Recessed can light.
Recessed can or pot lights tend to be popular features in homes. With the light fixture recessed into the ceiling the decor often feels more streamlined and functional. However, improperly spaced lights or irregularly spaced lights can create an awkward effect that leaves some areas underlit while overlighting others. Lights should be well spaced to properly light the area around them and they should work well with permanent fixtures and fittings.
Instructions
1. Measure the room where the recessed lights are going to be installed. Draw the walls of the room on quarter-inch graph paper. Indicate the location of windows, doors, door openings, niches, pass-throughs and other features (such as columns). A quarter-inch on the graph paper should represent 1 foot in real life. Note the length of walls and openings on your drawing.
2. Locate your existing light fixtures, particularly ceiling lights as these will produce light in the same area as can lights. Determine your lighting needs. If you are lighting a room with poor window light (such as a basement) you may require more recessed can lights to create a well lit room. If your room is already well lit, then your can lights may be used to highlight artwork, niches, columns, fireplaces or other features as well as provide some additional general lighting.
3. Place tracing paper over your base drawing of your existing room. Use a circle template to indicate the radius of light from existing fixtures. New lights will have their radius printed on their packaging. With existing lights, turn just that fixture on in the evening and note how well it lights the area and when it fades to shadows at the sides. By drawing the radius you can more easily see which areas of the room need more light.
4. Determine the location of fixed features in the room. If you are planning the decor of a kitchen lighting arrangement, you will have fixed cabinets and perhaps an island or peninsula to consider. Recessed can lights can be asymmetrically positioned over fixed features because the lights will make sense with the features. Select the type of fixture you intend to use and draw in the radius of the lights. This will reduce your potential to place too many lights in a space.
5. Space recessed can lights in a large room so that they are evenly spaced and so that the proper size of can light is being used for the requirements of the space. If the lights are being used to highlight art or features, they are likely to be smaller in design with the capability to be directed on the decorative feature. It is seldom attractive to use more than 2 rows of light fixtures in your ceiling as the ceiling will tend to look busy or overdone.
Tips Warnings
Can lights are particularly good for lighting artwork or feature walls, including draperies. Smaller LED-style fixtures are gaining in popularity due to their eco-friendly design.
Tags: recessed, lighting, fixtures, recessed lights, being used, fixed features, graph paper, light fixtures, lights create, lights will, other features
