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LED lighting is the best around! But how do different forms of it compare to each other?

LED lighting is a universal upgrade compared to older forms of lighting, but which source of it is the best?

There are two primary ways to get LED lights into your home.

• Retrofit LED Bulbs resemble older filament bulbs, but are loaded with advanced LED technology. These can be used with older fittings.
• Integrated LEDs are fittings with LED chips built into them.

Retrofit bulbs are easily the simplest way to get LED lighting into your home. They can be added onto your pre-existing fittings with a minimum of fuss. Integrated LEDs are purchased as brand new fittings instead.

However, if you’re installing a brand-new fitting, should you go with a classic design that can be upgraded with LED bulbs, or go with an entirely integrated fitting?

The answer: It depends what you’re looking for!

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of integrated LEDs, and see which is best for your lifestyle.

Pro: Improved Lifespans

LEDs last for a very long time, but integrated LEDs can last even longer. That’s because they’re designed with LED chips in mind, so they’re able to deal with heat waste as effectively as possible. Integrated LEDs can last for more than a decade, with some models pushing up to two!

Con: No Repairs

The biggest trade off with integrated LEDs goes hand in hand with their greatest asset- they don’t use bulbs. That means that you won’t need to worry about replacements for their entire lifespan, but when that lifespan finally ends, you will most likely have to replace the entire fitting instead of just a bulb.

Pro: Optimised Design

Older fittings have to account for a huge range of bulbs, but integrated fittings only account for LEDs. As a result, designers can maximise their efficiency and even easily integrated a whole host of extra features- including smart home compatibility in some cases.

LEDs feature some quite complicated technology, so by ensuring designers know exactly what they’re dealing with, you get more reliable lighting.

Con: Higher Up-Front Costs

As a rule of thumb, an integrated LED fitting will be more expensive than a similar older fitting. However, given the optimisation integrated LEDs offer, you can actually save a fortune on your energy bills over their long lifespans, making them great value for money.

Pro: True Creativity

LED tech is advancing all the time, with chips being more flexible and more compact year on year. Older fittings have to be a certain size to account for bulky bulbs, but integrated LEDs can be much more compact. This leads to all kinds of creative designs!

In short, if you’re upgrading your fittings, it’s well worth checking out our range of indoor lights to see if an integrated fitting is right for your home!

If you still have any questions, our team are on hand to help you with anything you need – simply give us a call on 0116 321 4120, or send an email over to cs@wled.co.uk!

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