Lighting the Smart Way (Part 2): Choosing the Right Type of LED Lighting for Every Space

Now that you understand what LEDs are and why they’re perfect for smart homes, it’s time to explore the different types of LED lighting available, and how to choose the right ones for each room in your house.

At Switched Homes, we don’t just install lights - we create experiences. And choosing the right LED type is the first step toward lighting that’s functional, beautiful, and automation-ready.

LED Downlights – For General Room Lighting

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways

Look & Feel: Clean, recessed, modern

Smart Tip: Dimmable downlights let you set the tone - full brightness during the day, warm and dim in the evening.

Bonus: We can wire these into smart dimmers or relay switches that work with your smart home platform, so you keep full control even if someone flicks the wall switch.

LED Strips – For Accent and Task Lighting

Best for: Under cabinets, TV backlighting, shelves, ceilings, staircases

Look & Feel: Customisable, colour-rich, discreet

Smart Tip: Pair strips with WLED + ESP32 or a Shelly RGBW2 for full smart control, effects, and automation.

Our favourite setup: motion-activated LED strips under the bed that gently turn on at night.

LED Bulbs (Smart or Dumb) – For Lamps and Retrofits

Best for: Floor lamps, desk lamps, old-school light fixtures

Look & Feel: Familiar, flexible, easy to install

Smart Tip: If you’re using regular LED bulbs, pair them with a smart wall switch. If they’re smart bulbs, avoid switching them off at the wall. Use automations or voice commands instead.

RGB, RGBW, and CCT LEDs – Understanding Your Colour Options

Not all coloured LEDs are created equal. Here's what the acronyms mean:

Type	What It Means	Best For
RGB	Red, Green, Blue	Colour effects (limited whites)
RGBW	RGB + dedicated White LED	Both colours and clean white light
CCT	Correlated Colour Temperature (white only, tunable warm–cool)	Natural white variations for daily rhythm
RGB+CCT	Full colour + tunable white	Ultimate flexibility

Smart Tip: If you want both cosy white light and party colours, go for RGBW or RGB+CCT. These work great with WLED or advanced controllers.

Panel & Bar Lights – For Modern Architectural Features

Best for: Garages, offices, home gyms, ceilings with clean lines

Look & Feel: Sleek, even lighting, minimal shadows

Smart Tip: Panel lights with dimmable drivers can be integrated into smart relays, perfect for task-heavy spaces.

How to Choose the Right LED for Your Room

Here’s a simple framework we use with clients:

Room	Purpose	LED Type Recommendation
Kitchen	Task + accent	Downlights + under-cabinet LED strips
Lounge	Ambient + scenes	Downlights + RGBW strips or bulbs
Bedroom	Soft + automation	Dimmable downlights + motion-triggered strips
Bathroom	Bright + safe	Waterproof downlights (CCT or dimmable)
Hallways	Passive navigation	Motion-activated strips or panel lights
Outdoor	Safety + ambience	IP-rated LED strips + flood or spike lights

Want to DIY or Get It Installed?

If you're hands-on, we stock a range of LED strips, ESP32s, smart relays, power supplies, and more — ready to ship across New Zealand. Or if you prefer a professional install, we can handle the design, wiring, and Home Automation setup for you.

Up Next in Part 3:

We’ll dive into DIY LED Projects you can build at home - from simple plug-and-play ideas to more advanced automations using WLED and Home Automation Platforms.

Need Help Picking the Right LED?

Drop us a message or browse our shop to see our favourite lighting gear. We’re always happy to help you light smarter.