Home Lighting: Chandeliers, Spotlights, LED — How to Choose and Buy Well
First work out the light, then choose the fitting
A beautiful light fitting that lights badly is a disappointment. So start with the need: the area of the room, the ceiling height and what you do in the room. For general light, people usually go by the total light output in lumens; the bigger the room, the more you need. The wattage of an LED bulb says little: look at the lumens.
Colour temperature
- 2700 K — warm yellowish light for a bedroom and living room.
- 4000 K — neutral white, good in the kitchen, a work area and a hallway.
- 6000 K and above — cold, suitable for garages and store rooms, tiring at home.
If you want to change the brightness, you need a dimmer and bulbs or fittings that support it: not every LED bulb works with a dimmer.
Types of fittings
A chandelier or ceiling light gives general light. Recessed spotlights are handy for a false ceiling and for lighting zones, but you need enough of them for an even light. Wall lights and floor lamps create a cosy feel, and an LED strip lights a kitchen, niches and cornices. For the bathroom and outdoors, look at the IP rating: the higher the second digit, the better the protection from moisture.
What to put in your request
- type of fitting — chandelier, spotlights, wall light, floor lamp, LED strip, bulbs;
- area and ceiling height — for example 18 m² and 2.7 m;
- light characteristics — lumens or wattage, 4000 K, cap type, IP rating, dimmer;
- quantity — for example 12 spotlights or the metres of strip;
- style — industrial, modern, classic, black or gold;
- brand, if you have chosen already;
- installation — whether you need an electrician;
- new or second-hand and budget.
Example: “I am looking for 12 recessed LED spotlights with neutral 4000 K light for a false ceiling in an 18 m² kitchen, ceiling 2.7 m. A dimmer would be good, black body. I need installation in Johannesburg. Budget up to R 1,600.”
How ordering lights works on BlaBlaPrice
You write a request on the main page, and lighting sellers and electricians in your area reply in a chat. They offer specific models and name the price, terms, delivery and, if needed, installation. The offers are compared, and the best-value one comes first; seller reviews are next to each one.
Sellers see where their offer ranks, so they compete with each other for your request. Contacts stay hidden until you choose someone. More on the “How it works” page.
How to compare offers
Fittings sold under the same name can have a different quality of light. Ask about lumens, colour temperature and the colour rendering index (CRI): the higher it is, the more natural colours look. Check whether the drivers for the strip or spotlights are in the box, and what the warranty is.
Don't forget the textiles and decor in the room: window decor and home decor change how the light is perceived.
