Lighting design isn’t something that home owners automatically ask their low voltage contractor about. The assumption is that it involves voltage so should sit with the electrician working on their project. But this simply isn’t the case when it comes to true lighting design.

As this seems to be an area of confusion, we thought it was time we explained low voltage, the benefits of installing low voltage lighting and hopefully give some design ideas along the way.

What’s the difference between low voltage and high voltage?

Put simply, high voltage wire tells something to turn on or turn off via 120v. Think of it as a switch, and in this scenario it literally is a switch. It’s a light switch on a wall.

Low voltage wire reduces the voltage to somewhere around 12-24v, allowing for way more control of your lighting environment, protecting the fixture and opening up options around dimming.

Historically, low voltage lighting has been used in landscape lighting designs but that’s been changing in recent years.

Where should you consider using low voltage lighting?

In new construction, architects and designers are introducing more and more low voltage to their designs. This is predominantly for areas such as cabinet lighting in kitchens and studies. We’re also seeing it called out for more to highlight architectural features such as coves, niches and feature hallways. The types of low voltage fixtures you’ll commonly expect to see are tape lights and spot lights.

If you’re planning on installing traditional recessed ceiling lights then generally these will still be high voltage. Plan on using low voltage to elevate more niche areas.

What are the benefits of low voltage over high voltage?

We’ve already mentioned the control factor but they’re also easy to install and more energy efficient. Low voltage light manufacturers have also opened up the door to many more fixture designs for any application. All of the photos included in this post are from recent installations our team has completed and I think you’ll agree that they all add something unique or subtle to the interior design.

Electricians may not have the same access to luxury fixture vendors that your low voltage installer has, so instead of selecting between two or three color finishes, you can suddenly be looking at hundreds of color, material and trim options.

How does the pricing compare?

As with an interior design consideration there will always be price ranges from entry level DIY through to custom fixtures so there will be something for every budget, whether you go the high or low voltage route. Speak to your contractor or interior designer who will be able to assist in getting some quotes together to compare.