Products
Downlights
Recessed and surface mounted downlights for Singapore HDB and condo homes. Traditional and smart variants available.
Downlights are the most common ceiling fixture in Singapore homes — and for good reason. They provide clean, even, downward illumination from a compact fitting that either sits flush inside a false ceiling (recessed) or mounts directly to the ceiling surface (surface mounted). Whether you are planning a new HDB BTO renovation or upgrading an older condo, downlights form the backbone of most lighting plans. At Sonnelight, we stock downlights in both recessed and surface mounted formats, across a full range of sizes, beam angles, and colour temperatures. We also carry smart downlights with app-controlled dimming, tunable white, and scheduling — for homeowners who want the flexibility to adjust their lighting after installation.
Types of downlights we carry
Recessed downlights install flush inside a false ceiling. The fixture body sits in the cavity above, with only the trim ring and lens visible from below. This is the cleanest, most minimal ceiling look — no protruding housings, no visible hardware. Recessed downlights are the standard choice for most HDB and condo renovations in Singapore where a false ceiling is already planned. Common cutout sizes are 75mm (3 inch), 100mm (4 inch), and 125mm (5 inch). Wattages range from 5W for accent to 18W for high-output general lighting. A 4-room HDB living room typically uses 4–6 recessed downlights at 3000K. Surface mounted downlights attach directly to the ceiling with no cavity required. They are the right choice when there is no false ceiling — standard in most BTO flats before renovation. The fixture protrudes 50–80mm from the surface but takes up no ceiling height above. See our dedicated surface mounted downlights page for the full range. Smart downlights are available in both recessed and surface mounted formats. A smart downlight adds WiFi or Zigbee connectivity for app and voice control, tunable white (adjust colour temperature from 2700K to 6500K on the fly), dimming, and scheduling. This makes a single fixture serve multiple moods — warm and dim for evening relaxation, bright and neutral for morning routines. Smart downlights are increasingly popular in Singapore bedrooms and living rooms, and they install in the same cutout or mounting point as their non-smart equivalents.
How to choose
Ceiling type is the first filter. False ceiling? Recessed. Concrete or bare ceiling? Surface mounted. Track lights are the alternative if neither format suits the space. Room size and fixture count depend on lumens needed. As a starting point: plan 300–500 lumens per square metre for living areas, 500–700 for kitchens. A 10 sqm bedroom at 400 lux needs roughly 4,000 lumens total — four 9W downlights at 900 lumens each covers it. Beam angle determines light spread. Narrow beams (24 degrees) create focused pools — useful for accent and display. Wide beams (60–90 degrees) spread light evenly for general ambient. Most rooms use wide beams for the main grid and narrow beams for any spotlit features. Colour temperature: 3000K warm white for bedrooms and living rooms, 4000K neutral for kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices. Consistency within a room is important — do not mix temperatures on the same ceiling. IP rating applies to bathrooms and covered outdoor areas. IP44 for general bathroom use; IP65 directly above showers. For the smart-curious: if a room serves more than one purpose (home office by day, relaxation space by evening), a smart downlight with tunable white eliminates the temperature trade-off entirely.
Frequently asked questions
How many downlights do I need per room? For a typical HDB room, plan one downlight per 2–3 square metres. A 12 sqm living room needs 4–6 downlights. A 9 sqm bedroom needs 3–4. Kitchen and study benefit from slightly higher density. What size downlight for HDB? The most common cutout size in Singapore HDB renovations is 75mm (3 inch) or 100mm (4 inch). Smaller cutouts suit bedrooms and corridors. Larger cutouts suit living rooms and kitchens where more output is needed. Smart downlight or regular — which should I get? If you want dimming, scheduling, or tunable colour temperature, smart is worth the premium. In living rooms and bedrooms where you use the space for multiple activities, smart downlights are practical. In bathrooms and corridors where you just need consistent light, regular downlights are perfectly adequate and more cost-effective. Do I need an electrician to install downlights? Yes. Both recessed and surface mounted downlights connect to your mains electrical supply and must be installed by a Licensed Electrical Worker in Singapore. Your contractor's electrician handles this during renovation; for retrofit projects, engage an electrician directly.
Interested in Downlights?
Contact us for specifications, pricing, or to see samples at our showroom.