Is it dimmable?

A very good question! And one we get asked an awful lot. But here’s the interesting bit – dimming has very little to do with our light fittings themselves!

Dimmability is about three closely-related components – wiring to the light, the switch that controls the light, and the bulb inside the light. Perhaps not what you expected but equally as simple. Here’s a bit more guidance:

Wiring:

Obviously all wiring should be carried out and approved by a certified electrician.

You should ask your electrician about the suitability of the wiring in your setting, for dimmer switches. Most houses nowadays are fine as they will have been rewired to modern standards at some point and this is generally sufficient. However, if you are working on a very old property or a property that has had change-of-use, you may want to ask your electrician to carry out checks and make any upgrade recommendations they consider essential.

Switches:

Naturally, to dim a light you need a dimmer switch (or some form of controller if using smart lighting). It’s as simple as that. Ask your electrician to add dimmer switches wherever you would like that extra level of control for your lighting.

Budget depending, you may want to consider having a lighting design company put together a lighting plan. There are some excellent programmes that these companies use to mimic different light levels in different settings.

Bulbs:

And last but by no means least, bulbs. With the introduction of LED technology there are literally thousands of bulbs to choose from. There are varying colour temperatures, finishes, shapes and styles, not to mention smart bulbs which can provide anything from a slight colour difference through to a full-blown dicso effect!

But the most important thing is – if you are looking to dim your lights, you need dimmable LED bulbs. Make sure you see the word “Dimmable” on the outer packaging of the bulbs or in its specifications.

And our last bit of advice is – buy the best bulbs you can afford. We speak from experience having lit our own showroom for many years and embracing the change from tungsten to LED, you get what you pay for! Some of the more cost-effective options flicker on dimming and this is not a good look – chose from premium brands wherever possible.

 Happy Dimming!