Lighting planning single-family house with LED recessed spots - quantity and position

They were 180mm in diameter.

. :) Make sure that everyone also records where they want to place them and double-check - with me, they had forgotten one in revision 04 of the ceiling plan and I didn't notice it in THIS rev. (I have to core drill afterwards)

I just asked the construction company about the diameter, I can't say off the top of my head. I think the idea of saving a few there is good. The price is 155 EUR per spot (including ceiling outlet, wiring, light bulb, transformer, etc.). So that indeed adds up to a pretty big chunk, so I would very much like to save there.

I would generally first recommend reading up on some basic knowledge about light and the associated planning. There should also be some lighting planners on site who can "shed some light" on things.

Back then, during the planning, I also initially "cluttered" everything up with those strange spots... In the final plan, only a few made it into the kitchen and stairwell.

A little tip: take a look at wall washers (e.g., Artemide Surf, also dimmable); they create shadow-free ambient lighting and an incredibly great atmosphere in your living spaces. I wouldn’t have believed it myself before, but after a demonstration at the local lighting planner’s office and the accompanying explanation of how light works, unfolds, etc., it all became very "enlightening" :)

The price is 155 EUR per spot (including ceiling outlet, wiring, light bulb, transformer, etc.).

It's rather on the expensive side now, but what can you do? The light bulb plus support ring are probably well under 10 EUR, and the wiring likely doesn't cost more than 40 - 50 EUR (at the electrician).

I would generally first recommend reading up a bit on basic knowledge about light and the associated planning. There should be one or the other lighting designer on site who can "shed some light in the darkness."

I have actually already read quite extensively on the internet. I have also considered lighting designers, but on the one hand I find them quite expensive and on the other hand time is currently lacking. The ceilings have to be ordered next week, so it’s getting a bit tight schedule-wise.

Back then during planning, I also initially cluttered everything up with those weird spots... Only a few made it into the finished plan in the kitchen and stairwell.

I am currently also thinning out quite a bit... what did you do instead in the bathroom? I find there are relatively few luminaires in the corresponding protection class that are not recessed and still don't look boring and ugly. Especially in the shower itself, I hardly find any alternatives.

Small tip: Check out wall washers (e.g. Artemide Surf, also dimmable), with those you create shadow-free basic lighting and an incredibly great atmosphere in your living spaces. I myself wouldn’t have believed it before, but after a demonstration at the local lighting designer and the associated explanation of how light works, unfolds etc., it all became very “illuminating.”

Those look really nice, at least in pictures. Do you use them in the living room, or where do you have them? Are they alone able to provide the basic lighting of the room, or do you still have something on the ceiling?

I have actually already done quite a bit of research on the internet. I also considered a lighting planner, but on the one hand they are quite expensive and on the other hand time is currently lacking. The ceilings have to be ordered next week, so the schedule is a bit tight.

There is also literature to read... The internet is not always the best place to start. At least with our lighting planner, the on-site consultation and a demonstration of the various lights and their effects in the showroom are free. The planning costs about €300 with us and was very well invested money. In your current plan, you have about 34 ceiling spots at €155 each (of which I think roughly half are unnecessary after a quick glance), if I saw that correctly. You can do the math yourself... On a sunny day, you can easily have around 100,000 lux, on a dark winter day maybe only 3,000. Normal lighting in living spaces is around 500 lux. You can also burn out your retina in the evening with 50,000 lux. Tell that to the planner, then he will surely find a solution. Lighting planning is not only limited to electric light but starts with the architecture, which - at least during the day - lets natural light into the house.

I am also thinning out quite a bit right now... what did you do instead in the bathroom? I find there are quite few lights in the corresponding protection class that are not recessed and still don’t look boring and ugly. Especially in the shower itself I hardly find any alternatives.

In the large bathroom, we have a ceiling light and a mirror light. I have another connection in the wall above the toilet for a wall light. The ceiling light is bright enough for the shower, dimmable in 3 levels, and therefore more than sufficient.

That one looks really nice, at least in pictures. Do you use it in the living room, or where do you have it? Is it alone capable of providing the basic lighting of the room, or do you still have something on the ceiling?

We have two wall uplighters in the living room (not the original Surf), which have the same effect. Each contains 2x6 watt G9 warm white LEDs. At the dining table, we also have a hanging lamp and in the living room a ceiling lamp. In the kitchen, there are large ceiling spots with a white diffusing cover that distribute the light nicely and don’t shine down like a spotlight from above.