How to Use Low-level and Floor-recessed Lighting – Indoors and Out
We’re all accustomed to ceiling-mounted lights, but don’t miss the opportunities floor lighting can offer to add interest and atmosphere
Low-level and floor-recessed lighting serves many purposes and adds another interesting dimension to a room. Uplighting in this way can lift your eye up in a space, making the most of rooms with low ceilings. Wall washes or floor washes can emphasise materials and textures, while low-level accent lighting can add an unusual focal point or simply provide a low-glare pathway of light in the evening.
LED lighting, which is relatively cool to the touch, has made low-level lighting much easier to use without fear of burning fingers or fabrics. Check out these effective ideas – and don’t ignore the floor!
LED lighting, which is relatively cool to the touch, has made low-level lighting much easier to use without fear of burning fingers or fabrics. Check out these effective ideas – and don’t ignore the floor!
Add atmosphere
Floor-mounted LED lights can provide a beautifully soft glow in a bathroom. Having the floor lights on a separate circuit adds the flexibility to have a moody, dimly lit soak for those pampering evenings.
LED means fittings are cool to the touch and they should be available in a variety of IP ratings (the rating for protection against ingress by solids and liquids). There are regulations governing the use of light fittings in bathrooms and other wet areas, so make sure your electrician is happy with your choice of fitting and the level of IP rating it offers.
Find more ways to balance bathroom lighting for the perfect mood
Floor-mounted LED lights can provide a beautifully soft glow in a bathroom. Having the floor lights on a separate circuit adds the flexibility to have a moody, dimly lit soak for those pampering evenings.
LED means fittings are cool to the touch and they should be available in a variety of IP ratings (the rating for protection against ingress by solids and liquids). There are regulations governing the use of light fittings in bathrooms and other wet areas, so make sure your electrician is happy with your choice of fitting and the level of IP rating it offers.
Find more ways to balance bathroom lighting for the perfect mood
Perk up a patio
The same range of IP ratings that makes LED lighting a possibility for bathrooms also makes them an option for imaginative external lighting, too. Integrating lighting into decking takes some pre-planning, but it can produce wonderful effects at night.
Particular thought needs to be given to the location of the drivers (the control gear that steps down the incoming 230v to the low output needed to drive an LED). The connection between the fittings and the driver is the most likely failure point in an external location, so make sure there’s provision for a waterproof enclosure or that the connections are made in a waterproof way.
The same range of IP ratings that makes LED lighting a possibility for bathrooms also makes them an option for imaginative external lighting, too. Integrating lighting into decking takes some pre-planning, but it can produce wonderful effects at night.
Particular thought needs to be given to the location of the drivers (the control gear that steps down the incoming 230v to the low output needed to drive an LED). The connection between the fittings and the driver is the most likely failure point in an external location, so make sure there’s provision for a waterproof enclosure or that the connections are made in a waterproof way.
Light up the whole house
External, ground-recessed LED uplights are capable of much more than providing interesting accent lighting. Light output from LED has improved dramatically in recent years, meaning that whole-house uplighting is possible from relatively modest fittings. If you can, test your light against the material you’re looking to illuminate before committing to a whole-house scheme.
Look for fittings that offer the best protection against glare. The higher-output fittings used in this courtyard offer a central baffle and a glare guard, which means the light is directed onto the stone and timber walls rather than shining 360 degrees around.
Multiple small LED fittings can be driven by a single driver, but a higher-output fitting typically requires its own. Pay attention to driver locations and take advice from an electrician or a lighting expert on how long the cable between the fittings and the driver can be.
External, ground-recessed LED uplights are capable of much more than providing interesting accent lighting. Light output from LED has improved dramatically in recent years, meaning that whole-house uplighting is possible from relatively modest fittings. If you can, test your light against the material you’re looking to illuminate before committing to a whole-house scheme.
Look for fittings that offer the best protection against glare. The higher-output fittings used in this courtyard offer a central baffle and a glare guard, which means the light is directed onto the stone and timber walls rather than shining 360 degrees around.
Multiple small LED fittings can be driven by a single driver, but a higher-output fitting typically requires its own. Pay attention to driver locations and take advice from an electrician or a lighting expert on how long the cable between the fittings and the driver can be.
Look for linear options
Low-level lighting doesn’t have to mean using a point source, such as individual LED uplights or recessed wall lights. Linear fittings produce a very different effect, offering a soft, uninterrupted glow that can wash under work surfaces or kick spaces.
Linear fittings are versatile, ranging from simple LED tape to more robust fittings in a more rigid profile. They’re often specified in colour-changing configurations or in a range of whites at different colour temperatures.
Read expert advice about LEDs, including colour temperature
Low-level lighting doesn’t have to mean using a point source, such as individual LED uplights or recessed wall lights. Linear fittings produce a very different effect, offering a soft, uninterrupted glow that can wash under work surfaces or kick spaces.
Linear fittings are versatile, ranging from simple LED tape to more robust fittings in a more rigid profile. They’re often specified in colour-changing configurations or in a range of whites at different colour temperatures.
Read expert advice about LEDs, including colour temperature
Set it up to look continuous
Linear LED lighting works best when the individual diodes are concealed from view, giving the impression of a continuous light source rather than a series of lights.
The very low profiles of some linear LED fittings mean they can be concealed in relatively small coving or shadow gaps. Here, the lighting adds drama to a simple hallway and stairs, with the fittings hidden away in recesses in the walls. This effect requires the staircase and lighting to be designed in tandem to accommodate the space for the recesses.
Linear LED lighting works best when the individual diodes are concealed from view, giving the impression of a continuous light source rather than a series of lights.
The very low profiles of some linear LED fittings mean they can be concealed in relatively small coving or shadow gaps. Here, the lighting adds drama to a simple hallway and stairs, with the fittings hidden away in recesses in the walls. This effect requires the staircase and lighting to be designed in tandem to accommodate the space for the recesses.
Highlight steps with single fittings
A simpler approach is to use low-level accent lights, either above or in the skirting itself. This solution still requires pre-planning and would involve disruption if retro-fitted, but it would need less architectural modification.
Look for fittings designed for this application. There are dedicated LED fittings available with glare shields and some are also available with angled optics, so the light is thrown onto the tread while minimising the risk of direct glare into the eyes of anyone ascending the stairs.
A simpler approach is to use low-level accent lights, either above or in the skirting itself. This solution still requires pre-planning and would involve disruption if retro-fitted, but it would need less architectural modification.
Look for fittings designed for this application. There are dedicated LED fittings available with glare shields and some are also available with angled optics, so the light is thrown onto the tread while minimising the risk of direct glare into the eyes of anyone ascending the stairs.
Ramp up your treads
An alternative low-level approach for staircase lighting is to illuminate the treads themselves. Because linear fittings can be supplied to measure, it’s possible to create beautiful bespoke effects in very small areas.
Here, the low-profile LED fitting is concealed behind the drop on the front of the tread, meaning the diodes can’t be seen at any angle when climbing the stairs.
An alternative low-level approach for staircase lighting is to illuminate the treads themselves. Because linear fittings can be supplied to measure, it’s possible to create beautiful bespoke effects in very small areas.
Here, the low-profile LED fitting is concealed behind the drop on the front of the tread, meaning the diodes can’t be seen at any angle when climbing the stairs.
Line up outdoor linear options
Linear LED lighting doesn’t have to be restricted to internal use. Fittings are available in a range of IP ratings, allowing use outdoors, as in this rooftop garden.
The fittings are Red, Green, Blue, White (RGBW), controlled by a DMX controller and lighting control system. The combination allows the colour change to flow along the fittings and across the decking, making for a great party space.
Be inspired by more outdoor lighting options
Linear LED lighting doesn’t have to be restricted to internal use. Fittings are available in a range of IP ratings, allowing use outdoors, as in this rooftop garden.
The fittings are Red, Green, Blue, White (RGBW), controlled by a DMX controller and lighting control system. The combination allows the colour change to flow along the fittings and across the decking, making for a great party space.
Be inspired by more outdoor lighting options
Try it alongside foliage
Low-level lighting doesn’t have to be restricted to hard surfaces. A low-level light source and luxuriant foliage are a great combination, delivering wonderfully concealed garden lighting for a magical feel at night.
Give the same consideration to drivers, driver locations, cable lengths and waterproof connections as you would when lighting your patio or decking and you can enjoy a beautiful, low-maintenance garden scheme for years to come.
TELL US…
How have you used floor and recessed lighting to enhance your space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Low-level lighting doesn’t have to be restricted to hard surfaces. A low-level light source and luxuriant foliage are a great combination, delivering wonderfully concealed garden lighting for a magical feel at night.
Give the same consideration to drivers, driver locations, cable lengths and waterproof connections as you would when lighting your patio or decking and you can enjoy a beautiful, low-maintenance garden scheme for years to come.
TELL US…
How have you used floor and recessed lighting to enhance your space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
A basic floor-recessed uplight can provide an interesting and different effect when illuminating hard surfaces. Stone and wood can respond particularly well to being lit from below, as this scheme demonstrates, and mixing uplights on the stone with downlights on the picture gives a more dramatic effect than a blanket downlight approach.
Using the floor as a mounting point requires advance planning. If you’re thinking of installing underfloor heating (UFH), you need to make sure the cabling and any installation sleeves are put in place before the screed is laid.