Ah, the recessed light debate – the source of many impassioned internal arguments that I’ve had in EVERY SINGLE ROOM I’ve ever designed. Designers don’t like generic builder grade anything, so there is a level of snobbery about these basic fixtures, inherent in talking about them. But often without them, especially in certain rooms during certain times of the year there is frustration when you simply can’t see anything. So after our first dark PNW winter where there is no natural light between 4 pm and 8 am, where we eat breakfast before the sun comes up and start dinner after sundown, I feel like I have some perspective to share. So here is where I actually used my recessed lights (and where I regret putting them because I didn’t use them at all this year).
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But first…the purpose of recessed light:
Not every type of lighting has the same purpose – it’s not always just to “brighten” or to “see better”. No. The purpose of a recessed light, the reason you would put them in your room is one of these things (or both):
And before I get too far into it, you should know that when I talk about recessed lighting I’m referring to the more sleek/modern 3″ or 4” round with the squared-off casing in white or black (if wood or dark ceiling). It’s what we have throughout our first floor and I think they are lovely to look at in every way.
So let’s go room by room with my current opinions based solely on my 43 years of my own personal experience. Everyone is different – but here is my perspective.
Yay or Nay? Personal preference! (But, I’m currently a yes)
This is unpopular with designers but y’all I use my recess lights in our kitchen a lot – both for cooking and cleaning. I lean more practical this way, probably because I cook a lot. Or maybe I’m just used to it, but in the last 4 kitchens I’ve either had track or recessed lighting in addition to pretty fixtures. I used track lights both times when we had exposed wood ceilings where the track could be installed and hidden along a vintage beam, and recessed lights for a more typical drywall ceiling.
Last winter at the farm, I still used the sconces and pendants for morning light in the kitchen because it was too early for that level of overhead. But if I’m following a recipe in a cookbook for dinner, I really want to be able to see well. I find that while the sconces and pendants provide a lot of lovely light, it’s not task lighting and it’s not direct (they are more ambient) and just not enough. I’d also like to point out the obvious that kitchens have to be cleaned nightly after dinner, whereas bathrooms can be cleaned during the day on the weekend, thus you need better lighting to clean at night. So, I’m a yes to recessed lighting in the kitchen just to light up your cooking spaces.
Yay or Nay? Depends! (We didn’t this time).
Now, this is considered a very utilitarian room which usually people recommend a lot of overhead task lighting (and I do, too). We have high ceilings in here so we put in these four pendants which provide more than enough and I’ve never wished for more lighting in here. So we skipped them, but if you don’t have a lot of overhead light options (like pendants or multiple semi-flush lights) then go for the recessed. I don’t love the look of 4-6 semi-flush lights (a trend we’ve been seeing a lot lately) but I do like spotlights and love multiple pendants as we did.
Yay or Nay? SKIP, unless it’s also the kids’ playroom
This is our fourth living room documented here on the blog and never have we had recessed lights in any of them nor wished we had. So I feel confident in saying that generally, I don’t think you need them if you can put in ample overhead fixtures and sconces (and table/floor lamps). Since we have an exposed ceiling in the farm living room we couldn’t really put in recessed lighting in here, so it wasn’t really a debate. The purpose of this room is usually to hang/converse and this is always better with recessed lights off, and ambient lights on. However, if your main living room is also where you gather around your coffee table to play games and do crafts then you’ll probably want them. We used them all the time in the mountain house family room – the lamp light wouldn’t do in the winter (and that room didn’t have a ton of afternoon natural light).
Yay or nay? Depends! (we mixed it up and my opinions are based on a few factors)
First off, this really depends on the era of the house. For vintage houses try to avoid recessed lighting and do ample overhead semi-flush, flush, and/or sconces.
It’s my current opinion that you need either a multi-bulb semi-flush or chandelier if you have the height OR recessed lights but not both. If you have a more contemporary house, I think throw them in – they won’t look weird as it’s more period appropriate.
We had them in the mountain house (1970s) bedrooms (not the master) and as long as they are dimmable they go unnoticed when not in use. We purposely wanted to keep the room clean and minimal and liked the look of no light fixtures.
photo by kaitlin green photo by kaitlin greenOur farmhouse bedroom ceiling was very asymmetrical so we didn’t put in an overhead light (I might still swag a big Japanese lantern for decorative reasons because we have the height). Any other type of light fixture would have to come from a really awkward place in the middle of a beam in order to be centered which I don’t love, so we just nixed it and put in recessed lights instead. That’s all to say that I have a current theory: If you get dressed in your bedroom you need decent overhead light – either a multi-bulb fixture or recessed lights. But if you don’t need to get dressed/look in the mirror in your bedroom or if you have a separate dressing closet then you don’t need a ton of bright lighting in the bedroom. We rarely turn on our overhead lights in the bedroom so I could have nixed them (but I don’t regret having them too much).
In our LA house bedroom and our kids’ rooms (a vintage 100-year-old style home) we did not put them in and I’m happy we didn’t – HOWEVER, for all three of the farmhouse bedrooms we needed more overhead light during the winter. I actually am currently switching out our kids’ semi-flush lights because the single 40-watt bulb is just not enough (and we could upgrade the wattage, but the fixtures are clear glass so seeing that white LED bulb doesn’t sound awesome). We are instead putting in multi-light semi-flushes that look cool. But I am glad we didn’t put in recessed as the vintage windows and doors just look better without the contemporary recessed lights in there.
Where I didn’t put them in but wish I had….
We didn’t put any overhead light in the mountain house primary bedroom because I didn’t want to disrupt the gorgeous wood ceilings. We attempted to address overhead lighting by putting LED strip lights on TOP of the collar ties (the horizontal beams) which unfortunately flicker in a very annoying way (because some LED + dimmers often don’t work well yet). Now, not having any overhead light was fine in the bedroom most of the time except when I wanted to try on outfits in the winter at night (which was rare as that wasn’t our lifestyle to go out). We actually have black track lighting originally intended for the closet sitting in the garage, but never installed (a very me thing to do/not do). Now what I should have done is put 4-6 small black recessed lights in the bedroom (I really like the look of black recessed lights).
Yay or nay? Personal preference (skip if you can but heavily depends on sconces)
We didn’t put them in the kid’s bathroom and haven’t missed them for a second. We did put them in our bathroom and have only turned them on a couple of times. But we have them in all the mountain house bathrooms and used them a lot! The difference is that at the mountain house, all of our sconces were more decorative and gave off fairly low or directional (downward) lighting and we skipped all ceiling fixtures on purpose, to not bring your eye there. The era of the house was more post-modern and that worked so well stylistically. Whereas at the farmhouse, a more vintage style home, we chose sconces with really great light (clear or opal glass) with similar ceiling fixtures and so no, we did NOT need any of the recessed lights we put in (except in the shower).
I wish I hadn’t put the recessed lights in the vanity area of our bathroom – it disrupts the pretty tile in a bad way. Had I known that the sconces would provide such nice even makeup-applying bright light, I would never have put in these overhead fixtures. My bad.
Yay or nay? Personal preference
You definitely don’t NEED recessed lighting in your powder room or water closet, so this is a personal preference. We didn’t put one in our powder room (just a little cute semi-flush and a sconce) and it’s GREAT. We did, however, put one in our water closet in our bathroom and I rarely use it, opting for the dimmable sconce over the toilet instead. So no, I don’t think you need it but doesn’t hurt and isn’t offensive (but if you have a vintage-style home maybe skip).
Yay or nay? YES
Listen, even if you don’t turn the recessed light on in the shower you want one for cleaning otherwise it’s really hard to see in the corners.
Yay or nay? ALWAYS
Sure, you can go heavy on the sconces in here or put in a semi/flush, but really you just need good recessed overhead lighting (and I prefer this over the single fixture). I put away clothes so often at night, so it’s not just for getting ready.
Yay or nay? ALWAYS
You need to be able to tell the difference between split peas and green lentils, quinoa, and brown rice. We put a really cute light fixture in our pantry, but for sure knew that we’d more often use the black recessed lights. I’m sure a multi-bulb or really bright semi-flush or flush could work, but I just think that recessed works better in here.
So like everything there are some things that are advisable and tend to be called a “rule” but so much of it is a personal preference, so I’d love to invite any/all of you to leave any anecdotal experience in the comments.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: Our Calm Scandinavian Master Bedroom
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Before you decide to add a recessed light, also known as a can light, or decide which recessed or can light to install, there are a few things to consider: What do you want to light? Do you want a pool of light or a tight spot? What size fixture do you want? What kind of light bulb do you want to use? Do you need to use a remodel fixture, or can you install a new-construction housing? What about getting the necessary wiring to your new light? Will you need an IC (Insulation Compatible) or AT (Air Tight) fixture or one that is both?
The Parts of a Recessed Light
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Before You Buy Recessed Lighting
There are several factors to take into consideration before you buy recessed lighting for your home. Figuring out which room you want to put this type of lighting in is just the first step. Size, style, how many, wattage, and placement are just a few others. Recessed lighting will not only change the look of the room but can provide cost-effective energy savings and bring added value to your home, too.
Buying Considerations for Recessed Lighting
What Do You Want to Light?
Recessed light fixtures are very versatile. They can be used to provide general lighting, task lighting, or accent lighting.
If you want more light to read by, or on your kitchen counter, you probably want a downlight. The same is true for lighting a hallway or corridor, or for the general lighting in a large room such as your family room. To light up that sculpture on your mantel, you'll probably want an eyeball spot. On the other hand, to highlight a large painting or poster, or to subtly light your stereo components, a wall washer trim may be what you need.
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What Size Fixture Do You Want?
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The common sizes for residential recessed light fixtures are 3 inches through 7 inches in diameter. One way to answer this question is by considering how far the ceiling is from where you want the light, and how big an area you want to light. In an 8-foot ceiling, a 4-inch fixture can work well to provide kitchen countertop lighting. A 6-inch downlight at that height will illuminate your breakfast table nicely. In a 10-foot ceiling, you might want 4-inch fixtures for area lighting, since the light will spread out more. A 7-inch fixture makes a nice wall washer in an 8-foot ceiling.
The most popular size is a 6-inch fixture. For that reason, there are more different styles of trim available for 6-inch fixtures than the other sizes, giving you greater flexibility in choosing the trim you want.
What Kind of Light Bulb Do You Want to Use?
A recessed fixture with a medium screw base lamp holder can take an incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, or LED light bulb. There are also fixtures available with special lamp holders, or sockets, that can only take certain light bulbs, usually fluorescent or halogen.
If you like the savings, long life, and temperature coolness of fluorescent lamps, but you also like the color warmth of the incandescent light, you can buy fluorescent lamps with a low Kelvin value. For high-intensity light, especially in a small area, halogen often works best. For warm, general lighting, most people prefer incandescent lamps. LED light bulbs can combine several of these characteristics.
If you want to be able to dim your recessed lights or control them with a remote or automated system, choose fixtures you can use incandescent, halogen, or LED light bulbs in. Fluorescent light bulbs are not dimmable unless they have a dimmable ballast.
A recent addition to the recessed lighting market is the new Wafer LED recessed light. It has no housing and is therefore extremely thin. It can be used in new construction projects or on remodels.
Types of Recessed Lighting
Trim Type
The trim is the outside portion that can be seen of the recessed lighting fixture. There are many trim types including adjustable, baffle, pinhole, slotted, decorative, shower, and open. The adjustable trim style is great for accent lighting or illuminating cabinet shelves. An open light trim is a perfect choice for lighting up a large space, such as a kitchen or living area, while the shower is the optimal selection for the bathroom shower area, as it's made to be moisture resistant.
Light Bulb Type and Temperature
In looking at these light fixtures, you will notice that some bulbs have a screw-in or pin base. There are different types such as incandescent, halogen, LED, or a standard bulb. The LED light bulbs are cool to the touch and also are considered the better choice for cost-effective energy savings. You also need to select the temperature or color of the lighting that you prefer in your home—bright, soft, or daylight. You can put in dimmer switches to lower the level of lighting, too; just keep that in mind when purchasing dimmable bulbs.
Remodel Fixtures vs. New-Construction Housings
Recessed lights are made with two different means of support. The housing for a remodel fixture is typically supported by pushing metal clips through the housing onto the top of the ceiling—the drywall or plaster. New-construction fixtures are supported by screwing or nailing the fixture's frame to the ceiling joists. If you can't get above the ceiling to run the wiring, you will probably have to use a remodel fixture. But if you have access to space above the ceiling where the fixture will be located, you can install new-construction recessed lights in your existing ceiling. The pluses of doing this include that new-construction fixtures are usually less expensive and have a larger selection of trims than remodel fixtures do.
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Wiring Type
Remember to bore a hole in the center of each joist if you need to feed wire from one joist bay to another. Remember, also, that the connections for recessed lights are made in a junction box attached to the fixture. If you are using Type NM (Romex) wiring, look for fixtures that have built-in Type NM clamps in their junction boxes. If you are using Type MC cable, get fixtures that have that clamp built-in. It will save you an incredible amount of time.
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Cost
Recessed lights will vary in cost depending on the size, features, quality, and type. At large home improvement retailers, the prices for individual fixtures start at around $8 and can go up to as high as $50. Multipacks for recessed lighting are available in packs of four, six, or eight at a discounted rate. LED lighting fixtures are typically higher in cost but will ultimately save money due to the overall cost savings in energy they provide.
Some homeowners feel comfortable installing these lights themselves but if you don't, be safe and contact an electrician to do the work for you. Hiring a professional to install the recessed lighting for you will increase the price exponentially. But this price can also change, depending on if they run into issues with wiring, adding dimmer switches, etc.
How to Choose Recessed Lighting
There are numerous choices available when selecting the right recessed lighting for you and your home. From what fits best in the style of your home and your taste, to the logistics of the lights themselves. To help you decide, here are just a few of the questions you should answer before purchasing:
Do you need an insulation-compatible or air-tight fixture?
Many recessed lighting fixtures are made to be Insulation Compatible (IC). That means the housing can be installed in direct contact with insulation. If you're planning to add recessed lights in an insulated ceiling, you should only buy fixtures with housings that are IC rated. Otherwise, you will have to buy or build a cover to keep the insulation away from them.
If a recessed lighting fixture isn't rated to be Air Tight (AT), installing it creates a chimney for your wintertime heating to escape through. This may not be an issue if there's more of your living space above it, but it's very important if that space is your unfinished attic.
Any recessed lighting fixture that will be housed in an unfinished, insulated attic needs to be both IC and AT rated. The good news is that most styles of recessed fixtures are available with either or both ratings.
Will you need a new or upgraded lighting circuit?
When you're installing hard-wired lighting fixtures, which is what recessed fixtures are, the maximum number of fixtures on a circuit is determined by the maximum wattage rating of the fixtures. The wattage of the light bulbs you're planning to use is not part of the calculation. For this reason, especially if you're installing several fixtures at once, you should look for fixtures that have the lowest maximum wattage rating that is high enough to let you use the bulbs you want.
FAQ
How many recessed lights do I need to put in a kitchen?
If your kitchen is large, you should estimate your ceiling footage and install a recessed light every 4 to 6 feet for the best and most consistent lighting coverage.
How far away from the wall should recessed lighting be placed?
To keep shadows away from corners and off the wall, recessed lighting should be placed about 2 to 3 feet from the walls.
What is the most common size for recessed lighting?
Recessed lighting sizes are determined by the housing's inside diameter. Common sizes for use in households are 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch.
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