How to manage downlight glare in your home?

Glare would have to be one of the most uncomfortable feelings light can create, but it is also the cause of some of the most spectacular lighting effects we all enjoy in our decorative pendants.

How can that be?  Well it’s important to understand what glare actually is before you start.

Glare is, at it’s essence, an uncomfortable visual sensation caused when a source of light is considerably brighter than it’s surrounding lit environment.  It’s a bright light vs dull background situation.

(scientifically speaking there are 2 types of glare, but we’re going to focus on the glare most commonly foisted on unsuspecting home owners here rather than a full scientific exploration of the topic)

Contrast is a double edge sword when it comes to light.  Without it our environment is bland, boring and flat.  Too much contrast and you’re squinting, covering your eyes and running for the hills.

 So why are some downlights glary and some not? 

There’s a bunch of slightly misleading marketing stuff around this topic, but at it’s heart it comes down to how visible the light escaping the light fitting is to the naked eye, compared to the light level of the surface around the light. 

 Simply put – a white ceiling when the sun is down is a very dark surface – deep in shadow.  Turn on tiny little holes of bright diffused light (standard downlights or pancakes if you will) and you suddenly have a grey shadowed surface broken up with intense bright spots. 

Glare – and not the good kind.

Glary downlights every square meter across the ceiling.

If you’re going to insist on filling a ceiling with downlights, at least choose downlights where the source is hidden further back in the fitting, [meaning “low glare” design - see image below] , this will at least mean that whilst it may be mildly comfortable when you first turn those lights on in your shadowing ceiling as your eyes adjust, they will adjust and you’ll be as comfortable as it’s possible to be living under a dozen or so spotlights aimed at the top of your head.

Standard Downlight Ultra Low Glare Downlight

The other way to manage the glare is to manage the overall brightness of the surface the light is sitting in.  If you turn on a bunch of lamps, pushing light up to the ceiling, then the downlights are suddenly LESS glary – because the ceiling is brighter and so the contrast between the 2 surfaces is reduced.

Simple.

In lighting design, we use controlled contrast to create brighter light to features we want to draw attention to in balance with the rest of the room so it’s a comfortable and exciting experience.    And we use beautiful decorative lights to accessorise our homes – many of which are scientifically speaking glary – but in reality, the sparkle of light bursting forth from a beautiful object can be one of the most visually exciting experiences in a home.

Many people never turn on the downlights in their homes, choosing instead to light indirectly from table and floor lamps – a choice that is at its heart one of contrast and glare management.  We all instinctively avoid glare, it’s a self-preservation response.  Unfortunately too many people end up with glary awful light at home because currently, doing “what is normally done” when it comes to light in a home will, unfortunately, always result in an uncomfortable glary home. 

Creating the right lit environment in your home requires consideration, careful fitting selection and a trained eye to balance your contrast so you have a lively exciting and welcoming home to enjoy everyday.

As architectural lighting designers specialising in lighting homes, we know how to balance your light, get rid of the standard “ceiling full” of downlights and transform your home with beautiful light.