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Customer question
Why does my light hit the windows and bother me at night?
The answer
A wide beam and the wrong aiming.
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Common mistakeFacade lighting and windows
“You installed powerful floodlights on your villa facade, but the light hits the windows and keeps you up at night?”
- The problem
- Aiming facade lights at a wide, random angle lets light spill into the bedrooms.
- Technical explanation
- Exterior lighting needs a very narrow beam and precise aiming (Narrow beam) so it lights only the architectural details without causing disturbance.
- The result
- An eye-catching, elegant facade, with complete calm and comfortable darkness inside the bedrooms.
Common mistakeThe facade-lighting mistake of mounting flush to the wall
“Want your facade light to throw a stunning beam? Don't mount it flush against the wall!”
- The problem
- Mounting wall lights flush against the wall creates a harsh, very distracting Hotspot that spoils the facade.
- Technical explanation
- Moving the fitting slightly away from the wall and choosing the correct aiming angle gives a long, ideal beam that highlights the villa's height up to 16 m.
- The result
- A facade that catches the eye of the whole neighbourhood, at low cost and with smart installation.
Common mistakeOverdoing outdoor lighting (Floodlights)
“Installed stadium floodlights on your villa facade? You haven't lit it up, you've washed out its features!”
- The problem
- Flooding the facade with wide light erases the architectural details and creates light pollution.
- Technical explanation
- Highlighting a facade needs a well-planned layout of upward and downward Spotlights with narrow beams to create “contrast” between light and shadow, because shadow is what reveals the beauty.
- The result
- A palace-like facade with a far smaller electricity and installation budget.
Common mistakeLight pollution and disturbing the neighbours
“Installed lights on your home's facade, but the light reaches your neighbour's bedroom?”
- The problem
- Aiming outdoor lights at wide, random angles causes light pollution and disturbs the surroundings.
- Technical explanation
- Using outdoor lights with a narrow beam (Narrow Beam <15°) keeps the light on the facade column only, without spilling into windows.
- The result
- An elegant, well-defined facade, and complete comfort for your family and neighbours.
Spec explainedLighting plants (Spike & Up-light)
“You spent a fortune landscaping your garden... and at night it looks like a graveyard?”
- The problem
- Failing to bring out the beautiful texture of tree trunks and leaves
- Technical explanation
- Using a 3000K Spike light with a narrow angle (Up-light) that shines from the trunk upward brings out the tree’s colour and creates wonderful dramatic shadows on the villa walls
- The result
- A garden full of life that invites you to sit outside at night
Comparison5° ground Up-light
“Lit up your façade and all the light shot off into the sky?”
- The problem
- Using wide ground lights for tall columns
- Technical explanation
- Tall, slim columns need a very narrow Beam Angle (5°–10°), almost like a laser, to focus on the architecture without polluting the sky
- The result
- Clearly showcasing the height and grandeur of the villa
Common mistakeDouble-height ceilings and wasted luxury
“Got a double-height ceiling? Don't repeat the mistake that ruins the whole look of the living room!”
- The problem
- Using wide-angle (60°) spotlights in high ceilings, so the light scatters in the air and never reaches the floor.
- Technical explanation
- Ceilings 6 to 7 m high need a narrow Beam Angle of 15° or less.
- The result
- Light reaches the floor with a dramatic effect that conveys luxury and avoids wasted light.
Common mistakeThe wrong staircase lighting
“You installed powerful spotlights above the stairs, and the result... a dark, dangerous staircase!”
- The problem
- Using wide-angle ceiling spotlights for an open staircase, so the light scatters before it reaches the steps.
- Technical explanation
- Stairs need either very narrow-beam ceiling spots so the light reaches the floor, or better still, low-level wall lights that illuminate the treads directly.
- The result
- Safety for your family going up and down, and an elegant, hotel-like staircase.
Guide values; the final decision rests with a qualified engineer under the applicable code.