Downlights and spotlights are two lamps that look similar after installation. Their common installation methods are embedded in the ceiling. If there is no research or special pursuit in lighting design, it is easy to confuse the concepts of the two, and then it is found that the lighting effect is not what you expected after installation.
1. Appearance difference between downlight and spotlight
The spotlight tube is deep
From the appearance, the spotlight has a beam angle structure, so the whole lamp of the spotlight has a deep experience. It seems that the beam angle and the lamp beads can be seen, which is a bit like the lamp body of the flashlight used in the countryside in the past.
▲ spotlight
Downlight body is flat
The downlight is similar to the ceiling lamp, which is composed of a mask and LED light source. It seems that there is no lamp bead, but only a white lampshade panel.
▲ downlight
2. Light efficiency difference between downlight and spotlight
Spotlight light source concentration
The spotlight has a beam angle structure. The light source will be relatively concentrated. The lighting will be concentrated in one area, and the light will shine farther and brighter.
▲ the light source of the spotlight is centralized, which is suitable for small-scale lighting of the background wall.
Downlights are evenly distributed
The light source of the downlight will diverge from the panel to the surrounding, and the light source will be more scattered, but also more uniform, and the light will shine wider and wider.
▲ the light source of down lamp is relatively scattered and uniform, which is suitable for large-area lighting.
3. The application scenarios of downlight and spotlight are different
Spotlight suitable for background wall
The light source of the spotlight is relatively concentrated, which is mainly used to set off the design focus of a certain place. It is generally used on the background wall. With the contrast of the spotlight, the shapes and decorative paintings on the background wall make the lighting effect of the space bright and dark, rich in layers, and better highlight the design highlights.
▲ the hanging picture on the background wall will be more beautiful with spotlight.
Downlight suitable for lighting
The light source of downlight is relatively scattered and uniform. It is generally used in large-scale applications in aisles and without main lights. The uniform lighting makes the whole space bright and spacious, and can replace the main lights as an auxiliary light source for space lighting.
For example, in the design of the living room without a main lamp, by evenly distributing down lights on the ceiling, a bright and comfortable space lighting effect can be achieved without a large main lamp. In addition, under the lighting of multiple light sources, the whole living room will be brighter and more comfortable without dark corners.
▲ the ceiling mounted downlight without main lamp will make the whole space more bright and generous.
In such a space as the corridor, there are usually beams on the ceiling of the corridor. For the sake of aesthetics, the ceiling is usually made on the ceiling of the corridor. The corridor with the ceiling can be equipped with several concealed downlights as lighting fixtures. The uniform lighting design of downlights will also make the corridor more bright and generous, avoiding the visual sense of congestion caused by the small corridor.
▲ down lights are installed in the aisle space as lighting, which is bright, practical and comfortable.
To sum up, the difference between spotlight and downlight: first, in appearance, spotlight looks deep and has beam angle, while downlight looks flat; Secondly, in terms of lighting effect, the light source of spotlight is relatively concentrated, while the light source of downlight is relatively uniform; Finally, in the operation scenario, the spotlight is generally used for the background wall, while the downlight is used for the aisle and large-scale use without main lights
Post time: Jun-14-2022
