How to FIX GLARY LIGHTING AT HOME (and still keep the sparkle)

Glare is one of the most uncomfortable sensations light can create in a home. It’s the result of high contrast between your light source and the surrounding room. Interestingly, high contrast can also be the source of sparkle in your home – carefully curated moments of controlled glare – such as the sparkle of light from a glass wall light – can create beauty and joy in a room. But they must be carefully controlled to be comfortable.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS GLARE?

Glare happens when a light source is much brighter than the space around it. Your eye struggles to adjust, and you end up squinting or turning away. It’s that classic bright-light-in-a-dark-room situation – and it’s uncomfortable. (Technically, there are three types of glare, but for now, let’s focus on the one that sneaks into homes and makes things unpleasant.)

If you look at your ceiling when your LED downlights are on, you’ll see that the ceiling appears grey – in strong contrast to the bright light of the downlights – making the impact of glare even stronger.

CONTRAST: THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

We need contrast in our lighting designs to create mood and interest. Without it, everything is flat and lifeless. But too much contrast, and your eyes are working overtime to adapt, which is uncomfortable and can result in headaches and physical discomfort.

You might find yourself avoiding a room entirely when the lights are on, or putting a cap on indoors to make yourself comfortable – these are common responses to glary light.

Comfortable contrast can be measured to find that perfect balance between light and shade, and in a home, you usually don’t want to see contrast higher than a 10:1 ratio.

Most of the glare we see in homes comes from one very common source: downlights. Specifically, the white-faced diffuse LED downlights. And while there’s a lot of marketing fluff around those cheap downlights, with many claiming to be "low glare," the truth is that any downlight with a diffuser at the ceiling will deliver uncomfortable glare.

Glary downlights every square meter across the ceiling.

WHAT MAKES A LIGHT GLARY?

If the downlight is shallow, so you can see the yellow LED when you’re standing 2m away, or it has a white diffuser, or is described as a 90degree beam or higher, that light is going to glare. No getting around it. And if that light is set into a dark surface – like a charcoal ceiling or even a white ceiling at night – the contrast makes it worse.

If you have only downlights in a ceiling with no other light in the room, you end up with a ceiling that's shadowy grey, broken up by intense, blinding points of light. Not the vibe anyone wants at home.

IF YOU MUST USE DOWNLIGHTS…

At least go for ones where the light source is recessed deep into the fitting. This is what manufacturers mean when they say "low glare" – although not all of them get it right. A decent deep-recessed downlight will shield your eyes from the source of the light, meaning you’re less likely to see the light directly. This helps your eyes adapt by minimising the contrast – even if you’re living under a sea of little spotlights.

(Still not ideal, but better.)

Standard Downlight Ultra Low Glare Downlight

A BETTER SOLUTION (IF YOU’RE STUCK WITH DOWNLIGHTS): BALANCE THE CONTRAST

Here’s a trick that changes everything: brighten the surface the light is sitting in. If you push soft, ambient light up to the ceiling using floor or table lamps, suddenly those same downlights feel less glary. The contrast is reduced, your eyes relax, and your space feels better.

You’ll probably find you don’t even need the downlights on, and can happily live with just the ambient indirect light in the room most of the time.

Simple. Effective. Rental-friendly.

WHERE SPARKLE SHINES

In our lighting designs at MINT, we play with controlled contrast to create beautiful, balanced lighting. We create features with contrasting light and introduce sparkle deliberately – from a stunning pendant or a playful wall sconce – to create visual joy.

But we always make sure that sparkle sits in a context that supports it. Because if it’s too bright or too harsh, it stops being sparkle and starts being pain.

A beautiful decorative light can dazzle in the best way, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm. Choosing the right light globe is critical for creating the balanced light you want to see.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Lots of people never turn on their downlights. They live by lamplight instead – and not just for the mood. Our brains instinctively avoid glare. It’s a self-preservation response. So if you’re constantly avoiding overhead lighting at home, chances are it’s not your fault. It’s the fittings.

The trouble is, what’s "normally done" in residential lighting (a ceiling full of cheap, glary downlights) guarantees discomfort. It’s the default, but it doesn’t have to be your choice.

HOW TO FIX IT

Creating the right light at home involves more than just placing lower glare downlights in the ceiling and adding a couple of pendants and wall lights. It takes planning, a bit of restraint, and an eye for balance. That’s where a professional lighting designer with years of experience can make all the difference to your lighting at home.

At MINT Lighting Design, we specialise in creating beautiful lighting for real homes. We know how to ditch the glare, keep the sparkle, and build lighting that supports how you want to live.

Because light should make your home feel amazing – not leave you squinting.

Reach out here to discuss your project with our Studio Team – or use our Design Guide and Light School resources to find the information you need to make informed decisions for your own lighting design.

FAQs ABOUT GLARY LIGHTING AT HOME

What causes glare in home lighting?

Glare is caused by high contrast between a bright light source and a dark surrounding surface. It often results from shallow or exposed LED downlights, especially those with white diffusers.

Are all downlights glary?

Not all downlights are created equal. Deep-recessed downlights are designed to reduce glare by shielding the light source from direct view. However, many cheap or shallow fittings will create uncomfortable glare.

Can I reduce glare without replacing my downlights?

Yes. By adding ambient lighting (like lamps that bounce light off the ceiling), you can reduce the contrast and make existing downlights feel less harsh.

What’s the best lighting for a comfortable home?

A combination of layered lighting – using indirect light, recessed low-glare downlights, and decorative fittings – creates a visually comfortable and beautiful space.

Why does my ceiling look grey when the lights are on?

This happens when small, intense downlights are used without any supporting ambient light. The ceiling falls into shadow, and the contrast between bright lights and the dark surface creates a grey, glary effect.