Recessed lights provide task or ambient lighting in a subtle manner. You can install recessed lighting, also known as can lighting, in various rooms or even outdoors. Unlike traditional lights, recessed lights are installed in the ceiling and not simply on the ceiling. Choosing the correct recessed lights for your space and taste takes patience.
Light Bulb Types
When selecting recessed lighting for your home, choose from fluorescent, incandescent or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Incandescent lights and their recessed light fixtures typically are the least expensive but do not last as long as the other types. LED bulbs are the most efficient type of recessed light and are longer-lasting.
Housing
Various types of housings for recessed light fixtures also are available. Choose IC, or insulation contact, housings if you plan to install your recessed light fixtures in ceilings where they might touch insulation. On the other hand, you can select non-IC housings if you plan to install recessed lights in a first-floor room when there is no insulation between that ceiling and the floor above it, for example. Also, choose recessed light housings that are non-perforated, which means they will not allow cool or warm air from your home to escape through the fixture. In addition, check to see if the recessed light housings are certified by Underwriters Laboratories for damp locations if you want your lights to go in a moist area such as a bathroom.
Trim
Find a recessed light fixture trim color that works for your room's color. Not only are black-and-white options available, but also you can select trims made out of decorative metals such as copper or Tuscan bronze. In addition, decide whether you want your recessed light trims to be flush with the ceiling, which offers a clean look, or sit below the plane of the ceiling as more conventional trims do. You additionally can select eyeball trims, which allow you to position your recessed light lamps at different angles.
Shapes/Other Features
Choose a recessed lighting fixture shape that fits the d cor of your room as well. For example, some companies offer recessed light fixtures that are square-shaped, while others manufacture circular or even rectangular fixtures that actually hold multiple lamps. Also, decide whether you want reflectors or baffles in your recessed lights. Cone-shaped reflectors around the lamps help direct the light, while ribbed-baffles help diffuse light and decrease glare.
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