Craving for a much-needed interior makeover for your house? Then you must definitely consider getting a false ceiling LED lighting setup. The false ceiling LED lightings are pretty much in trend nowadays. They are used rampantly in showrooms and commercial spaces for creating an ambience. The same is being used in home décor to give it an edge over traditional lighting options. There are various options available and we are providing you with a guide to getting the perfect ambient lighting for your interiors without consulting an interior designer.

#1. What’s a false ceiling in the first place?

Before heading on to the false ceiling LED lights, let’s first understand what a false ceiling is. It is basically a second ceiling perched below the main ceiling with some support mechanism. These ceilings are used for decorative lighting and also for thermal insulation purposes. They create a space of utility without direct damage to the original ceiling.

#2. What are the types of false ceiling lights?

The false ceiling lights serve different functions and they can be categorized according to their purposes:

• Ambient lights: These types of lights form the primary source of illumination. This lighting is used for the overall lighting of a place. When using ambient lights, you can create a complete makeover of a particular area as to how it looks after being lighted up because the source of lighting gets changed.
• Task lights: These kinds of lights are used for a specific purpose. They can be used in a particular area designated for an activity. E.g. Office LED lights are used in false ceilings and track lights are used in hallways, party lounges, bars, etc for focusing light on a particular area.
• Accent lights: These lights are a secondary source that creates a dramatic effect where it’s used. It can be used for increasing the brightness of the room or for creating a dramatic effect in a particular corner.

Let’s see some examples of commonly used false ceiling lights:

#Recessed lightings

These are lights used in a hollow in a false ceiling and the source of the light is hidden. As such, it provides a focused spotlight when used as a spotlight like in retail showrooms, or when used at a distance covering the entire ceiling; it creates soft ambient lighting to the space like your drawing room or living area.

#Drop pendant lights

These lights are suspended at a height from the ceiling. They come in a wide variety in terms of look, feel and design. Rods or chains can be used and the light bulbs are available in different colors. These lights can easily add a vintage feel to the living space, rooms, balconies, etc when used keeping the aesthetics of the interior décor in mind. Sleek, modern pendant lights with a neutral finish can give a minimalist look as well. They can also be used over a tabletop, foyer or at staircase landings to create beautiful and focused illumination. There is a variant of the pendant light called the inverted pendant light. Here, instead of the light facing downwards, it faces upwards. These kinds of lights create a halo effect on the ceiling. They are commonly used above kitchen islands but can be used anywhere to create ambient lighting in any part of your house.

#Cove lightings

These are accent lights and are used for illuminating the divisions or borders of a false ceiling. They can create warmth and a dreamy atmosphere in your bedroom or living space. The lights themselves are not visible and are installed inside the depression or bars of a false ceiling. They are projected upwards so that the lights bounce off the ceiling to create a soft, diffused light. They create illuminated borders and enhance the source illumination. They are used as backlit ceilings in combination with other false ceiling lights like recessed lights and chandeliers. They can also be used as standalone lighting for a warm, diffused atmosphere.

#Track lights

These lights are a linear series of lights used for spotlighting a particular area. They are often used in galleries and showrooms for flaunting an object. It can be used for a similar purpose at your home if you have paintings or artefacts for showcasing. You can use it in your hallways or lounge areas when having a party at your house. It can literally change the atmosphere during evening events. These lights have angled necks and can be adjusted for focus. They are also used in office and commercial spaces for focusing on glass shelves, architecture and highlighting a design.

#Flush lights

These lights are suited for low ceilings. A flush mount light can be used in a room of up to 10 ft ceiling height. Semi-flush lights can be used for higher ceilings. These lights look very ornate and can serve as a décor item along with illumination. They are mounted in designer frames and the compact light has no space between the surface of the ceiling and the lighting. They can beautify a small space like a kitchen corner, a reading room, basement rooms and attics.

#3. What to keep in mind before installing false ceiling lights?

False ceiling lights can create a beautiful ambience only if used in the right way. If used in the wrong setup, even the most beautiful looking lights with a lot of money invested can make a room look dull and uninteresting. So here are some tips to keep in mind before getting false ceiling lights installed:

• Always check where the shadow would fall after the light gets installed. The lights look beautiful because they cast shadows in the right places and angles. Improper lighting will cause uneven illumination and shadows in the wrong places. E.g. In a big room instead of adding numerous lights, use corner recession lights or cove lighting with a centre flushed light or chandelier as the core of attention.
• The lights need to be compatible with the ceiling height. Consider how high or low your ceiling is before settling for a particular lighting setup. Pendant lights hung too close to the centre table or using a huge chandelier above a small table can look disproportionate and cause wrong illumination. It’s a thumb rule to keep a gap between the lowest point of a chandelier light and the floor at approximately 2 meters and not less than 1.5 meters.

We hope this guide would help you to choose the right kind of false ceiling lights for your home. LED lights are an inexpensive option with low power consumption for usage in today’s false ceiling lights. Consider using them as a first option before you choose other ideal options for lighting.