No matter the style of your home, it’s important to have functional, efficient, and stylish lighting. Recessed lighting fits perfectly into a myriad of design styles.
Professionally installed recessed lighting is attractive, but it doesn’t pull attention away from the design features of the space. It is highly functional with versatility for a variety of applications. A few lights can illuminate large spaces, and modern LED recessed lighting is energy efficient.
Looking to add some recessed lighting to your home, but unsure where to start? We’ve created this brief guide specially for homeowners like you! Below are the important things to consider when taking the next step towards adding recessed lighting into your home!
Why Recessed Lighting?
Recessed lighting has always been a great lighting design option for homeowners looking to add functionality to their homes without relying on big lighting fixtures that may take away from the rest of the room’s design. In addition to taking up minimal space, recessed lighting is one of the easiest lighting designs to adapt to changes in the home and the tastes of the homeowner.
This is partly because recessed lighting is quite adaptable. For decades now, homeowners installing recessed lighting have worked with their electricians to achieve customized solutions. With the use of dimmer switches, adjustable recessed lighting trim, and zone lighting, this flexible lighting style has always been ahead of the technology curve.
A more recent recessed lighting idea is to integrate it with smart home automation system upgrades. Recessed lighting was one of the precursors to smart home technology. Now that homeowners are controlling lights, appliances, shades, and home security with voice commands or the touch of an app button, recessed lighting is the perfect feature to take your smart home to the next level.
The Best Recessed Lighting Ideas By Room
Recessed lighting works well in every room of the house, and even outside the house, if it is installed for that room’s purpose. Below are some tips for how to use recessed lighting in all areas of your home.
- Kitchen Recessed Lighting – In the kitchen, recessed lighting should be installed with functionality in mind. If you’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel, make sure the electricians doing the installation understand the layout of your workspaces and dining areas. When everything is complete, you’ll have the best lighting where you need it most.
- Living Room Recessed Lighting – In living spaces, think about where you want light to focus. If you’re displaying artwork, the lights may need to accent those pieces. Conversely, if you have cozy nooks for reading and lounging, recessed ceiling lights may need to ensure direct light to those areas. Since most families spend a lot of time in living or family rooms, it’s important to achieve the right balance in these spaces.
- Bedroom Recessed Lighting – In bedrooms, the most important aspect of installing recessed lighting is usually integrating it with ceiling fans. Your electrician can recommend spacing that ensures good lighting without any disruption from fan blades.
- Outdoor Recessed Lighting – As outdoor spaces increasingly become living spaces, lighting has become a higher priority. Recessed lighting is a great way to set the mood and use outdoor areas long after dark when installed in covered patios and decks. Just make sure that you’re working with products that are designed for outdoor applications.
What Does it Cost to Install Recessed Lighting?
Like any home improvement, the cost to install recessed lighting will depend on the size of the home, the style of lights, wiring specifications, and the number of lights being installed.
For instance, many homeowners are currently facing the decision of whether to go with recessed can lights or the newer canless recessed lighting. Choosing one over the other can greatly influence the price.
Recessed can lights must be placed at specific locations in the ceiling, use replaceable bulbs, direct light well, and have many options for trim. Canless lights are energy efficient, may be placed anywhere, and last far longer than recessed can lights. There are advantages and drawbacks to both styles, so it’s important to go over all the options with your electrician to determine what fits best with your needs and budget.
As always, our perspective on any electrical home upgrade is that if you have it done professionally and correctly the first time, it will be most cost-efficient in the long run. With home lighting especially, a poorly done project will cause you endless frustration.
If you’re doing a home renovation, buying new construction, upgrading to a smart home system, or simply want to upgrade the lighting in a single room, contact us for a free estimate. Our experts can help you design the perfect recessed lighting scheme for your home.