LED Linear Lighting is simply the use of many LED SMDs packaged together in a long, narrow housing to create a strip of light. This simple concept has dramatically transformed the way we light spaces.

Linear LED lights are made from lengths of pristine aluminium fittings. They are best suited for a variety of architectural projects such as offices, retail space, shopping malls, hotels and some residential kitchen areas. The profiles can be cut to customer sizes and lengths which are surface mounted, suspended or recessed into the ceiling and can be painted any colour to suit company branding or the interior design colour schemes.

Before the introduction of LED Linear lighting, lighting long spaces such as offices, warehouses and retail spaces was notoriously tricky. Such spaces were typically lit with large, industrial incandescent bulbs. Linear lighting initially began with the use of fluorescent tubes, mainly used in industrial spaces. By the 1970s this technology was gradually being used in homes, workshops and retail spaces. This further created a need for lower cost, better looking fittings. Creating a continuous uninterrupted line of light wasn’t possible before the use of LEDs became more widespread as fluorescent tube lighting had gaps between fittings that left dark spots.

The demand for LED Linear lighting is now huge and continues to grow. The difference now is that linear architectural lighting and LED technology have broadened the applications of linear light fixtures. The industry continues to evolve with improvements in aesthetics and performance, moving away from the old, traditional housings, utilizing materials in a better way and incorporating more advanced technology.

There are many advantages of LED Linear lighting such as:

Aesthetics – Linear lighting provides a great deal of versatility for creating unique and eye-catching designs. Custom-built angles, curves and customised external colour selection are just a few of the options available that make LED linear lights an easy choice.

Directional light – LEDs are directional, reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light.

Colour temperature – LED linear lights offer a large range of colour temperatures, which affect the way the eye interprets the light. From cool white to warm white, different colour temperatures can be used to create the desired mood and atmosphere in a space. Cool or neutral white; 4000K to use its technical name, is recommended for offices and retail areas which provides the most comfortable environment.

Cost effective – an obvious advantage, LED linear lighting is extremely efficient to run due to its low energy usage, and also its long service life; an LED light will typically last many times longer than a fluorescent tube with little to no maintenance required during its life span.

The three main types of LED linear lighting are pendant, surface mounted or recessed.

LED Linear Pendant light fixtures use suspension wires to hang from the ceiling, and are most suited to rooms with generous ceiling height. These are also ideal for creating fabulous accent lighting such as hanging over reception desks, atriums or open concept office spaces.

Surface Mounted LED linear lights are mounted onto the surface of the ceiling and are suited to situations where suspended linear LED lighting could be too low due to ceiling height.

Recessed linear LED lighting are recessed into a surface, be it a ceiling, wall or under cabinet. This offers clean, uninterrupted lines.

For tight spaces on features walls, display shelves and undercabinet lighting, a better option for the implementation of LED linear lighting would be to use recessed or surface mount aluminium profiles with LED strip lights. With LED strip lighting, existing cove lighting can also be retrofitted for a soft glow effect with neater appearance.

LED Linear lights can be straight or shaped to create dramatic sculptures for ultimate effect.

Straight profiles will typically create a subtler effect, but can also be used to create eye catching geometric style designs.

Curved profiles will typically help to create flow in a space and give a feeling of movement. Round profiles are often used to help divide space into zones, particularly in open plan spaces. For example, LED rings suspended lower than surrounding lighting over collaborative zones creates a sense of focus.

LED linear lights are very versatile and can be used for a number of lighting applications.

General lighting – this is the high-level lighting that provides that background light in a space. Care should be taken that light is distributed evenly and glare is avoided.

Task lighting – this is focused light for specific tasks, such as a low hung LED pendant light over a collaborative work space.

Accent – light used for aesthetic effect, such as to highlight or mirror the shape of a distinctive architectural feature or give a sense of height to a room. Our recessed LED Linear lights are perfect for this.

Track lighting – this is the most flexible and adaptable lighting product, well-suited for a range of commercial and residential applications. Retail shops, showrooms, art galleries, offices and dining rooms are all suitable settings for a track lighting system.

Track lights clip into the tracks, which come in straight lengths of 1, 2 and 3 metres, and can be combine to create shapes like squares and rectangles. The track runs are either recessed, surface mounted or hung from the ceiling via rods or suspension kits. Our latest product, the LED linear track light can be installed on all standard track lighting system to take advantage of this versatility.

LED lighting can be bewildering with all the options available. However, with creative implementation, the results you create can be impressive and will undoubtedly make a cool office exceptional.