Skip to content
Overhead lighting has ceased to be merely functional to become the backbone of any high-level interior design project. For architects, interior designers, and specifiers, the choice of designer ceiling lamps —understood as those that integrate directly into the architecture without suspension elements— is not a final detail, but a strategic decision that defines the visual hierarchy, the cleanliness of the space, and functionality.
At Insolit, we understand light as one more construction material. It is not just about lumens or watts, but about how the luminaire interacts with the ceiling plane, how it integrates into the building’s volumes, and how, through customization, it becomes a unique piece. Throughout this article, we will analyze the surface, recessed, and track system solutions that define the best ceiling luminaires on today’s market.
Architectural integration: Surface vs Recessed
The great challenge facing industry professionals is finding the perfect balance between a luminaire that decorates (surface) and one that disappears (recessed). Designer ceiling lamps must respond to this duality. On one hand, they must comply with demanding regulations, offer a color rendering index (CRI) greater than 90, and guarantee adequate glare control (UGR).
When projecting a space, especially in areas with limited heights where a hanging lamp would obstruct the view or passage, the ceiling acts as a technical canvas. The correct choice allows for gaining visual breadth and aesthetic cleanliness.
Types of ceiling lighting according to the project
To correctly structure a lighting project, it is essential to categorize ceiling luminaires according to their installation method:
- Surface Ceiling Lights: Solutions that provide volume and design without invading the usable height of the room.
- Track Systems: Maximum flexibility for changing spaces such as retail, galleries, or contemporary homes.
- Surface Projectors: Accent light installed directly on the horizontal plane.
- Recessed (Downlights): Technical light that seeks to go unnoticed to give prominence to the architecture.
TR Ceiling Collection: The ceiling light reinvented
Within the universe of designer ceiling lamps, it is often difficult to find ceiling lights that are aesthetically attractive. Our TR Ceiling collection was born to break that stigma. Manufactured from extruded and curved aluminum profile, these pieces stand out for their formal cleanliness and their ability to create compositions through the superimposition of elements.
TR Ceiling Down and TR Ceiling Up
The TR Ceiling Down model is a circular designer ceiling light with direct light. Its gel polycarbonate diffuser ensures homogeneous diffusion, eliminating visible LED dots and creating a perfect disc of light flush against the ceiling. It is ideal for hallways, kitchens, or bedrooms where powerful and uniform general light is required.
On the other hand, the TR Ceiling Up inverts the concept. It is a circular designer ceiling light with indirect light that bathes the ceiling, creating a soft halo of light that visually expands the space and provides a feeling of greater height.
The great advantage of the TR Ceiling family is its installation with stems at different heights. This allows the architect to overlap several luminaires (combining direct and indirect light, or different diameters) creating a lighting sculpture attached to the ceiling, fully customizable in finishes and sizes.
| Feature | TR Ceiling Down | TR Ceiling Up |
| Type of Light | Direct (Functional) | Indirect (Ambient/Decorative) |
| Effect | Uniform general lighting | Light wash on the ceiling, sense of spaciousness |
| Installation | Surface with stems | Surface with stems |
| Customization | Total (Finishes/Sizes) | Total (Finishes/Sizes) |
Technical precision and flexibility: Stick and Focus Line
For the architect seeking optical precision and versatility without hanging cables, designer ceiling lamps of the projector or track type are the ultimate solution.
Stick: Minimalism in surface and recessed
The Stick family is an example of how technique meets design.
- Stick (ref. 1110): It is installed recessed using springs, allowing the remote driver to be placed inside the false ceiling. This allows us to see a clean and stylized spotlight, without any visible base or box on the surface.
- Stick Box (ref. 1111): It is installed recessed using a standard electrical box. It is the ideal solution when there is no false ceiling, allowing the luminaire to be recessed directly into structural slabs.
- Recessed: For those seeking the “invisible effect”, the Stick Hole is a recessed spotlight that hides the light source for maximum visual comfort (low UGR) with the same performance, light tone and beam angle as the rest of the Stick collection and serves to complement the project between recessed and adjustable projectors, ideal for luxury hotels and residences.
- On track: The Stick Track System 48v allows for the integration of this iconic design into low-voltage tracks, combining the mobility of projectors with lines of diffused light.
Focus Line: Versatile ceiling projectors
The Focus Line family offers robust solutions in machined aluminum for direct ceiling or track installation.
- Focus Line: Design ceiling projector designed to use a replaceable GU10 LED bulb. This ensures the sustainability of the project and facilitates maintenance.
- Focus Line Track: The version for three-phase track, perfect for commercial spaces or art galleries where lighting must change frequently.
- Focus Line Micro: A 6W LED mini projector with adjustable Fresnel optics, ideal for display cases or very specific architectural details.
Technical solutions for demanding spaces
The Bathroom: IP44 on the ceiling
The bathroom ceiling requires luminaires that withstand humidity without sacrificing style. The Focus Line IP 44 allows the technical projector aesthetic to be brought to the bathroom (Class II), ideal for surface installation on concrete ceilings or where there is no false ceiling, providing safe and elegant accent light.
Spaces with concrete ceilings or beams
In renovations where we find exposed ceilings (Catalan vault, concrete, wooden beams) and it is not possible to recess, surface-mounted design ceiling lamps are vital. Models such as the Stick Ceiling or the Focus Line allow for a clean installation with a surface base. In addition, we highlight the Focus Line Magnet, a solution designed to magnetize the spotlights directly onto metal beams, respecting the original structure of the building and highlighting the ceiling material through light without invasive interventions.
Customization: The Insolit hallmark
What truly differentiates standard design ceiling lamps from a boutique solution is the capacity for customization. At Insolit, we design and manufacture our own components.
This is crucial in ceiling luminaires such as the TR Ceiling collection, where often the architect needs a specific diameter to fit an existing plaster rosette or to center the piece in a corridor of non-standard dimensions. We can manufacture special sizes and finishes in any RAL color so that the ceiling light blends in or contrasts with the architecture according to the design intent.
Experts in design ceiling lamps
Choosing suitable design ceiling lamps involves understanding the upper plane of the space not as a place to hang objects, but as a technical and aesthetic surface. Whether through the subtlety of a Stick Hole recessed light, the versatility of a Stick Track 48v track, or the sculptural presence of a TR Ceiling light, at Insolit we offer tools to solve overhead lighting with architectural rigor.
We invite you to explore our catalogue of surface and recessed solutions, and to contact our technical team to customize the lighting for your next project.
Frequently asked questions about design ceiling lamps
What is the difference between a ceiling light and a suspension lamp?
The main difference is the installation and the space they occupy. Suspension lamps hang by cables, occupying vertical volume, while ceiling lights (like our TR Ceiling range) are installed close to the ceiling or with very short rigid stems. Ceiling lights are the ideal option for standard height ceilings (2.40m – 2.60m) where a pendant lamp could obstruct the passage.
Do you have design ceiling lamps for concrete ceilings without a false ceiling?
Yes, it is one of our specialties. Models such as the Stick Ceiling, Focus Line or TR Ceiling are surface-mounted, which means they are screwed directly to the slab. They are perfect for renovations where you do not want to lower the ceiling height by installing plasterboard.
Can Insolit LED ceiling lights be dimmed?
Yes, the vast majority of our ceiling luminaires are dimmable. We offer different protocols (DALI, 1-10V, Triac or Casambi). In the case of the TR Ceiling lights, dimming is especially recommended to be able to change the atmosphere from a task light to an ambient relaxation light.
What is the advantage of using track projectors in a home?
Track systems, such as the Stick Track 48v or the Focus Line Track, offer a flexibility that fixed recessed lighting does not. If you change the layout of the sofa or the table, you can move and reorient the spotlights without the need for construction work or making new holes in the ceiling.
Do you offer recessed spotlights that do not glare?
Absolutely. Our Stick Hole model and the Stick recessed range are designed with a “dark light” or deep anti-glare concept. The light source is recessed inwards, so that when looking at the ceiling you do not see the light point directly unless you stand right underneath it, guaranteeing maximum visual comfort.
