Recessed Lighting

If you’re planning for a new home or refurbishing your old place to give it a contemporary and stylish feel, recessed lighting is something you may want to consider in your designs. Why? Because it is the key to modern interior design and one of the most subtle ways to add style without burning a huge hole in your pocket! It’s no wonder why recessed lights is so popular with homeowners nowadays.

Why Should You Consider Recessed Lighting In Your Home

A recessed light is a fixture that’s embedded into the ceiling (or sometimes in the wall). When setup properly, it looks as if there is a hole in the ceiling that’s emitting beautiful floodlight downwards onto a specific area. It resembles a “pot” or a “can” when you look up into the fixture and that is why it is also known as pot lights or can lights. Since the light socket and its cabling is concealed within the ceiling itself, there aren’t any exposed surfaces to dust. Other than an occasional change of bulbs, recessed lighting is pretty much maintenance free. It is also quite unintrusive. Your guests may not even know it is there until you switch it on!

More importantly, recessed light is great for creating a seamless, uncluttered feel. This additional douse of lighting can provide a focused effect so, if you have a wonderful piece of fine art that you will like to showcase, recessed lighting is the answer. You can also use recessed lights as your only source of lighting in the room. In fact, some people have also used it in their dining room with dramatic effect – one of the main reasons popularizing the widespread use of it. But don’t forget to space them at least 25 – 30 square feet apart. Otherwise you may end up having an airport runway in your house!

Not all homes are suitable for recessed lighting though. If your ceiling is made up of largely concrete, contains ornamented plastering or intricate designs, you may want to consider alternatives such as a chandelier or table lamp instead.

Tips When Selecting Recessed Lighting Fixtures

The recessed light fixture is separated into 2 parts. The housing and the trim. The trim is the ring that lays flat onto the ceiling and visible to onlookers. You may want to go for those fixtures with trims that blend in with the ceiling for a less intrusive feel. Or try those decorative ones that comes with its own distinctive designed trims for a bolder look. Some trims are also incorporated into baffles and hence great in controlling the intensity of the light emitted.

The light socket can be found in the housing, the part that is subsequently embedded into the ceiling during installation. Don’t be surprised to find reflectors in some housings as they can be used effectively to direct light beams (to where it is most required) without adding to the size of your electricity bill! At the end of the day, how the recessed light fixture creates its lighting effect will depend on the type of housing, trim and bulbs used.

As a general rule of thumb, if the price is a concern for you, go for halogen or incandescent fixtures. Incandescent bulbs costs relatively less and when combined with the use of reflectors are good for general lighting. They can also be connected to a dimmer for greater brightness variety. If you have a high ceiling, you may want to consider fluorescent fixtures. They look great and have the additional benefit of conserving energy. Use special low voltage housings with halogen bulbs if you’re going for an accent, focused feel.

Insulation Contact Housings

If your ceilings are insulated, remember to get fixtures that have housings that are Insulation contact rated (”IC rated”). These special housings prevents any flammable substances such as the insulation from touching the hot lighting fixture. For better energy conservation, get IC housings that are air tight. You must make sure that there is at least half an inch of distance between any flammable substance and a 3 inch distance from the insulation if you want to use non IC rated housings in a insulated ceiling. For a peace of mind, going for the former may be a much safer solution.

Retrofits

In the past, it’s often a messy and tedious affair to remodel an existing ceiling. It can also be pretty expensive if you factor in costs to engage a professional contractor for the job. It just isn’t practical. With the introduction of the retrofits, manufacturers are making it easier for home dwellers like us.

Such retrofit units even come with detailed instructions and even stenciling templates that allow you to outline and cut out the the exact size of the opening for the installation. Some wiring knowledge may be required in this case so if you are not sure how to handle that, paying a professional can save you some hassle.

If you plan to convert your house’s existing recessed lights to lower voltage, get those retrofits that comes with transformers to lower the standard current to 12 volt power source. They are more expensive but bear in mind that these will be more or less made up for from your energy consumption.

For those who’ve experienced this scenario, you might already know what recessed lighting kits are all about. Imagine this. You’ve seen pictures of those wonderfully lit living room or kitchen and you’re keen to replicate that with your own house. You may have even tried calling a contractor for some quotations. But that may have dampened your spirits a bit. After all, remodeling your space to incorporate recessed lighting isn’t really that cheap. Your research further points you to the option of buying and installing your own recessed lighting to save money. Enter the reasonably low priced recessed lighting kits.

Well, as the saying goes “you get what you pay for” and it’s relatively true in this situation. Though recessed lighting kits aren’t really all that bad, getting to know what you’re getting into is important. Let’s drill into the pros and cons.

Recessed lighting retrofit kits are an off the shelve production by light manufacturers to cater to the DIY crowd. Such kits comes with its own set of compliant components such as the integral captive nails, transformers connectors, and several other good to have features such as sturdy hanger bars. Because such kits tend to be mass produced, they’re able to transfer the economies of scale back to the consumer by lowering retail prices. For example, during our research, some recessed lighting kits can cost as little as USD 10! The downside of this however, is that the variety in the models they offer tend to the limited. Hence, if you’re planning for a major revamp of your living space, you may find your creativity hampered by the sheer lack of choices.

And if you’ve noticed, the cheaper kits are usually made of plastic. Such materials are often more vulnerable to heat and hence questionable when it comes to durability. Lower cost plastic kits may also include lower wattage bulbs to prevent damage to the housings. More often than not, this light may be considered too dim for certain accent and task lighting requirements.

Also, since such recessed lighting kits require a DIY installation, if you’re someone who’s not really a handyman or handywoman, you may find it a great challenge getting these lights up. The redeeming factor, however is its ease of installation. Most of such retrofit units comes with specific instructions and even stenciling templates which helps you outline and obtain an exact size of the opening for the installation. Even then, some wiring knowledge would still be required and if you are not sure how to handle that, paying a professional can give you a greater piece of mind but may add on to your bottomline costs.

That said, does it mean recessed lighting kits are not useful at all? Not really. More often than not, such kits are compiled together with the components that are perfectly compliant. And if you’ve a particular space that goes well with dimmer lighting, for example, the walkways or corridors for general lighting, such kits can come in handy. The plastic materials are also easily replacable so in the event that your light gets damaged over time due to usage, you can always find a low cost parts replacement. Manufacturers are also coming up with optional recessed lighting covers trims selections that goes with a particular series of recessed lighting kits so that you can have an added variety. So, where can you get such recessed lighting kits?

Many brick and motar retailers carry different brands and models of such kits. For a start, you can make a trip down to Home Depot and look at the variety of options available and make your selections carefully. Some major online retailers such as Amazon offers great discounts to entice customers to buy some of these products. Amazon even have real customer feedback that you can read through before considering buying the recessed lighting kits.

If you’ve been looking for square recessed lighting fixtures, chances are, you’re someone who’s in tune with the latest trends in home decor and interior design. Yes, square recessed lighting is one of the popular choices of home dwellers nowadays. With a low investment, these unique looking lights can give your space a brand new refreshing look. More importantly however, other than looking great, these fixtures can help you cut a huge bundle off your electrical bills in the longer scheme of things. For example, if you get those with recessed fluorscent lighting bulbs that works on a lower voltage, you can to use lesser electricity while providing the same if not more lighting than an incandescent lamp.

Well, as the name suggests, square recessed lighting essentially refers to those units that are of a slightly unique shape. Other than providing an additional design option over their rounder cousins, such fixtures don’t really differ much in terms of functionality. Perhaps the only marginal difference is that it’s relatively easier to cut out square than round holes during the installation process! There’s also an interesting observation though. Manufacturers tend to prefer a particular shape for certain types of recessed lights. For example, troffers, which are essentially fittings installed into suspended tiled ceilings tend to be of a squarer angular shape. In this case, its design could be due to installation concerns since squarer fixtures will fit in easily with a tiled surface.

That said, you can literally find the round or square recessed lighting styles in almost all types of recessed lighting fixtures. For example, with a trip down the lightings store, one can find round or square down lights easily. So in what situations will your decision on the use of square, round or other shapes of recessed lightings matter?

One of the main considerations mentioned is the nature of the ceilling’s surface. Like the example stated above, if you’re working with a tiled ceiling and considering recessed lighting, square recessed lighting fixtures will fit in much easily than a round design. The latter probably means you need to cut up the tiled ceiling in an much awkward manner that may ruin the existing design of your room or space. However, finding the exact size to fit the tile’s size can prove to be daunting.

Fortunately many manufacturers have recognized this need and came up with a wider variety of sizes. You can easily browse some of their catalogues online or even at Home Depot! In the event you can’t find anything suitable, you always have the option of going for custom made ones. Though that may require deeper pockets. Nowadays however, lighting and fixtures retailers have expanded their spectrum of services in order to stay above the competition. Even if you’ve decided to go the custom route, some specialized retailers may even offer discounts and services which will way surpass your expectations. In fact, some might even work directly with your architect, interior designer or builder, to make the whole integration process seamless. You may end up getting more value for the same buck!

Another other consideration that’s pretty much obvious is the design you’re achieving for. Some of the square recessed lighting comes in beautiful structure dimensions which make them awesome additions to your interior. It gives interior designers or even DIY home dwellers an additional option when it comes to mixing and matching the different lighting accessories to spruce up your room or space.

Remember, even if you can’t find the square recessed lighting fixtures you’re looking, there’s always the customized solution.

More often than not, people who are looking for halogen recessed lighting per say are in actual fact sourcing for recessed lights which are using halogen light bulbs. Now, what’s the benefit of such halogen recessed lighting and how different will it make in your recessed lighting needs? Let’s discuss this in greater detail.

How Halogens Are Different

For ease of reference, the term halogen recessed lighting will be used to refer those lighting fixtures which makes uses of halogen lamps (i.e. light bulbs). There are basically 3 main reasons why people prefer halogen recessed lighting over the conventional sort. The first is none other than the quality of the light. Light emitted from halogen lamps tend to be whiter, brighter and more easily focused as compared to the traditional incandescent bulbs. Due to this clearer quality of light, recessed halogen lights are great for task or accent lighting.

You can plan halogen recessed lighting in areas where focus or concentrated light is need to be shone on a particular object. Such as the case of an artwork display. You can also factor it in your desktop, reading or study where you will need bright focused light for your leisure reading or working needs. Some people have also used recessed halogens lights to highlight tracks where all the bulbs glow at a similar intensity.

Another reason why halogen recessed lighting may be preferred is in the case of durability. The mechanics of how halogen bulbs work reduces the strain on its filament, thereby prolonging their lifespan. If you compared the lifespan of a 75 watt incandescant bulb versus its halogen cousin of the same voltage, the latter can last almost twice as long while generating 10% more light output! Therefore, it’s not uncommon to find recessed halogen lights in areas where it’s hard to reach. Such as the corners of the Why? So that you don’t have to keep replacing the bulbs as often as you would need to!

The third reason? It’s more energy efficient! For the same 75 watt bulb example mentioned earlier, the halogen lamp generates 10% more output. And if you opt for those low voltage halogen recessed lighting fixtures, you can further reduce your electricity bill to a fraction of what it was previously.

Why Halogens May Not Be For Everyone

Well, since halogens are so good, why aren’t everybody jumping onto the wagon? The truth is, like everything in life, there’s always another side of the coin. Halogen recessed lighting lamps costs more – almost 4 times of what you pay for a incandescant one. Low voltage halogen recessed lighting can cost even more. This is because the low voltage housing usually comes equipped with a transformer which helps to convert the standard house current to the required 12 volts. So unless you really buy into the long term cost savings methodology that halogen lamp manufacturers advocates, it’s may difficult to make the switch initially.

Interior home and lighting design considerations may also be another reason why they may not be preferred in certain cases. Especially since the halogen lighting may appear to be colder and less inviting to some. Besides, the sharp and focussed and can appear to be quite glaring if there’s insufficient shade or shield. They tend to get heated up much faster and of a greater intensity. Parents with young children in the family may be less inclined to install halogen recessed lights fixtures that are generally low hanging to avoid potential safety hazards.

In the longer schema of things, however, recessed halogen lights does have its place in the market. Although these potential cons inhibit the use of them in certain environments, its long term cost savings, environmental friendliness and reduced energy wastage will inevitably encourage home dwellers and interior designers to use halogen recessed lighting effectively and safely.

Low voltage recessed lighting basically refers to fixtures which operates at 30 volts or lesser. Now, this may sound pretty weak in terms of a power supply, in reality, a low voltage recessed lighting fixture can provide about 2 1/2 times more light than what an incadescent lamp can power with line voltage. That means, a fifty watt light fixture can generate as much light as a one hundred and twenty-five watt light power by line voltage.

How’s that for some great energy savings?

Since low voltage recessed lighting generally uses lesser electricity, the size of your associated power bill will be greatly reduced. And while the financial economy continues to move at a sluggish pace with the prices of energy going in the reverse direction, low voltage recessed lighting is starting to appear as an attractive option to many families. Coupled by the lure of other benefits such as increased safety, reduced strain on the environment, enhanced lighting quality and a improvement in design flexibility, it’s no wonder why low voltage recessed lighting has been the talk of the town.

Dimmers are also used in conjunction with low voltage recessed lighting fixtures to allow a better control on the amount of light at any given point of time. As less light energy is consumed as compared to line voltage, it generally requires less space for installation. Builders and contractors have found that smaller holes and lesser lighting fixtures are required for its installation. That in turn means less destruction of ceilings and walls to accommodate for the new lights.

And since this form of recessed lighting are have a smaller portion of the electricial current flowing within the wires as compared to regular fixtures, the chance of electrical shock or fire is very much reduced. Parents with young children generally prefers such safe fixtures in their homes. New technology has also improved the life span and energy efficiency of such low voltage recessed lights fixtures.

If you’re convinced that this is for your home, the next question is probably this : how do you convert your existing lighting setup to low voltage recessed lighting?

All you need to do is to make sure the new retrofit kits you’re looking to install contains transformers which will convert your existing house current to the required voltage required by low voltage units. Although these units may cost slightly more than the conventional kits, in the long run, the cost savings will make up for this initial expense you’ve spent on low voltage recessed lighting.

The term “bathroom recessed lighting” is probably a little misleading. After all, there is really nothing really different using recessed lighting in the bathroom as compared to anywhere else in the house. It’s always advisable to plan for other types of lighting first before filling it up in with recessed lighting to prevent overdoing it. Such as a swiss cheese like ceiling.

You still need to take into consideration issues such as design, placement, the type of fixture versus the light bulbs to use in your planning. With that in mind, let’s review some of the generic sections of the bathroom and how recessed lighting can be deployed with the best effect :

(1) Shower

The shower area is one section of the house where bathroom recessed lighting will come in very nicely. One important thing to take note however is to select light fixtures which are essentially water proof. The same goes for the light bulbs. Most of the light fixtures you get at the stores are already marked to show this so don’t worry too much about that. Some people may also prefer to install a dimmer together with their shower recessed lights for a more controlled and soothing effect. For those people who wants a slow wake up while getting into the shower before the break of the day, this dimmer comes will come in very handy.

(2) Bathtub

If your bathtub’s separate from the shower, your lighting needs may be slightly more unique. Otherwise, it will probably be not much of a major difference as what was discussed earlier. It is still recommended to use bathroom recessed lighting. But water rated fixtures or light bulbs is not a prerequisite. Tilt your light streams on the outside area of the tub to provide sufficient general lighting without the glare.

(3) Mirror and Vanity

This is conventionally one of the areas that requires careful planning. If there’s insufficient or improper lighting in this area, tasks such as shaving or applying make up in front of the mirror can prove to be a challenge. Fortunately, lighting and design companies have devised various ways to cope with it for both functional and decorative purposes.

Your mirror can be adorned with vanity strips for task lighting. Make sure the vanity light bulbs are of a lower wattage or uses frosted glass so that it’s not too bright. Some people have tried to remove some of the light bulbs from their vanity strip the moment they realise the light is too bright. However, this defeats the purpose of the strip. After all, the vanity strip is to help distribute the light evenly, isn’t it?

You can also use wall sconces to achieve a similar effect. If you choose to have 2 or more sconces in the bathroom, make sure the distance of each sconce is evenly spread out so that light is coming from either side of the sink. Otherwise, the scone will shine directly in front of your face when you look into the mirror. As for the height from which the sconces should be placed, it should be at about eye level. But that may differ in accordance to the type of sconce you choose.

(4) Ceiling Fixtures

If you’ve a high ceiling, try installing a chandelier for a decorative and classy effect. Its size should be dependent on the width added to the length of the room. Eg, for a bathroom which is 18′ x 16′, get a chandelier that’s about 34′ (18+16) in diameter. This would ensure that the bathroom gets sufficient general lighting. In the event that multiple lighting fixtures are required, use the dimensions of the area as a reference.

(5) Toilet

Setup your recessed can in front and not immediately over the toilet. And if you would like to have some light for reading purposes, place a sconce above the toilet. The same rule about mirror and vanity sconces will apply here as well.

(6) Night

For safety purposes, some people may want to some lighting in the night so that they can go to the bathrrom without tripping or waking totally. If you don’t have much room in the bathroom, use a night light. Otherwise, some form of accent lamp lighting can work pretty well. For example, you can place a small lamp on a accent table or on your vanity, and use it together with a durable or compact fluorescent light bulb for the best bathroom recessed lighting arrangement.

The term “bathroom recessed lighting” is probably a little misleading. After all, there is really nothing really different using recessed lighting for the bathroom as compared to anywhere else in the house. It’s always advisable to plan for other types of lighting first before filling it up in with bathroom recessed lights to prevent overdoing it. Such as a swiss cheese like ceiling.

You still need to take into consideration issues such as design, placement, the type of fixture versus the light bulbs to use in your planning. With that in mind, let’s review some of the generic sections of the bathroom and how recessed lighting can be deployed with the best effect :

(1) Shower

The shower area is one section of the house where bathroom recessed lighting will come in very nicely. One important thing to take note however is to select light fixtures which are essentially water proof. The same goes for the light bulbs. Most of the light fixtures you get at the stores are already marked to show this so don’t worry too much about that. Some people may also prefer to install a dimmer together with their shower recessed lights for a more controlled and soothing effect. For those people who wants a slow wake up while getting into the shower before the break of the day, this dimmer comes will come in very handy.

(2) Bathtub

If your bathtub’s separate from the shower, your lighting needs may be slightly more unique. Otherwise, it will probably be not much of a major difference as what was discussed earlier. It is still recommended to use bathroom recessed lighting. But water rated bathroom recessed light fixtures or light bulbs is not a prerequisite. Tilt your light streams on the outside area of the tub to provide sufficient general lighting without the glare.

(3) Mirror and Vanity

This is conventionally one of the areas that requires careful planning. If there’s insufficient or improper lighting in this area, tasks such as shaving or applying make up in front of the mirror can prove to be a challenge. Fortunately, lighting and design companies have devised various ways to cope with it for both functional and decorative purposes.

Your mirror can be adorned with vanity strips for task lighting. Make sure the vanity light bulbs are of a lower wattage or uses frosted glass so that it’s not too bright. Some people have tried to remove some of the light bulbs from their vanity strip the moment they realise the light is too bright. However, this defeats the purpose of the strip. After all, the vanity strip is to help distribute the light evenly, isn’t it?

You can also use wall sconces to achieve a similar effect. If you choose to have 2 or more sconces in the bathroom, make sure the distance of each sconce is evenly spread out so that light is coming from either side of the sink. Otherwise, the scone will shine directly in front of your face when you look into the mirror. As for the height from which the sconces should be placed, it should be at about eye level. But that may differ in accordance to the type of sconce you choose.

(4) Ceiling Fixtures

If you’ve a high ceiling, try installing a chandelier for a decorative and classy effect. Its size should be dependent on the width added to the length of the room. Eg, for a bathroom which is 18′ x 16′, get a chandelier that’s about 34′ (18+16) in diameter. This would ensure that the bathroom gets sufficient general lighting. In the event that multiple lighting fixtures are required, use the dimensions of the area as a reference.

(5) Toilet

Setup your recessed can in front and not immediately over the toilet. And if you would like to have some light for reading purposes, place a sconce above the toilet. The same rule about mirror and vanity sconces will apply here as well.

(6) Night

For safety purposes, some people may want to some lighting in the night so that they can go to the bathrrom without tripping or waking totally. If you don’t have much room in the bathroom, use a night light. Otherwise, some form of accent lamp lighting can work pretty well. For example, you can place a small lamp on a accent table or on your vanity, and use it together with a durable or compact fluorescent light bulb for the best bathroom recessed lighting arrangement.

Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling your house, installing recessed lighting is likely one of the more challenging tasks. The good news is, except for the occasional concrete or ornate plasterwork ceiling, most ceilings are suitable for installing recessed lighting. All it takes is a few handyman tools, some knowledge and you are good to go.

Can You Really DIY?

For a brand new construction, installing recessed lighting isn’t much of an issue. You just need to locate the ceiling joists, screw or nail in the brackets where you would like to position your light fixtures and affix the physical metal housings to the bracket. Place the dry wall (with the openings for the housings cut out) over and viola, it’s done. The same ease applies if you’re able to access the ceiling via the attic.

Installing recessed lighting is slightly more complicated if you’re remodeling your house. Luckily, manufacturers have came up with retrofits kits that comes complete with detailed recessed lighting installation instructions and even stenciling templates for outlining and cutting out of dry wall openings. These products tend to be insulation contact (”IC”) proof and you can install them from the bottom of the ceiling without worrying if there is insulation above. If you choose to use non IC rated fixtures in this case, you need to make sure there is at least 3 inches away from the insulation wiring.

An area that you probably need professional help is the wiring. If there is no available power source nearby, engaging a certified electrician to setup a wire connection to the fixture can help you save loads of time and hassle. But in the event that there is already ceiling box around the installation area and your local codes permit, you can still do-it-yourself by detaching the wires from it and reconnect to them to the retrofit.

Things You Need

• Recessed Lights Fixtures
• Stud Finder
• Drill
• Dry wall saw
• Utility knife
• Wire connectors
• Wire strippers
• Pliers
• Screwdrivers

Step by Step Recessed Lighting Installation Instructions

(1) Cut the Opening

Turn off the power and use the stud finder to locate the ceiling joists. With the stenciling template provided in your retrofit kit, outline the opening in between the joists. Use the utility knife to mark out the line and once that’s done, cut the opening with a drywall saw. Make sure the hole’s is just right to hold the fixture’s housing.

(2) Run the Wiring

Draw the cable from the ceiling box or other applicable power source to the opening. It’s recommended to have excess inches of cable to make

(3) Connect to the Fixture’s Junction Box

Insert the wire into the junction box and hold it with a clamp. Strip off the wire’s insulation and connect it based on the matching wire colours. The fixture’s black wire has to go with the black house wiring. The white goes with the white house wire while the green or bare ground fixture wire matches with the ground wire. You can use wire connectors if you like. Once that’s done, close up the junction box.

(4) Install the Housing

Insert the junction box into the hole and position the housing inside the opening. Make sure it’s tight. Use a screwdriver to push in the mounting clips until they secure the fixture against the ceiling.

(5) Affix the Trim

Position the trim. Depending on the design you’ve selected, just follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you will be able to get this done in a breeze. Attach the light bulbs provided and turn on the power. Viola, your recessed lighting’s up!

Some Notes & Precautions

• It’s important to check if your local regulations allow you to do your own wiring. Some local codes prohibit this or required any do-it-yourself wiring to be certified by an licensed electrician. Do ensure that you comply with this.
• Installing recessed lighting fixtures that are non IC in an insulated ceiling can be dangerous as the heat generated may result in a fire. If you’ve chosen to do so, make sure your non IC fixture is at least 3 inches away from the insulation or any combustible substances.
• Use only bulbs of the right voltage. In the event of a converting your existing recessed lights to a lower voltage, make sure you select a retrofit kit that pre-installed with transformers.
• All power should be shut off while installing recessed lighting fixtures.

As recessed lighting becomes popular, a greater variety of recessed lighting trim styles and designs are also introduced by manufacturers to cater to different needs. Some of these are functional. Such as the standard baffle which incorporates the baffle functionality with the trim. Others are decorative and stylish. But how do you select the recessed lighting trim that complements the interior style and function you’re going for? And what are your options?

To help you with this, let’s take a look at some of the common recessed lighting trims available :

(1) Baffled Recessed Light Trim

Baffles are basically used to redirect bright light in a particular direction and slightly lessens the intensity of the lighting. When merged with the trim, the baffled recessed lighting trim essentially look like ribbed interior rings. You will find concentric circular grooves inside the cones that holds the lamp. Since it is great for creating a soothing architectural atmosphere without the glare, many home dwellers tend to prefer this over the other designs, making it one of the most popular choices. It is also used in commercial offices.

(2) Eyeball Gimbal Ring

If you need a focused, precise light beam effect for highlighting your art display, signboard or a specific part of your building, the eyeball gimbal ring may be be your choice. Equipped with an adjustible swivel, you can easily adapt the light to where it’s needed. Sometimes, this type of trim may also be used for task lighting. For example, a reading light effect over your bed is something you can achieve with this. If you’re planning fo this function, remember to choose a lamp with a very tight beam so that you will not disturb your partner sleeping beside you.

(3) Reflector / Multiplier Lighting Trim

Such trims contain an interior reflector surface that optimizes the lighting while hiding the source. Multipliers are commonly used to manage the light flow of “A”style incandescent light bulbs and fluorescents. Best suited for task or general lighting functions, as they tend to give off more light. Also, if the recessed lights is the only source of lighting in the room, this may be a suitable option as well.

(4) Decorative Recessed Lighting Trim

As the name suggests, such trims are clearly for asethetic purposes. Different decorative designs, ranging from colourful glowing art glass to contemporary stylish finishes are available to suit all kinds of interior settings. Believe it or not, but one such trim can transform your seemingly unintrusive fixture into a beautiful chandelier! If you prefer not to draw any attention to the recessed lighting fixture, going for trims that matches your ceiling’s colour and texture is a wiser choice.

(5) Lens / Louvred Trim

Lens / Louvered recessed lighting trim diffuses the light, making it soft and soothing. Awesome for space that looks good in a gentle douse of light, it’s common to find such trims used in showers or even closets. The lens also have the added function of protecting the lamp and hence is commonly used for lights in wet areas such as bathrooms.

(6) Wall Wash / Pin Hole Trim

Both the wall wash and pin hole recessed lighting trim has a small partial opening where light is allowed through. The main difference between the two is that the latter doesn’t have any spill over effect.

The light beam from the wall wash trim tends to be asymmetrical and hence great for getting rid of the common “scalloped light effect”. This type of trim is commonly used to accent vertical areas such as the wall, fire place, drapes, fire place, etc. with light. Some people also use this to highlight art displays, even though the effect is not as precise as the eyeball gimball ring trim.

Although recessed lighting is commonly used in interior settings, over the years, outdoor recessed lighting is also getting popular. One of the main proposition for it is that it does not increase light pollution. Light pollution which has been commonly attributed to glaring floodlights, street lamps etc disrupts the regular cycles of insects reproduction, birds migration and our circadian rhythms. And since outdoor recessed lighting does not emit that much amount of light into the night, it’s hence more environmental friendly.

Since it is waterproof and contains a lens or trim that protects the lamp from weather elements, people have used outdoor recessed lighting and other surface mounted lights to illuminate their decks, barbeques, walkways etc. You name it, there’s probably a light for it! Some of these are also required by local codes for safety purposes. Commercial buildings and offices love using it for landscaping as it’s able to accentuate the designs very well.

Let’s run through some of the common styles of outdoor recessed lighting available :

(1) Well Lights

Commonly used to illuminate walking paths or highlight a specific landscape design such as a statute, the well light is usually placed along the path or garden with the lights shining upwards. It creates a therapeutic and calming atmosphere while lighting the pathways subtly without being too much of a glare. There are also some well light styles which project itself upwards on a pedestal instead of inground. These are predominantly used for highlighting sculptures, fountains etc.

(2) Wall Mounted Lights

As the name suggests, these are outdoor recessed lighting designed for mounting on vertical surfaces such as the wall or a particular side of the building. They come in a variety of styles, from the elaborate decorative, modern simplistic zen to standard shaped lights. If you’re looking to light your barbeques, wall mounted lights can be a good consideration.

(3) Recessed Down Lights

Great for for illuminating pouches, recessed down lights is a great way to light up a large area like the porch as it would quite a challenge getting the same level of lighting with wall mounted light fixtures. If you have tall ceilings, it’s important to ensure that an appropriate number of larger size cans are used. For example, if you have a porch that is 10′ x 20′ with a 12 foot high ceiling, four 6 inches halogen recessed cans lights should be sufficient to light up the area.

(4) Underwater Lights

Another style of outdoor recessed lighting is underwater lights. These are often used to illuminate swimming pools, fountains and even ponds for during the night. These lights are not intrusive to marine life and hence work well even if you have carps in your pond.

(3) Step Lights

Where do you think step lights are used? Yes, you’re right. Staircases! Be it the outdoor staircase leading to your home entry. Or the steps sprinkled along your garden pathways, these step lights gives a heart warming welcome to your guests and keeps them safe from tripping in the dark. A must have!

Great, you love the effect of recessed can lighting and decided to use it to spruce up your house. You did some preliminary research and know all about retrofits and have some vague idea how to install them. But you’re still stuck. How should you design the lighting layout to achieve the effect you want? What kind of fixtures are suitable for this? What are the other considerations? Etc etc.

Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself when planning on your recessed can lighting layout.

(1) What Kind Of Lighting Effect Do You Want

Depending on the space and function you’re using recessed can lighting on, the effect you want may be different. And that in turn influence your decision on the type of the fixture and its associated trims, bulbs, housings and layout. Traditionally, recessed lights works best in locations such as art houses or galleries, museums, showrooms, conference rooms, study, hallways, kitchens, showers, bedrooms, stairs, dining rooms, restaurants, taverns and hotel suites. In fact, if you look at it, the list is pretty endless. Any space that you’ll like to go for either an accent or dramatic effect can be achieved through the use of such lighting. People have also used recessed can lights for functional purposes such as reading, lighting up hallways, stairs or just general lighting in showers.

(a) Accent Lighting

As the name suggests, accent lighting focuses the recessed can lighting on a particular object or area so that the eye is immediately attracted to it. This is a popular and beautiful way to decorate the interiors whilst illuminating the room at the same time! It creates an elegant mixture of light and shadow within the space constrains and gives it a 3D effect. Such are usually used for accentuating a painting or art display and can be created with a single or series of recessed downlights, casting on the display or area.

In this kind of scenario, the fixture you choose can be matched with reflector or multiplier trims and used with narrow flood lights for a clean minimalistic feel. If you’re going for a dramatic accent setting, such as those commonly used in dining zones, hook up these lamps with dimmers for a greater intensity variety.

(b) General Lighting

Having sufficient work illumination and flexibility in a room is the purpose that general lighting is trying to attain. You can spread a few recessed light fixtures such as table lamps and complement that with wall washer recessed lightings for lighting up the walls.

(c) Task Lighting

Lights set for a particular purpose such as reading, lighting the walkways or stairs are generally known as task lighting. Task lighting is usually combined with either accent, general lighting or both to support a hybrid of needs. The effect can be fantastic! For example, you can have accent lighting in a shower through a few recessed lights focusing on certain elements such as a vase or display and another fixture with a lensed trim for task illuminating the shower stall.

(2) What Should Be The Beam Angle?

Well, the answer really depends on the lighting effect you’re trying to achieve. But always remember, the lights produced by recessed can lighting are usually in a cone shape, with the source coming from the fixture and casting a concentric light on the floor. The angle we are referring to here is the degrees from which the light is emitted. Hence, a light fixture will approximately create a circle of light about nine feet across the floor if the fixture is eight feet above the ground with a 60 degrees beam angle.

That’s not all. Bear in mind that the light casted is not of the same concentration. You’ll probably find two thirds of the light on the floor in a stronger intensity whilst the rest is spilt over and gets filtered off as its stretches away from the centre source. You may want to factor this into your designs by overlaping the spill over lights from 2 recessed downlights to achieve a more even illumination.

Another design consideration is the work plane. In case you’re wondering what’s that, this is a zone about 30 inches above the ground, an area where most tasks occur. It’s important because as the space between the fixture and surface decrease in proportion to the size of the circle mentioned earlier. So, if you’re planning the lighting in a kitchen, try to keep your lights about 4 feet away from each other so that you’ll have a pattern that’s even on the work plane, casting an intense portion of the light pattern onto the tasks area

Other lighting angles can be created with the use of an appropriate trim. For more information on that, do refer to these recessed lighting trim.

(3) How Do You Space Recessed Lighting?

For general lighting purposes, place the fixtures that’s about half the height of the ceiling. That means, if you’ve a eight feet tall ceiling, the distance between each recessed light should be about 4 feet apart. Remember this is just a rough estimate as you’ll still need to take into consideration the above issues we’ve just discussed. What you can do is to use this as a benchmark and plan the number of your lights along this baseline.

Here are some other interesting placement tips you may want to consider :

• For a 3D effect, make use of recessed lights with wall washer trims across the sides of the room. You can also use them to accentuate a wall art piece.
• When setting lights for reading or other tasks purposes, plan it over the head where it less likely that the light be blocked.
• Illuminate a physical object (such as a vase, statute) at 2 or 3 different angles to achieve a irregular 3D feel
• Always place your recessed lighting fixtures about 11 to 19 inches in front of the art work, vase or any item you want to draw the attention to.

(4) How Many Recessed Down lights Should You Use In A Room?

Well, the answer really depends as there are many factors that can influence this decision. Other than the ones already mentioned, the colour tones of your walls, floors and ceilings, the size of the room and the nature of the lamps, bulbs and trims used can also have an great impact. If you have a home kitchen with a eight to nine feet high ceiling in light colour and generically light or soft coloured furnishings and wall, about 5 recessed downlights that comes in white baffled trims and seventy-five walks PAR30 fixtures can be installed in line. About 4 or 5 feet from the center. For flexibility, you can also hook up these recessed can lighting with dimmers so that you control the lighting needs while conserving energy at the same time.