Did you know that the number of home updates Americans make has increased by 17% recently? With more people looking for ways to spruce up their homes, there’s never been a better time to jump in. And refreshing the lights in your home is a great place to start.
Read on to learn the top five tips for buying the right recessed lighting!
1. Consider the Type of Recessed Lights
One of your first considerations should be the type or style of recessed lighting you want to add to your home. Are you doing a remodel or is your home new construction? The answer to that question may impact the type of light you choose.
Traditional recessed lights provide the most bang for your buck, for instance. They are also among the cheaper options if you’re looking to swap out a dated light fixture for something cleaner. If you’re working with new construction, you may want to upgrade to a different choice, however.
You could go with canless recessed lights if you’re hoping to inject a more modern sense of style. These trim lights can fit easily within the drywall of your ceiling. They won’t have as much trim visible, either.
You can install recessed lights on ceilings, walls, or ground surfaces. Brighten a pathway around your backyard garden with recessed lights. Or use them to spotlight artwork, steps, or large spaces.
2. Look at the Size Options
Not all recessed light bulb sizes are the same. Typically, they range in size from a diameter of three to seven inches. But before you determine which size to get, you’ll need to look at the height of your ceilings.
For example, if you have higher ceilings, you can count on the light spreading more. On the other hand, the light will be more focused coming from a lower ceiling. Most people choose four-inch or six-inch lights for their homes.
Consider the beam angle, too. The beam angle of a recessed light refers to how far light can spread, and often this is impacted by the trim around the light. Aim for coverage of 60 to 120 degrees for general lighting scenarios.
3. Understand the Bulb Choices
When you’re looking at options for recessed lighting, weigh the bulb options. You can go with fluorescent or LED bulbs. But you also can choose halogen or incandescent options.
For the most budget-friendly choice, you can go with fluorescent bulbs. Just be prepared for a cooler lighting scenario that tends toward blue. For the most lighting intensity, go with halogens.
Look at LEDs for durable lights that are more energy efficient. Some of these lights can create warmer tones that mimic the warmth of incandescent bulbs. LED lights also have the advantage of being cooler to the touch, meaning that they are the safest choice.
Ultimately, the best bulbs for recessed lighting are ones that create a comfortable atmosphere in your home. Look at other light fixtures in your home to determine if they tend toward being warm or cool. Then choose bulbs that will match them.
4. Find a Solution That Complements Your Decor
Even though recessed lighting might sound like an unobtrusive lighting solution, you’ll still need to make some aesthetic decisions. You want your new lights to mesh well with existing lights or the style of your room.
When it comes to the trim, you can make a statement that works with the rest of your decor. Check out square aperture or flat trim options to create a more contemporary sense of style. Beveled trim options, by contrast, add dimension.
Avoid adding too much light to your space. Bigger bulbs aren’t always better — especially if you already have other light fixtures in your home. Reserve the six-inch bulbs for grand living rooms or dining rooms.
You also may want to opt for dimmable lighting. That way, you can change the atmosphere at night.
Dimming the lights can be a helpful way to prepare your mind and body to go to bed. And it also can establish a softer, more inviting tone in your room. Use a dimmable light for wall washing to create the ultimate soothing atmosphere.
5. Don’t Overlook the Cost
Finally, don’t forget to consider your budget. After all, the last thing you want to do is start a lighting project at home that hurts your finances. You can start by considering the financial implications of different sizes of recessed lights.
Going with four-inch lights, for example, offers the lowest price point. They’ll be easy to power and work well in smaller rooms. Use them to wash the walls with light or illuminate a hallway.
Upgrading to the larger six-inch lights means you’ll get access to more trim options. These lights work well to brighten larger rooms. But you’ll need to pay more for the added size, although you may need fewer of them.
Also, consider whether you’re installing these lights into a new or existing home. Installing recessed lights in an existing home requires an electrician, and you could spend anywhere from $100 to $300 per light. For a new home, that price can dip down to around $100 to $200.
9 Types of recessed lighting trims
All recessed lighting fixtures start with the same concept: recessed lighting bulbs reside inside your ceiling, just above the ceiling panel. The difference comes via the types of recessed light trims you can select. Here are nine types of light trims that pair brilliantly with recessed lighting.
- Open trim. This type of trim positions the lightbulb almost exactly flush with the ceiling. You do not see the inside of the lighting fixture.
- Reflector trim. This type of trim features a reflective surface inside the lighting fixture. This amplifies the light produced by the recessed light bulb.
- Baffle trim. Perhaps the most common type of recessed lighting, where the light bulb sits inside a black ribbed interior designed to minimize glare and reflection.
- Pinhole trim. Pinhole trim recessed lighting channels all of a bulb’s light into a narrow downward channel. This provides a cold, starkly modern look.
- Eyeball trim. This is an adjustable trim that lets you angle the lightbulb in various directions.
- Gimbal trim. A variation on an eyeball trim where the bulb is further back into the ceiling. When you adjust the bulb in a gimbal trim, the housing will block some of the light.
- Canless trim. This type of lighting trim does not require an electrical box. Instead, the light plugs directly into your home’s electrical wiring.
- Shower trim. Shower trim is for recessed lighting that will sit in a wet location. In this setup, the lightbulb will be covered by tempered glass, which keeps water out.
- Wall wash trim. This type of trim uses a shield to block some of the light produced by the bulb, which effectively focuses the rest of the light in the style of a wall wash or feature light.
Advantages of recessed lighting
Recessed lighting provides several advantages that make it popular with architects, builders, homeowners, and business owners.
- Unobtrusive. Unlike large, traditional lighting fixtures, recessed lights do not call attention to themselves. They tuck away into ceilings and walls and allow other furnishings to claim the spotlight.
- Can be energy efficient. Recessed lighting fixtures play nicely with LED bulbs. Throughout the United States, LED recessed lighting has become standard practice as municipalities promote energy efficiency.
- Very safe, when you choose the right model. Look for recessed lighting that is IC rated. This means it is “insulation contact” safe; if it touches fiberglass insulation, nothing bad will happen. Provided that you are careful about the installation process, recessed lighting should give you decades of safe, reliable usage.
Look into Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting offers an attractive way to illuminate any space. Consider the type of light you want to get, as well as the style of the room it will illuminate. Don’t overlook the cost as you make your decision, and find the right light bulb to provide enough light.
When you’re ready to upgrade your lighting, contact us so we can help!
Wholesale Recessed Lighting Supplier – Lighting and Supplies
As one of the best wholesale lighting distributors in the United States, Lighting and Supplies provides a wide variety of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights to accommodate all commercial and residential lighting and electrical component project needs. For home owners, electricians, contractors, lighting engineers, project managers and more, we can help source the lights you need by providing a lighting quote or creating a proposal for the right lights in your lighting specification process or next lighting design project.
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