Lighting can make a world of difference in the setting of a room. If you want your house to look perfect, lighting is something that you will need to give quite a bit of attention to. Sometimes, due to improper lighting, the house tends to look dark in some spots. In such cases, recessed lighting can be just the thing that you need. Therefore, if you are thinking of completing lighting renovations in your home, thinking about recessed lighting might be a good idea.
Recessed lighting is the light fixtures installed into hollow openings of a ceiling, floor, or wall. The light is concentrated as the installation is confined to a hollow space, making it look like a narrow spotlight. They are the perfect option if you want to attract specific attention to a particular area of your house during lighting renovations.
The process of installation
The recessed light fixture comprises of two main components. The first one is the house that fits around the light. This part is hidden within the ceiling or wall and includes the hardware as well. Trim is the second component that is visible to all.
Trim needs to be given excessive attention when deciding the installation of recessed lights during your lighting renovations because this is the part that would be visible. The aesthetic of the room will significantly be affected by it. Therefore, you need to think about the style, depth, and size of the trim. The size of the room is important, as well. For instance, you will need a recessed light with a larger trim if it is going to be installed in a larger room.
When deciding on where the recessed lights should be placed, you need to first select the area where you want the focus to be. The light is to be centered over that specific area. You can then space the remaining lights around that area for highlighting. Excessive recessed lights in a room will spoil the whole look. You need to make sure that the lights are spread apart and are not too close to the wall.
The types of recessed lights
Recessed lights can be categorized according to the type of trims they have and their sizes. Let us shed some more light on the various options you have when it comes to selecting recessed lighting.
Type of trims
Trim has fitting inside the housing while it extends outside to form an outer ring. This is the part that is visible to you when you look at installed recessed lighting. Some common types of trims you will come across include;
Baffle trim
This is perhaps the most common type of recessed lighting you will find. It is preferred by many as it minimizes glare. The bulb is not flush with the ceiling as it fits inside the fixture.
Reflector trim
The bulb is fitted inside the fixture in this one as well. It has mirrored surfaces, which makes the lighting more enhanced. You can also find tinting on some fixtures.
Open Trim
In this type, the bulb is nearly flush with the ceiling leading to unrestricted illumination.
Eyeball Trim
This one is quite popular as you can pivot it to change the focus of the light wherever you want.
Gimbal Trim
Similar to the eyeball trim but the lamp does not extend significantly below the ceiling. Some light is blocked by the housing when it is fully pivoted.
Pinhole Trim
With this type of recessed light, the light is narrowed down to a tight beam. You can use this for spotlighting certain items or areas.
Wall-Wash Trim
Half the light is covered by the shield, and thus, the light is restricted to a specific area. This one works well if you want to highlight any features like a painting.
Shower Trim
This one has a tempered glass lens and is usually used in bathrooms or over a shower.
Sizes of recessed lighting
You will mostly find recessed lights within the range of 3 and 6 inches of diameter. Which size would be suitable for you depends on the location and purpose of the light.
Modern décor styles gel well with small recessed lights. They highlight specific areas. On the other hand, larger lights are perfect for traditional décor and can do wonders for your room lighting. The height of the ceiling needs to be given attention while deciding on the size of the light. Keep in mind that if the ceiling is high, the light will be wider and diffused.
Pros and cons of recessed lighting
If you are confused about whether you should think about recessed lights when doing your lighting renovations in your house, let us make things easier for you.
Pros
Recessed lighting stands apart from regular lighting. It becomes a part of the design. Since a significant portion of it is hidden, you do not have to think about its looks to a large extent. These lightings work particularly well for rooms with a low ceiling. Their design is sleek, which ensures that short rooms appear tall and do not take away the limited space.
Recessed lights with waterproof covers are also available in the market, ensuring that you can use them in the shower without having to worry about safety.
These lights can be installed close to walls, and they can then light the corners and edges of the room, which is not the case with other types of traditional lighting.
Cons
One problem with recessed lighting is that they are quite small. Thus, if a larger area is to be covered, you will need multiple lights. This will increase the cost of your renovations. Furthermore, the installation of more light means that you will need to create more holes on the wall or ceiling.
Final words
If you are tired of seeing the same traditional fixtures everywhere, recessed lights will be the perfect option for you. They can be used in small areas with ease and will not compromise on the lighting despite their small size.
They will bring value to the room and will make sure that the lighting enhances the décor of your house to many folds. The team at Lifestyle Renovations can help you determine the best type of lighting for your next renovation.
