Grey spotlights

Plan for one light point per useful zone before thinking about spacing: above the worktop, the sink, the hob, then along the circulation path. The grey spotlights in this collection are surface-mounted or ceiling-mounted, in metal and wood, with E27 or GU10 sockets and an IP20 rating for the dry rooms of the home.

Which grey spotlights are in this collection?

This collection brings together surface-mounted spotlights in wood and metal, with fixed or adjustable heads, and all-metal ceiling spotlights in grey. The sockets are E27 or GU10, the protection rating is IP20, and the models are designed for the living room, kitchen, hallway, entrance and dressing room.

Light grey or anthracite grey spotlights: how to read the colour range

A light grey leaves the ceiling calm and comes close to off-white once switched off. A deeper anthracite grey leans towards black and draws a visible pattern even at rest. Here, the grey reads on the metal of the cups and bodies: the four-head rail spotlight in light wood pairs grey cups with light wood, giving a warm grey. For a stronger contrast, look at the black finish, for a marked contrast. On a white ceiling, white spotlights, more discreet on a light ceiling blend in further.

Grey LED spotlights: which socket for which bulb

Two sockets coexist in the selection. E27 is screw-in: it fits the adjustable wood and metal spotlight, rated at 40 W, and you fit the corresponding bulb format. GU10 is pin-based and imposes its bulb format. It fits the Eik 2 square ceiling spotlight, at 35 W maximum per bulb. The Eik 3 ceiling spotlight shares this socket and the same limit. None of these spotlights include the LED: the bulb is chosen separately, which lets you change the colour temperature later without changing the fitting.

How many spotlights in a kitchen and where to position them?

The number depends on the surface area and the work zones: worktop, sink, hob and circulation. One light point per useful zone is better than a regular spacing placed at random, and check that no shadow falls on your hands while preparing food.

How many spotlights above a worktop?

Generally, count one spotlight per half metre to one metre of worktop, following the real length of the area where you chop and prepare. The useful rule is not the number: it is that your body never ends up between the source and the worktop. A compact ceiling spotlight like the Eik 3 covers a long stretch of worktop from a single ceiling point, without multiplying the holes. To go further, see kitchen lighting.

Adjustable or fixed spotlights for a kitchen?

Adjustable heads forgive an imperfect layout: you tilt the beam towards the worktop or a wall, and correct a shadow without drilling again. The four-head rail suits an open kitchen or a service hallway. In a highly structured room, a fixed ceiling spotlight is enough and stays more understated on the ceiling. Find the models with movable heads among adjustable models in white and adjustable models in black.

How to arrange spotlights on the ceiling?

First place the spotlights above the usage zones, then even out the spacing to avoid light gaps. Avoid aligning them in the line of sight or just behind the head. With adjustable heads, tilt the beam towards the wall or the worktop, not towards the floor.

How to arrange spotlights in a living room?

In a living room, light comes from several sides: a ceiling spotlight in the middle of the room, complemented by a direction towards a wall or a bookcase. The Ferolux adjustable spotlight is intended for the living room, surface-mounted, with a height of 17 cm and a depth of 24 cm: enough to install it near a wall without taking up space. To build the whole scheme, browse living room special.

Hallway and entrance: which way to align the spotlights?

In a hallway, align the spotlights in the direction of travel, never across: the eye follows the line and the perspective lengthens. In an entrance, light what you look at, the drop zone and the mirror, rather than the floor in front of the door. A square ceiling spotlight like the Eik 2 covers these passage rooms from a single point, at 28.5 cm per side.

How to wire spotlights in series or in parallel?

A lighting circuit is wired in parallel: each spotlight receives the same voltage and keeps working if another fails. Series wiring adds up voltage drops and switches off the whole line at the slightest fault. Always connect with the power off, and leave any doubt to a professional.

What to check before connecting a spotlight

Switch off the power at the breaker and check for absence of voltage before touching the wires. Identify the socket of the model before mounting: an E27 and a GU10 are not wired the same way, and the bulb format is not interchangeable. Also check the space available at the ceiling, 15 cm of height for the ceiling spotlights in the selection. The details of materials and sockets are on metal spotlights.

Dimmer: which models are concerned?

Dimmer compatibility depends on the model, and it is stated on the product sheet where it exists: the Eik 2 square ceiling spotlight and the Eik 3 ceiling spotlight are listed as dimmer compatible. For the others, do not assume anything before reading. A badly matched dimmer can make an LED bulb flicker. Our guides on dimmer-compatible spotlights and on lighting that varies with the moment help you decide.

E27 or GU10 spotlight: which to choose?

The E27 socket is screw-in: it fits the Brennus rail and the Ferolux adjustable spotlight, at 40 W. The GU10 socket is pin-based: it fits the Eik 2 and Eik 3 ceiling spotlights, at 35 W maximum per bulb. GU10 imposes a bulb format, E27 leaves more choice.

What wattage for an E27 or GU10 bulb?

The stated wattage is a ceiling, not a target: 40 W for the E27 models in the selection, 35 W maximum per bulb for the GU10s. In LED, a much lower wattage bulb gives comparable illumination, and consumption follows the real wattage of the bulb fitted. Stay below the fitting's limit, never above.

LED bulb: what the socket changes

E27 takes a screw-in bulb, wider, with a broader choice of shapes and colour temperatures. GU10 imposes a compact pin-based format, shorter, often with a directional beam, which suits a multi-head ceiling spotlight well. In both cases, the LED is chosen separately from the fitting and replaced on its own.

How to match grey spotlights with your decor?

With a light grey sofa, keep curtains in soft tones, off-white, linen or beige, or in a slightly stronger grey. With a dark grey sofa, lighten on the contrary with white, ecru or light beige. The grey spotlight stays neutral in both cases.

What curtain colour with a light grey sofa?

Light grey extends without clash: off-white, linen, beige, or a grey one notch stronger to hold the room. If you want relief, petrol blue or sage green works, and the ceiling stays calm with a grey fitting. Pink and green also come in as small touches, on cushions rather than walls, so as not to compete with the grey.

What curtain with a dark grey sofa?

With a dark grey, lighten: white, ecru or light beige, or a lighter grey in a tone-on-tone scheme. Keep the curtains lighter than the sofa, otherwise the room darkens. A grey spotlight on the ceiling does not weigh in this balance. To change register, the selection also offers gold finishes and a more graphic modern line.

Pink and grey bathroom: can you install grey spotlights?

Pink and grey are easy neighbours: grey spotlights stay discreet on the ceiling. Watch out, however, for the protection rating: this collection is IP20, intended for dry rooms, and does not protect against water splashes. Around the bath or shower, another rating is needed.

Grey spotlights in the bathroom: what the IP20 rating says

IP20 means two things: the fitting is protected against solid objects over 12.5 mm, and against nothing at all where water is concerned. No splashes, no jets, no concentrated moisture. In a bathroom, this confines it to areas the water does not reach, away from the tub and the shower tray. If the room is permanently damp, a fitting with a higher protection rating, intended for that use, is better.

Which rooms for an IP20 grey spotlight?

The dry rooms of the home: living room, kitchen, hallway, entrance, dressing room. These are exactly the rooms covered by the selection. In a pink and grey bathroom, an IP20 grey spotlight can therefore light the ceiling above the washbasin if water does not reach it, but not the shower area. Outdoors, the question of the rating is different: see for outdoors, with the right protection rating.

How to install and maintain a grey spotlight?

Check three things before drilling: the power is off, the socket of the model, and the height available at the ceiling. Allow 15 cm for the Eik 2 and Eik 3 ceiling spotlights, 17 cm for the Ferolux, 23 cm for the Brennus rail, plus the space for the bulb.

Ceiling mounting: what to check

A ceiling spotlight 45 cm per side, like the Eik 3, needs a fixing suited to its weight and a flat surface. A rail spotlight is installed in one go, but its 23 cm height makes it suitable for sufficiently high ceilings. Locate the power supply route before drilling, and fit the bulb after mounting, never before.

Cleaning a metal or grey wood spotlight

A soft, dry cloth is enough on metal as on wood. Avoid water and abrasive products, which dull the finishes and mark the wood. Dust the heads and cups regularly: accumulated dust eats part of the light and makes the bulb heat up unnecessarily. All models in the selection are covered by a 2-year warranty.

To compare with the rest of our range, explore the entire lighting catalogue and, if white tempts you, an LED version in white or white recessed spotlights. Darker ceilings are served by black LED spotlights and a recessed version in black, and large rooms by a selection of adjustable spotlights. Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service accompany every order.

Frequently asked questions