Recessed lighting is that modern style, circular lights that are often concealed inside the ceiling. The part of round trim is the only visible part and the rest of the lighting fixture usually is hidden away and that gives it the perfect look! We will describe in detail the types of recessed lighting and its meaning further in our article.
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Do LED recessed lights get hot?
- While LEDs run much more relaxed than incandescent bulbs, they get boiling from their electronic components and external heat sinks.
- You still need to keep the insulation away from your bulbs.
- To substitute each fixture with a sealed one rated for insulation touch, you could employ an electrician.
What are they used for?
Recessed lighting can be used as:
- Ambient lights
- Accent lights
- Task lighting
Where can you use them?
Recessed lights can be used in:
- Bedroom (over the bedsides for reading)
- In the kitchen
- In the bathrooms
- Hallway
Components of Recessed Lighting
Recessed lights usually consist of three parts:
- Trim
- Housing
- Frame
One by one we’ll guide you about the types of compartments there are in each part of recessed lighting.
The Trim
Trim is the visible part of the recessed lighting fixture and hence the outer look and enhancement depend on the trim. It is easily obtainable in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors. So you have the liability to choose the one that complements the overall aesthetic of your room.
Types of Trim
1. Open Trim
In the open trim, the bulb is flush to the ceiling and the lights are not restricted. It gives full illumination to the area.
2. Wall Wash Trim
This kind of trim is very handy if you want to point the focus to specific places like a painting on the wall or fire area. There is a shield over the bulb which ends up restricting the light on a particular spot. It lies somewhere between the eyeball and open trim as it has qualities of both in a single trim.
3. Eyeball Trim
The best feature of eyeball trim is that its interior has an adjustable internal light. The external area resembles pretty much with open trim but internally it is different. This feature serves the purpose of accent light at its best. Shine the light where you want it to!
4. Pinhole Trim
The light is narrowed to a tighter beam by the bulb. It can serve as a spotlight for different areas. The modern recessed lightings usually use pinhole trim for a contemporary look.
5. Baffle Trim
It is more common in offices and libraries. It is the most common kind and easily available trim. It is ribbed on the inside. To reduce light bulb glare, the ridges are specially designed in a way.
6. Shower Trim
Shower trim is used especially in areas that tend to be more humid. This lighting is designed to serve in damp and moist places. That is why it is the best fit for bathrooms, showers, and any place that is humid. This kind of trim has a protective exterior; tempered glass covering for protecting the light bulb from moisture.
7. Decorative Trim
If you think that your trim design will be very prominent then you probably should go for decorative trim. It is great if you have a high visibility place. It can be suitable for any theme and aesthetic due to its wide variety in material, texture, and color.
8. Reflector Trim
If your room ceilings are high it is an ideal type of trim. The lights in the trim are reflected vastly due to its shiny interior.
Now that we’re done with the trim and its types, let’s move forward to other components of the recessed lighting fixture.
The Housing
This is the part of recess lighting which is mounted or installed in the wall or the ceiling. This part holds the light bulb inside it. The housing basically houses the bulb and the trim is the external part of recessed lighting. The recessed lighting installation involves installing the housing before bulb and trim.
Types of Housing
1. Shallow Ceiling Housing
This is ideal if you don’t have space behind the ceiling for a normal down-light fixture. The shallow ceiling spaces (e.g. 2×5 inch joist) have a requirement of specialized shallow ceiling housing.
2. New Construction Housing
This is for newly built houses/offices/buildings. It is installed when the place is under construction and the ceiling is still not completed.
3. Insulation Contact Housing
When the housing is inside the ceiling or a wall, recessed lighting tends to produce more heat. The problem of contact with insulation often occurs with housing. The insulation contact housing is provided for transferring the heat from housing to the insulation without any worries.
4. Remodel Housing
These are designed for the ceilings that are not still under construction and have already been built. It can be easily installed on any kind of ceiling or wall.
5. Airtight Housing
The recessed lighting is installed by drilling holes in the ceiling so that the housing could be fixed inside. The issue arises when the air escapes. Airtight housing ensures that no air escapes the lighting fixture.
6. Non-Insulation Contact Housing
Non-insulation housing does not provide the transfer of heat from housing to insulation. Make sure it doesn’t come in contact with insulation for avoiding unpleasant circumstances. Try keeping about a 5-inch distance between insulation and housing.
7. Slope Ceiling Housing
If the wall or ceiling where you want to mount your recessed lighting fixture is sloped, many issues may arise. It is difficult to install lighting in the sloped ceiling. Slope ceiling housing is designed for slopes and angles where the normal housings can’t be installed.
Finishing Looks in Recessed Lightings
The kind of finishing your lighting fixture should have hugely depends on the kind of finishing you currently have in other places in your home. If the knobs or handles of your doors, the handles of your closets, and other accessories have one color finish, choose the same for the recessed lighting to have a perfect combination all over your house.
The finishing colors include:
- Chrome
- Nickel
- Silver
- White
- Bronze
- Black
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between can lights and recessed lights?
Also known as can lights, curved lights/recessed lights are identified as light metal housings mounted in the skylight for a sleek look that gives your ceiling back. Usually, their length ranges from 3′ to 6.’
Q. Is recessed lighting outdated?
Recessed lighting is never going to go out of fashion. However, as time passes, the finishes and sizes can differ and alter. The benefits of getting the decoration recessed are enough to stop them go out of style or period out possibly.
Q. Should I use 4 or 6 recessed lights?
Choose one that matches your ceiling height or your wall size. For providing overhead countertop lighting, 4-inch and 5-inch fixtures are perfect in kitchens. For general purposes of illumination, 6-inch fixtures are most common. A broader wash of light will be provided by 7- to 9-inch institutions.
Q. Are LED recessed lights worth it?
The best-LED lamps have roughly the same performance as the best CFLs right now, but they cost more than ten times as much, says Holladay. However, LED lights should last longer than CFLs, except for the labor cost. You will not see any savings from switching to LEDs.
Q. How long do recessed LED lights last?
Several Light bulbs are rated to last 50,000 or more hours. If you had the lights running 24 hours a day, that translates into around five and a half years. That’s 22 years if you use the lights for an average of 5of 5 hours each day or 45 years for 3 hours each day.
Q. How much does it cost to install recessed lights?
For labor alone, the simple installation of recessed lights will vary from $200 to $250 per fixture. The method takes about 2 hours at an $85 to $105 per hour labor rate for each institution. It takes too long to install each of the new construction and remodeling projects.
Final Verdict
Now that you have all the information about recessed lighting, its three basic and major components, and their types, we hope we’ve made it easier for you to choose a perfect looking recessed lighting fixture for your place. Try mixing and matching the housing, trims, and bulbs to find the combination that works out for you and is easy on the pocket too.
Do let us know what you go with, we would love to hear back from you. Wishing you, best of luck, with your home décor and lighting creativity. See you next- Bye!!
