Evaluating Light Fittings at Home: A Practical Guide

Choosing the right light fitting can completely transform your space—whether you're designing your living room, setting the mood in your bedroom, or illuminating a workspace. But how can you tell which light is the right one for your home? At LightOnline, we believe that smart lighting starts with understanding how fittings actually perform, not just how they look on paper.

Lighting manufacturers often present data in different formats—and let’s be honest—not all of it is objective. That’s why we recommend focusing on six key measurements that will help you cut through the marketing jargon and truly evaluate the quality and performance of any fitting.

Lumen Output (lm)

Lumen output tells you how much visible light the fitting emits. More lumens = brighter light. For example, our LED corn lights and E27 LED globes range from 400 to 5000+ lumens, giving you flexibility whether you're lighting a reading nook or a warehouse.

Beam Angle (°)

Beam angle determines how wide the light spreads. A narrow beam (like from a GU10 spotlight) is ideal for accent lighting, while wider beams (like in our LED downlights) suit general ambient lighting in living rooms and kitchens.

Wattage (W)

Wattage reflects energy consumption—not brightness. Thanks to LED technology, you can get the same brightness at a fraction of the power. A 10W LED globe can now replace a 60W halogen!

Glare and Visual Comfort

This refers to how harsh the light feels on the eyes. A fixture may have great specs but feel uncomfortable to sit under. Testing samples, like our demo-ready LED panels or corn lights, in a darker space is ideal for understanding real-life impact.

Final Tip: Test Before You Invest

Whenever possible, order one sample from LightOnline and test it in your space before buying multiples. A dark-room test will show you how the light behaves in your environment.