Two ways to get LED light out of a downlight: keep the existing fitting and change the lamp, or replace the whole fitting with an integrated LED unit. Both are legitimate; they suit different situations and have very different lifespans.
Retrofit lamps
Cheap, immediate, and reversible. They work well where the existing fittings are in good condition and the control gear is compatible. Where the ceiling still has old low-voltage transformers, retrofit lamps often flicker or fail early because the transformer is not designed for the load.
Integrated LED fittings
A single sealed unit with its own driver, typically fire-rated and often IP-rated for bathrooms. They give consistent colour temperature across a ceiling, run cooler, and remove the transformer clutter above the plasterboard. The trade-off is that at end of life the fitting is replaced rather than the lamp.
Things worth specifying
Colour temperature and consistency matter more than most people expect, and mixing batches is the usual cause of a ceiling that looks slightly wrong.
- Colour temperature — warmer for living spaces, neutral for kitchens and utility
- Fire rating where the ceiling is a compartment floor
- IP rating for bathrooms and shower zones
- Beam angle and spacing, so the room is lit rather than the floor spotted
- Dimming type, matched to the dimmer being used
Common questions
- Can you replace old halogen downlights in a day?
- A typical kitchen ceiling is comfortably a day, subject to access above.
- Will new fittings fit the existing holes?
- Often yes; where the aperture differs we will tell you before starting.
- Why do my LEDs look different colours?
- Different batches or brands. Consistency comes from ordering the ceiling as one set.
- Are downlights right for every room?
- No. Some rooms are better served by pendants and lamps; we will say so.
Send a photo of the ceiling and the existing fitting and we will advise retrofit or replacement honestly.
Related guides
- Getting LED Dimming RightMost LED dimming complaints are a compatibility problem, not a faulty lamp.
- Flickering Lights: Causes and FixesFlicker is a symptom with a short list of causes — and one of them is genuinely worth acting on quickly.
- Electrics for a Kitchen RefitThe kitchen carries more electrical load than any other room, and gets the least planning time.