Lighting planning ceiling LED spots

Ah, I did write that. Panels and strips. Kitchens are predestined for surface and strip lighting.

But what you often see then is this here:



Dark kitchens and light cones. Brr. Often for a lot of money, since spots in filigree ceilings often don’t cost just 10-20 euros, but rather 100+ per light point. You want to go to the builder and ask who committed this and why???

Large panels simply produce diffuse, soft light.
Well, honestly, the picture doesn’t say much about the quality of the spot lighting.
The spots under the window look poor. Possibly positioned too close to the wall, misaligned, etc.
If you don’t think about the distribution of recessed lights, the beam angle, and the power of the light sources beforehand, then it could look like this. But it wouldn’t necessarily look better with a weak panel.

Whether you install recessed lights, panels, or some pendant lamps is a matter of taste.
You really have to engage with light a bit before doing lighting planning.

Actually, it’s not that difficult.
Large light source relative to the object, surface = soft light, low contrast, and soft light-shadow transitions.
Small light source relative to the object, surface = hard light, high contrast, sharp shadow edges.

A recessed light with a 40° beam angle or a pendant lamp with 120° will both produce hard and contrast-rich light. (Recessed light somewhat more contrast-rich due to directed light)

The light only becomes softer when the light source is enlarged.
For example: clear sky = small light source = hard light
cloudy sky = large light source (clouds) = soft light

You just have to think about where and what kind of light is needed.

Just to clarify again: The term "spot" does not indicate whether a lamp is built into the ceiling or not. Nevertheless, this meaning is repeatedly (incorrectly) assumed, including by @Grantlhaua.

I am aware of that too, but I think if one were that precise, it would only confuse most people here.

What confuses me much more is talking about spots and meaning recessed ceiling lights.

We have installed recessed spotlights throughout the entire basement. And not just a few. Of course, it is important to pay attention to how you want the light cone. We have swivel and dimmable versions with a wide light cone. I find it to be a very pleasant warm lighting. In the kitchen above the counter, we additionally have a pendant light (I would never do that again, it needs to be cleaned of grease at least once a week) and spotlights under the wall cabinets, which I love.
The staircase and the upper floor only have wall lights, but this is due to the room height with an open-designed ceiling.

So tastes can be that different.

What confuses me much more is talking about spots and meaning recessed ceiling spotlights.

Then just enter it on Amazon and others and you will find almost only recessed ceiling spotlights.

I deliberately ordered frames without light bulbs and then selected and installed the GU10 lamps accordingly.

Then just enter it on Amazon and the like and you will find almost only recessed ceiling spotlights

Repeating something wrong does not make it right.