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Good lighting is undoubtedly the be-all and end-all of a cozy home. The days of the standard ceiling lamp are long gone, because today there are no limits to creativity.
Now DIY enthusiasts can, quite literally, let off steam when lighting their house or apartment. Whether LED spots, LED strips or LED rails, whether recessed or surface-mounted lights – there is a perfect solution that brings the character of your interior into ideal focus.
For this purpose, you will find lights for all applications at Heimwerkertools: not only conventional room lighting, but also modern backlighting for furniture or lighting as part of your kitchen and cabinet fittings are more in demand than ever.
But how do you choose the right lighting for your rooms? No question, every room has its own personality, which should be reflected by the lighting. Here you will not only learn what you need to consider when lighting your apartment, but also which lamps, lights and accessories will help you implement your lighting design.
Which lighting is right for you?
Your home is not just a living space for you and your family, but also a refuge where you can relax completely, recover from everyday life and recharge your batteries.
How well your apartment or house fulfills this task depends above all on one factor: the right lighting. Light makes a significant contribution to our well-being. Light can have a calming effect, but it can also have exactly the opposite effect. With light that is too bright, white and direct, it is almost impossible to relax – many people even get headaches from it.
To avoid this, you should include the right lighting in your house planning from the outset and design it as effectively as possible. But even if you live in an older house in which lighting design was not considered at all, you still have many options to increase the comfort factor of your living space with the right lighting.
There are countless light sources available. So that you don’t lose track of all the choices, we recommend the following lights for a modern room feel:
- LED lighting such as LED strips or LED tracks
- Recessed lights in the form of ceiling spots
- Surface-mounted lights such as reading lamps, cabinet or mirror lights
However, the right lighting concept depends not only on your preferences, but also on the intended use of the respective room. Let’s now look at how brightness affects this.
How brightness influences the feel of a room
Of course, the decorative character of your lighting also plays a major role. However, it is important to first clarify how much brightness the respective room requires. As a rule, lighting in the bathroom, kitchen or office is brighter and more targeted than, for example, in the living room or bedroom.
Where concentration and optimal visibility are of great importance, there are different requirements than where relaxation comes first.
Ceiling height and room size also influence the choice of optimal lighting. Today, brightness is no longer primarily measured in watts, but in lumens. The lumen value indicates the amount of light your lighting produces.
The ideal illumination for kitchens and bathrooms is generally up to 300 lumens per square meter, while a brightness of around 100 lumens per square meter is sufficient in living areas.
Now you know how many lumens you need, but what else should you consider when planning your lighting?
Our 5 tips for the right lighting
Which lighting you choose for your living and working spaces naturally depends on your style and the conditions of your rooms. However, there are some basic things you should always take into account when planning your lighting concepts:
- Make sure there are enough sockets or extension cables
- Decide separately for each room
- Create variety with direct and indirect light
- Pay attention to the right light color
- Warm white is considered relaxing
- Neutral white activates the mind
- Daylight white promotes concentration
- Choose the right lumen output for your room individually
You can now find out which lights you can use to implement the perfect lighting concept in your home.
Indirect lighting with LED strips: how to showcase your home with style
LED strips are flexible lighting bands suitable for a wide variety of applications. They come with a power supply and a remote control, which often even has a dimming function and allows operation via smartphone.
LED strips are available in various lengths – however, the rule of thumb is that each processed LED strip should be no longer than 5 meters to achieve the best performance and avoid brightness loss.
Compared to other lights, LED strips have one essential feature that makes them so popular: they enable light animations in different colors, such as running lights. If you love playing with light and unusual lighting accents, LED strips are the perfect choice.
Of course, you do not have to use this function, because LED strips are also wonderfully suited if you want simple, subtle lighting. They are not only space-saving and energy-saving, but also particularly durable with a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours – what more could you want? In our blog you will find 6 reasons why you should switch to LEDs now.
The following applications are particularly popular for LED strips:
- Indirect lighting for furniture
- Stylish backlighting for TVs, beds and more
- Lighting for safe stairs or hallways
- Effective lighting for kitchen worktops
Control your lighting effectively with switches, dimmers and remote controls
A modern lighting concept naturally consists not only of the light source and the fixture itself, but also of a range of accessories. As already mentioned, lighting in your home has a major impact on your well-being – and that doesn’t stop at the light bulb.
With practical accessories for your lighting, you make life easier and add an extra dose of comfort. First and foremost, of course, the remote control, which means you no longer have to leave the sofa to change the light.
Remote controls have also proven useful for bedroom lighting. This way, you no longer have to fumble around in the dark, but can switch the light off conveniently from bed.
Another essential accessory for your lighting is stylish switches and practical dimmers. The classics are, of course, conventional wall switches, push switches and foot switches. However, there are now many special switches that guarantee the best possible comfort.
Depending on the application for which you are planning your lighting, Bluetooth switches, motion detectors or sensor switches for touchless on/off operation may also be of interest to you. No matter which lighting you choose, you will find the right switch in our online shop.
Mirror lights give you the perfect view
A stylish surface-mounted light for the mirror is naturally a must in any bathroom. After all, what could be worse than getting ready in the morning in poor light? But don’t worry: high-quality mirror lights from Gedotec or Domus Line provide the solution and ensure a clear view when applying makeup, shaving and more.
Thanks to their optimal lumen output, mirror lights are ideal for rooms where good illumination is essential. In addition, they are often splash-proof, so you don’t have to worry when using them in the bathroom. Using an LED mirror light guarantees a long service life, low energy consumption and even illumination of your room – no matter how big or small your bathroom is.
Do you not yet have a mirror light in your apartment? That’s no problem at all, because retrofitting a mirror light is easier than you probably think. In the Heimwerkertools range, for example, you will find mirror lights that can be clamped onto your mirror very easily and simply – so you can avoid drilling.
Even if your bathroom already has a mirror light but you do not like it and therefore want to switch to another fixture, you will find instructions in our blog on how to replace or retrofit an LED mirror light.
Under-cabinet lights, recessed lights and spots provide subtle yet modern lighting
Step by step, the ever-popular ceiling spots have completely replaced conventional ceiling lamps. In modern homes, LED under-cabinet and recessed lights can now be found almost exclusively.
The reasons for this are many: recessed lights are discreet, modern and still provide optimal illumination – not least thanks to the option of distributing them evenly throughout living spaces. This means the light is exactly where you need it. For example, many home builders choose to install more LED recessed lights in the dining area, while only a few spots with dimmers are used in the bedroom.
Recessed and under-cabinet lights come in various designs and shapes, so you can match your spots perfectly to the style of your home. But LED recessed lights are ideal not only for houses and apartments. Since most spots operate at 12 volts, they are also the perfect addition for campers or van conversions.
It doesn’t always have to be recessed: enhance your home with versatile surface-mounted lights
Of course, not everyone has the privilege of being able to decide at the construction stage which lighting will be installed. But even as a tenant, you have many options for shaping the lighting in your home. A good way to provide stylish and individual lighting is with surface-mounted lights.
The big advantage is that they are characterized by easy installation. If you are still a rather inexperienced DIYer, you don’t need to hesitate before buying a surface-mounted light. Their child’s-play installation makes them an ideal addition to or alternative for recessed lights.
Surface-mounted lights are as versatile as your home. Do you love reading passionately before going to sleep? Then a reading lamp mounted on the bed could be just right for you. Is there not enough light when choosing your outfits? Then you should opt for a surface-mounted light for your wardrobe. Or perhaps you are simply looking for a toilet light equipped with a motion detector? In that case, too, you will find the right surface-mounted light in the Heimwerkertools range.
Whether in the kitchen, living room or entrance area: LED rails are always the right choice
You already know about the many advantages of LED lights. If LED strips are not for you and you are looking for a stylish, permanently installed LED version, LED rails are the right choice for you.
If you choose an LED rail for recessed or under-cabinet installation in the kitchen, bathroom and more, you can choose from many different profiles. Whether the low-cost plastic version or the elegant aluminum look, LED rails are available for every budget.
If you are an accomplished DIY enthusiast and want to put together your own LED rail, you will find exactly the right components for your project in our online shop. Of course, our range also includes ready-made profiles that beginners can easily install themselves.
Don’t forget the right electrical accessories such as power supplies and cables for your lighting!
If you want to put together and install your own lighting, there is no way around choosing the right electrical accessories. What exactly you need for the installation naturally depends on your lighting concept. But don’t worry, the Heimwerkertools range includes everything you need – from recessed housings in various colors and shapes to different sockets and Bluetooth receivers.
The right distributors, power supplies and cables are also essential, especially when installing LED lights. Important: when purchasing, make sure that the accessories are well matched to your light in terms of performance and design to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Conclusion: The optimal lighting gives your home the ultimate feel-good factor
Stylish lighting is undoubtedly the showpiece of your apartment or house. With the right light sources, however, you not only give your home a special character, but also create an unmistakable feel-good atmosphere where you can relax optimally.
When planning your lighting, you should make sure to choose the right brightness for your room. Your kitchen, bathroom and office need higher lumen levels of up to 300 lumens per square meter than your living spaces, which require only 100 lumens per square meter.
The light color is also decisive for the atmosphere in your rooms. While neutral white or daylight white light should be used in the bathroom and kitchen, most people prefer warm white, relaxing light in the living room or bedroom.
Whether LED light, surface-mounted light or electrical accessories – discover our wide online range of high-quality branded products.