Recessed lighting is a subtle form of ambient and task lighting that can add an additional atmospheric element to a room in an understated manner. As opposed to traditional light fixtures that attach onto a wall or ceiling, recessed lights install within the wall or ceiling. Before selecting recessed lighting for your home or embarking on a rigorous recessed lighting project, there are a few things you should know.
Bulbs
When it comes to recessed lighting you have the choice of essentially three different types of bulbs: incandescent, fluorescent and LED (which means Light Emitting Diode). incandescent bulbs are the cheapest initially, but in the long run they're going to cost you more as you'll have to change them with a greater frequency. Incandescent lights also offer you a weaker glow than fluorescent or LED bulbs. LED and fluorescent bulbs last the longest, with LED bulbs producing the strongest glow.
Trims and Housings
Trim refers to the metal ring that envelops the bulb that you can actually see jutting very slightly out from the wall or ceiling. Because trims are visible, they come in a variety of styles, such as scalloped edges, baffle trim, which has ridges, or eyeball trim, which envelops the bulb like an eyelid around an eyeball. The housing of the bulb involves all the metalwork that you don't see as it's behind the ceiling or wall, which includes all the electrical work as well as the hardware that attaches the recessed light fixture to the surrounding structure inside the wall or ceiling. Depending upon whether or not you're installing recessed lighting as you build a new house or install it to an already existing house, you will either use new construction housings or remodel housings respectively.
Location and Degree
Install your recessed lighting in wise places so that you use them to the best of your ability. For example, if you install them on the ceiling, don't install them too far away from the walls as they'll seem oddly isolated. Don't install them in long rows as the effect is reminiscent of an airport runway. Don't make them your primary lighting source as it could make the room look bare and cold if they're the only source of lighting. Keep recessed lights away from ceiling fans as a ceiling fan, when turned on, could give the light a very unpleasant strobe effect.