Overwhelmed by LED options? How designers select the right product

With so many different LED options available for purchase today, it can feel overwhelming trying to find and select the right product.

There’s no doubt that advancements in LED lighting over the past few years are staggering. In fact, the very thing that makes LEDs so exciting is also what makes things so difficult to choose a new product – so many options.

We consulted our lighting design team to help explain how to find the right quality, light output, color, maintenance, cost, lead time, etc. We hope their advice will help you select the right product.

Making the right LED lighting choice

With traditional lighting sources (incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent light bulbs), options were pretty limited but consistent.

Now, you can have a variety of color temperatures and CRI options for a single product.

But is it practical to have so many options?

Here are a few considerations that will make choosing the right product for your application easier in the long run.

1. Consider the space.

The answer to which product is best depends on exactly what you are trying to light and what atmosphere you’re trying to create. One LED may do a good job of rendering in the red spectrum and would look great lighting a deep cherry wood. This same product, however, may do a terrible job of lighting blue jeans in a retail shop.

Here's a pro tip from our designers: Write a list of the colors found in your space, walk your space, or consider the colors in your brand as you prepare to make a lighting decision.

If color is critical, shop for products with a CRI greater than 90. If you want a cooler feel to your space, shop for products with a cool to neutral color temperature. If you want a warmer feel to your space, shop for products with a warm or ultra-warm color temperature.

2. Be specific about your priorities.

So many factors can influence the decision of which product is right for you. Take a few minutes to prioritize what you want to accomplish with your lighting. Here are a few guiding questions that you may want to consider:

• What's more important: long-term energy and maintenance cost or upfront budget?
• Who will maintain your lighting system?
• What is your upfront budget? 
• How often will your space or products change?
• What's more important: color quality or light output and efficiency?

These questions are important because you may pay slightly more up front for a product with a longer life or higher efficiency, but in the long run, that may result in greater savings. One example of this is value-line LED bulbs that have a life rating of around 11,000 hours versus LED bulbs that have 25,000 to 50,000+ hours.

3. Choose a reputable manufacturer.

With so many lighting options available, it’s also important to work with a partner you can trust.

Regency’s team has already vetted manufacturers, so you end up with a reliable, quality lighting system you can count on.

Reputable manufacturers like the ones on our site use quality chips and adhere to tight binning procedures, which is a great benefit if you’re looking for color consistency. This can be particularly helpful if you have to replace a light bulb a year after a retrofit project was completed.

Some manufacturers also offer modular fixtures that can be easily updated, changed, or replaced in the field to mitigate the risk of having to tear out an entire fixture if something goes bad or you want to upgrade.

4. Make sure the product is in stock

It’s frustrating to find the perfect product for your application, but it’s discontinued, or you need more than the amount currently in stock.

You can easily tell if a product is in stock on our website. On the product search page, you will see an orange line that tells you the number in stock.

If you have any questions about in-stock items, please do not hesitate to contact us. A lighting specialist is available to chat via the chat box in the bottom left corner of your screen.

Questions about LED products

Once you’ve addressed the four items listed above, you’ll have a much clearer path to selecting a product you’re happy with. With that said, remember that lighting is very subjective, and each LED light bulb and LED fixture (aka luminaire) has its own DNA.

If you still feel a little overwhelmed, consider consulting one of our lighting specialists. Partnering with our team can ensure the lighting in your space enhances the overall atmosphere.

Try to take decisions one at a time, and remember, we’re here to help!