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.

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.

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.

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.