Recessed Lighting - Making sense of all the options

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Recessed lighting combines gorgeous aesthetics and practical features in a way that no other lighting system can match. But to enjoy these benefits without surprises, you need to understand some pretty obscure technical details as well as an astonishingly wide range of bulb, fixture and switch choices. Success with recessed lighting demands more thinking than other fixture systems, but the results are worth it.

Recessed lights (also called ‘pot lights’) have come along way from the large, plain, ceiling-mounted floodlights that appeared in the 1960s and 70s. And the biggest difference between now and then is choice. There’s a lot, and the first step towards working through all the options is identifying what you want to accomplish.

Are you after ambient lighting in an attic loft that’s not tall enough to handle hanging fixtures? Or how about spotlighting of art or collectibles? Perhaps you need to angle some light along a sloped ceiling of a second-story bedroom? All of these challenges and more can be easily met with the right kind of recessed fixtures and bulbs. The trick is to choose well.

When it comes to recessed lights, most people think of aesthetics first. The part of a recessed light that you see is called the ‘trim ring’, and while choosing this component is important, hold on for a minute. Your first priority must be assessing your intended ceiling situation.

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