Using recessed lighting that matches your atmosphere, design, and budget, you can add accent illumination or increase overall brightness without altering the decor of a room.
Chandeliers, flush mount lights, and ceiling fans all have a role to play in a home's decor. Consider recessed lighting if you want to provide additional illumination without adding a fixture that projects downward into the bed. Recessed lamps have a lamp that is housed inside an inverted cylindrical canister that is flush with the ceiling. This means they don't take up much visual real estate; in fact, some are so unobtrusive that they don't even interfere with the room's decor.
The best recessed lighting for any situation is determined by the intent of the space and whether you want all-over or directional lighting. Learn the ins and outs of recessed lighting and why the brands mentioned below are deemed the best in their class.
Amico 6 Pack Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Ceiling Light is the best overall option.
TORCHSTAR 12-Pack Ultra-Thin Recessed Ceiling Light
Lumary WiFi Smart LED Ceiling Light is the smartest choice.
Sunco Lighting 12 Pack LED Recessed Downlight is the best dimmable choice.
Maxxima 11 Watt 6" Rotatable LED Downlight is the most adjustable.
YGS-Tech 2 Inch LED Recessed Dimmable Downlight
HALO Recessed 70PS with Frosted Albalite Lens: BEST FOR BATHROOM
Globe Electric Rust Proof Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Kit is best for the outdoors.
What to Think About When Choosing Recessed Lighting Trims
Recessed lamps, also known as canister lights or simply cans, are suitable for low-ceilinged spaces, such as basements, where other lighting would limit headroom. Canister lights are prone to overheating as used with incandescent bulbs. However, since today's LED lights produce no heat, there's no need to be concerned about the light's housing melting the insulation or posing a fire hazard. When adding recessed lighting, this is crucial to note. Continue reading to learn about other crucial things to remember when selecting the right recessed lighting for your needs.
Placement and Location
Since most recessed lights only have a small amount of trim that reaches below the ceiling, most versions are relatively flat with the ceiling's surface. This gives the room a cleaner appearance, but it also provides less lighting than a typical ceiling light, so you can need more than one recessed lighting trim to light the entire space.
• Whole-room lighting: Lighting requirements differ based on the room's function, with the kitchen requiring more illumination than the family room. When installing regular 6-inch recessed lamps, split the ceiling height by two; this is the width apart at which the lights can be mounted. Try mounting recessed lighting 4.5 feet apart for whole-room lighting if the ceiling is 9 feet high. This law, however, will change based on the brightness of the lamps.
• Accent lighting: Adding a recessed light that spotlights a valuable artwork, sculpture, or architectural element will help attract attention to it.
• Job lighting: To view the tasks at hand, kitchen counters and islands need bright lighting, so adding more recessed lights in these areas would increase brightness.
It's easier to mount recessed LED lights in a current ceiling than it is to install old-school incandescent cans, which used to be supported by ceiling joists. LED lights are also lightweight enough that they don't need additional protection and can be attached to the surrounding drywall with spring clips.
Dimensions
Recessed light fixtures are available in a variety of sizes, varying from tiny 1-inch versions to wide 12-inch industrial fixtures. However, the most common diameter for home use is 6 inches.
Trimming Style
The outer ring of a can-type recessed lamp, which is installed after the light is installed to give it a finished look, as well as the can's inner housing, which adds to the overall design effect.
• Baffle: A baffle-trimmed can has circular ribbing on the interior that prevents glare and is a common feature on many can-type recessed lamps.
• Reflective: The interior of the can has a mirror-like surface that enhances visibility with the brightest available sun. This style of trim is ideal for over-the-counter job lighting that needs more visibility.
• Open: Recessed lamps with open trim are meant to be used with special fixtures that widen at the bottom to provide a flush appearance between the can's rim and the lamp.
• Eyeball: An adjustable inner ring on this form of recessed light allows the user to aim the light in a certain direction.
• Pinhole: Recessed lights with pinhole trim have a narrow gap below the light that provides a spotlight effect. Pinholes are often used to draw attention to artwork or other prominent features. When watching movies, several pinhole lights can be mounted in the ceilings of home theaters and connected to dimmer switches to produce a muted nighttime sky effect.
• Wall-wash: A wall-wash light has a shield that absorbs light from the rest of the space, pointing it to a nearby wall instead. It's used to highlight a particular section of a wall or a specific object, such as a painting.
• Shower: This form of trim is used for installation in high-moisture areas, such as over a shower stall, as the name implies.
Wattage and Brightness
LED light bulbs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs in the past. Many shoppers still equate a light's brightness with the wattage of an incandescent lamp, but in addition to the real watts of an LED bulb, you'll also see a reference to an incandescent bulb. For example, an LED bulb that uses only 12 watts of power but produces the same amount of light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb may be described as "Bright 12W 100W-Equivalent Recessed Light." The majority of LED lights are compared to their incandescent counterparts, but a handful are compared to their halogen counterparts.
Temperature of Color
Cold white and warm white are the most popular color temperatures for recessed lighting, and both are ideal for use in the house. Warm white is calming and well-suited to family quarters, bedrooms, and baths, while cool white is crisp and light, making it ideal for kitchens, laundry rooms, and labs. The color temperature of LED lights is measured on a Kelvin scale that ranges from 2000K to 6500K; the higher the amount, the cooler the light quality. The warm color temperature, which is at the bottom of the scale, comprises amber and yellow tones. The light turns crisp white as it moves up the meter, gradually taking on a bluish, cold hue at the top.
Some recessed lamps, in addition to standard white light, have the potential to change the color's shade to create a particular atmosphere in the room. This are known as color-changing LED bulbs, and they come in a variety of colors, including green, blue, and purple.
Feature of Dimming
Many modern recessed lights are dimmable, which means they can be connected to a dimmer switch. This feature helps you to adjust the brightness to meet your mood and needs while still reducing energy consumption.
Technology that is smart
If your home has a Wi-Fi network, smart recessed lights can be powered by a wall switch or remotely from a smartphone, tablet, or PC. If you don't have access to Wi-Fi, smart lighting technology can also be enjoyed by selecting lights that have Bluetooth compatibility for use with a smartphone.
The Best and the Best
A recessed light must be robust, appealing, and have enough lighting to satisfy your needs in order to be considered a top choice. The recessed lights mentioned below (many of which are available in sets) are ideal for a variety of applications, and one or more of them is sure to be a bright addition to your house.
This range of ultra-thin recessed lights provides the equivalent of 110 watts of halogen brightness. Six lights can effectively illuminate a 120- to 140-square-foot space using just 12 watts of electricity each. These 6-inch-wide, 0.5-inch-thick lights can work in ceilings with clearances as low as 2 inches above the drywall. Users should change the color temperature of each light to match the Kelvin lighting scale, which ranges from warm white (2700K) to cool white (5000K), to produce the perfect ambiance in the room.
Each light comes with an easy-to-wire junction box; all you have to do is align the color of the Romex wire to the appropriate slot and insert the wire into the box to secure it. Spring clamps hold the lights in place in the ceiling. Although these recessed lights are considered DIY-friendly, you can employ an electrician to mount them if you are unfamiliar with wiring concepts.
2. TORCHSTAR Ultra-Thin Recessed Ceiling Light Trim/Trims (12 Pack)
Consider TORCHSTAR's 12-pack of thin-profile recessed lights to get the advantages of LED can lighting when staying on budget. Each 4-inch light uses just 10 watts of energy but offers enough lighting to replace an 80-watt incandescent bulb. Every light has an easy-to-wire junction box that doesn't require connection to ceiling joists, and the thin housing attaches to ceiling drywall with spring clips.
The TORCHSTAR recessed lamps, like most LED bulbs, stay cold to the touch, so you don't have to think about them being too high in the ceiling. The lights can be dimmed with most wall-mounted dimmer switches, allowing you to save still more energy by lowering the brightness to meet your needs.
3. Lumary WiFi Smart LED Ceiling Light is a smart LED ceiling light that connects to the internet via WiFi.
Check out the Lumary WiFi Smart LED Ceiling Light to power your recessed lighting trims with a smartphone or verbal commands. This two-pack of smart lights works with Alexa or Google Home Assistant, allowing you to control them with your voice. You can also use the free downloadable software to access them remotely from your smartphone or other portable computer. Installing the lights in a ceiling is DIY-friendly if you have any wiring expertise, and they don't need connection to ceiling joists because they're held in place by spring clips.
To create a unique glow, choose from a palette of 16 million light colors. Every light is equal to an 80-watt incandescent bulb in white mode, but the brightness is reduced in colored modes. Lumary recessed lights enable a Wi-Fi network to be mounted in the house.
4. Sunco Lighting Recessed LED Downlight Trim 12 Pack
Dimming the lights can create an atmosphere and save electricity, but not all LED lights are dimmable; in particular, connecting incompatible LEDs to dimmer switches can shorten bulb life. This Sunco operates with a regular or dimmer switch and can be as bright as a 75-watt incandescent lamp.
Furthermore, if you're replacing old recessed light trims, this Sunco will make the job a lot easier because it's built to retrofit an existing 5- or 6-inch can without the need for wiring. Simply detach the old lamp, screw the new light into the same socket, and place the spring clips against the ceiling for a snug, stable fit. Its wide surface trim would hide any old trim or noticeable drywall gaps.
5. Maxxima LED Downlight, 6" Rotatable, 11 Watt
With the Maxxima Rotatable LED Downlight, you can direct light exactly where you like it. This 6-inch recessed light has an adjustable head that allows you to illuminate every part of the home. It's also reversible, in case you change your mind and choose to emphasize the Picasso instead of the Renoir. The Maxxima recessed light is designed to replace a current can light without the need for wiring. What you have to do now is screw the new light into the existing socket on the can. The spring clamps that lock the Maxxima light to the ceiling drywall keep it in place.
The lamp comes with a regular orange LED plug for connecting to an existing LED can light, but if you're replacing one, make sure it has an orange plug—if it does, the Maxxima can go right in. This recessed lamp consumes just 11 watts of power while producing the same amount of light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb.
6. YGS-Tech 2 Inch Dimmable LED Recessed Downlight
Install a slew of these mini lights around your ceiling, or use one as a chore or accent lamp. The YGS-Tech 2-Inch Recessed Lights have easy-to-wire junction boxes and don't need ceiling joist connection. They come in a four-pack and each lamp uses just 3 watts of power while producing the same amount of light as a 35-watt halogen bulb. The lamps can be dimmed for still more savings, and since they use LED bulbs, they don't emit heat, so you don't have to think about the housing colliding with the ceiling insulation.
7. Frosted Albalite Lens on HALO Recessed 70PS
A normal lighting fixture will trip a breaker if it comes into contact with water, so you shouldn't have to think about splashes from a shower or pool with the HALO Recessed trims Wet Location Air-Tite Lamp. The HALO light is engineered to survive an occasional water splash and high humidity levels thanks to a cover that seals closely to the light's base for moisture protection.
This 6-inch recessed light is intended to retrofit an existing recessed can light trims and embraces a 60-watt-equivalent LED bulb (not included). Its waterproof trim adheres tightly to the ceiling, giving your bathroom ceiling light a new, improved appearance.
8. Globe Electric Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Kit, Rust Proof
Consider Globe Electric Rust Proof Indoor/Outdoor Recessed trims if you need can lights trims for an outdoor environment. These lights won't rust or corrode thanks to aluminum cans and trim, making them ideal for use on the ceilings of covered porches or patios. They're planned to replace older can lights and take 50W comparable LED bulbs (not included).
There's no need to tie the cans to the joists because the light comes with an easy-to-wire junction box and heavy-duty spring clips to keep it in place. Keep in mind that, although the lamps are rust-resistant, they are not waterproof and should not be used in areas where they could be exposed to direct water spray, such as from a sprinkler.
Frequently Asked Questions On Recessed Lighting
With so many different forms and patterns of recessed trims to choose from, it's understandable if you have any concerns. Take a look at these responses.
Q. What is the best way to mount LED recessed lighting?
Many LED recessed lights on the market today are DIY-friendly, with pre-labeled slots for color-coded Romex cables. Acting with electricity, on the other hand, still carries some difficulty, so employ an electrician if you're not acquainted with wiring.
Q. How far away from the kitchen cabinets can recessed lights be placed?
Recessed LED lights can be mounted 14 to 16 inches away from the upper cabinets' edge to completely illuminate countertop work areas. This provides the highest lighting perspective.
I'm not sure whether I can have four or six recessed trims lamps.
It all depends on the look you want to achieve and the amount of light you desire. For whole-room lighting, standard 6-inch lights are the most popular. 4-inch lights may be used for whole-room illumination, as well as accent and job lighting, if they are placed closer together.
Q. Is an electrician needed to install recessed lighting?
If you know how to wire and are merely replacing an old light with a new recessed trims, you may be able to mount it yourself. It's a smart idea to hire an electrician if you're building a whole ceiling full of modern recessed lighting and would need to fish wire through the joists. Local building codes should also stipulate that LEDs must be installed by a certified electrician.
Q. Are LED recessed lights needed to be housed?
Housing refers to the container that houses the lightbulb (or LED diodes), and today's recessed LED lights have thinner, lighter housings than older-style can lights.
Q. Does recessed lighting increase a home's value?
Although adding recessed trims does not increase the numerical value of your house, prospective customers may be more likely to make an offer if your home is well lit.
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