Lighting Design: Use of Beam Angles to Create Effect

There is a common myth that the widest beam angle and the highest lumen output is the best choice! Wrong.

A lighting designer creates a balance with shading, using subtle and powerful light sources. This creates the appropriate mood. Generally speaking, the wider the beam angle used in lighting, the less thought has been put into the lighting design.

A 60 degree beam is what Decrolux recommends for common downlight applications. We offer 36 degree beams, and 22 degree beam downlights. These are used in stairwells and other areas with higher ceilings. Using a narrower beam angle will reduce the size of the illuminated area, but increase the light intensity of that area. To use narrow beams as accent lighting for features, you need to consider the size of the feature, and how far away the light source is.

Lighting a lounge room like a tennis court doesn't sound quite right does it? This is what flood beam downlights will create. They have a high glare factor and fail to create an inviting atmosphere. Tradesmen tend to be the biggest endorsers of 120 degree downlights. Which is understandable - they haven't studied lighting design.