelf, LED strips behind the TV and under furniture for ambiance. The dimmer is essential there: full light for activities, almost nothing for movies. Where the ceiling cannot be cut, integrated LED fixtures replace the recessed light.
The bedroom follows the same logic, softer: 2700K recessed lights in the ceiling, a strip behind the headboard for accent, a strip under the bed as a night light, and a 4000K strip in the closet to see the true colours of clothes. A CRI 90+ LED mirror completes the vanity corner.
Bathroom: CRI 90+ LED mirror, IP44 recessed lights and IP67 shower niche
The bathroom requires products rated for the wet zone, IP44 at minimum. The front-lit LED mirror, CRI 90 or more, in 3000K or 4000K, is the centrepiece: quality light for daily grooming, with optional anti-fog. IP44 recessed lights in the ceiling complete the general light, and the shower niche gets an IP67 LED strip in a custom-cut #86 profile.
Stairs, closet and basement: the places people forget
These are the places where an LED strip changes the house the most for the least effort. A strip under the nosing of each step or along the handrail makes the stairs safe at night, and it is one of our favourite projects: the staircase of a prestige home and a private residence are among our accomplishments. The basement, often low-ceilinged, prefers slim recessed lights and recessed profiles; the closet, a 4000K strip on top of the shelves. Our LED stair lighting page details the options.
Garage and outdoors: 5000K in the workshop, 3000K around the entrance
In the garage, 5000K cool white light brings out the details for mechanical or woodworking jobs; see the LED garage lights page. Outdoors, everything goes IP65: soffit recessed lights for the entrance and the driveway, wall sconces on the façade, LED puck lights in the steps, an IP67 strip under the deck railing, and solar LED fixtures for the garden and paths with no wiring. In 3000K, the outdoor light stays warm and matches the entrance.
DLX, DLS, DLF and DLT recessed lights: which one for which room
Our slim recessed lights cover every room in the house. The DLX 4" round 8W recessed light, also available square and in 3", is the usual format for hallways and bedrooms; the DLS 4" 9W and the DLF 4" slim 9W serve the kitchen and the living room; the DLT 4" trimless 12W recessed light disappears into the drywall for a clean ceiling. The RGBW and RGBW-CCT versions add colour in a home theatre or a playroom.
Technical tips for successful LED home lighting
A dimmer in every living space. It is what turns good lighting into pleasant lighting, and it is planned at wiring time.
One shade of white per room. 2700K in living spaces, 4000K in the kitchen, bathroom and closet, 5000K in the garage.
The strip always goes in a profile. It lasts longer, the light becomes a continuous line, and the fixture arrives ready to install.
Outdoors, nothing less than IP65. Rain, snow and frost wear out anything not made to stay outside year-round.
Plan the circuits before the drywall. Recessed lights, strips and mirrors each have their own supply; adding them afterwards costs a lot more.
LED home lighting FAQ
How far should recessed lights be from the kitchen cabinets?
In line with the edge of the counter rather than above the upper cabinets, so the light falls on the work surface and not on the doors. The strip under the cabinets then takes care of the zone right below them, where the recessed light casts a shadow.
What colour temperature for residential LED lighting?
2700K or 3000K in the living room, dining room and bedrooms; 4000K in the kitchen, bathroom and closets; 5000K in the garage and workshop. Outdoors, 3000K keeps the entrance welcoming.
3" or 4" recessed light?
The 4" is the usual format for living spaces; the 3", more discreet, suits hallways, closets and busy ceilings. Both come round and square in the DLX family.
Do I need a dimmer everywhere?
In every living space, yes. In the garage, the closet and the laundry room, a plain switch is enough. Check the dimmer's compatibility with the recessed light or the power supply before buying.
Do the same products suit a condo or a multi-unit building?
Yes: slim recessed lights, strips in profiles and LED mirrors install just as well in a condo as in a house, and a multi-unit project benefits from identical fixtures from one unit to the next. Contact LEDCO for an LED home lighting plan, room by room, product by product.
