Recessed lighting is an attractive form of lighting that is installed flush with a surface. However, as with any lighting choice, you should consider the disadvantages of recessed lighting before installation.
5 Advantages of Recessed Lighting
Accent: In the past, if a homeowner wanted to highlight a painting or sculpture, he would most likely install track lighting and point one of the light fixtures directly at the object he wanted to focus on. With recessed lighting, however, you can create a soft glow coming out from the sides of the object, causing the object to draw your eye to it naturally. Also, recessed lights are easily hidden from plain sight and do not draw unwanted attention to themselves.
Space: One of the best things about recessed lighting is that it creates the illusion of more space. Recessed lights give off a soft subtle glow, which blurs the boundaries of the room and the space appears larger than it actually is. For example, recessed ceiling lighting fixtures give the sense of a higher ceiling, while recessed lighting in corners makes the room appear more open. As an added advantage, because recessed lighting is built in and subtle, it goes with nearly all decor styles. Not to mention, it is neat and unobtrusive compared to other lighting fixtures available.
Weight: One of the nicest things about recessed lighting is the lightweight nature of the completed units. Recessed wall and ceiling lights are trivial enough that they do not have to be secured directly to ceiling joists or wall studs, they virtually .float. in recessed spaces with very little supporting them besides the housing canister, baffle and trim contained within the lighting kit.
Aesthetics: Recessed lighting is very versatile in terms of what can be done with the lights themselves. Recessed lights can be adjusted to provide either pleasant ambient lighting or accent or spot lighting as circumstances require. Such benefits cannot be duplicated by other types of lighting fixtures. Also, they can be used for virtually any indoor/outdoor lighting application and come in a variety of shapes, colors and finishes.
Versatile & Efficient: The placement of recessed lights allows you to see what you’re doing more clearly. This added light allows you to work more efficiently without the use of obtrusive light fixtures. Recessed lights also provide dimming effects that are easy to control. You can install these lights in a media room and dim the lights to view movies. Or, you can install the lights in a bedroom, kitchen or bath to provide a large amount of light into a room. Either way, these lights are versatile and highly sought after by many homeowners.
5 Disadvantages of Recessed Lighting
Cost: Depending on the type of recessed lighting you have selected, the cost may be higher than a traditional light fixture. The cost of bulbs and installation of recessed lights may also be more expensive compared to a traditional fixture.
Installation: Recessed lighting is often more difficult to install than a traditional fixture. If the lighting is being installed into a ceiling, you must create holes into the drywall large enough for the light. Also, the housing of the light must fit snugly into the space so you have a proper seal against heat loss.
Permanency: Permanency may be a disadvantage of recessed lighting, because once it has been installed, you cannot move it. If you wish to change the layout of your room, the lighting will remain in the same position, which may not suit your new layout.
Bulbs: Recessed lights use different types of light bulbs than a traditional light. The bulbs are smaller and differently shaped than traditional light bulbs. In other words, changing the light bulb may be troublesome, since there is a small space within the housing to rotate the bulb in and out of the socket.
Safety: You must choose safe recessed lighting, such as Insulation Contact (IC) rated lighting. An IC rated light will not be a safety risk. But, lights that are not IC rated may create heat, which can lead to fires since recessed lighting is installed so that the housing is in contact with home insulation.
5 Advantages of Recessed Lighting
Accent: In the past, if a homeowner wanted to highlight a painting or sculpture, he would most likely install track lighting and point one of the light fixtures directly at the object he wanted to focus on. With recessed lighting, however, you can create a soft glow coming out from the sides of the object, causing the object to draw your eye to it naturally. Also, recessed lights are easily hidden from plain sight and do not draw unwanted attention to themselves.
Space: One of the best things about recessed lighting is that it creates the illusion of more space. Recessed lights give off a soft subtle glow, which blurs the boundaries of the room and the space appears larger than it actually is. For example, recessed ceiling lighting fixtures give the sense of a higher ceiling, while recessed lighting in corners makes the room appear more open. As an added advantage, because recessed lighting is built in and subtle, it goes with nearly all decor styles. Not to mention, it is neat and unobtrusive compared to other lighting fixtures available.
Weight: One of the nicest things about recessed lighting is the lightweight nature of the completed units. Recessed wall and ceiling lights are trivial enough that they do not have to be secured directly to ceiling joists or wall studs, they virtually .float. in recessed spaces with very little supporting them besides the housing canister, baffle and trim contained within the lighting kit.
Aesthetics: Recessed lighting is very versatile in terms of what can be done with the lights themselves. Recessed lights can be adjusted to provide either pleasant ambient lighting or accent or spot lighting as circumstances require. Such benefits cannot be duplicated by other types of lighting fixtures. Also, they can be used for virtually any indoor/outdoor lighting application and come in a variety of shapes, colors and finishes.
Versatile & Efficient: The placement of recessed lights allows you to see what you’re doing more clearly. This added light allows you to work more efficiently without the use of obtrusive light fixtures. Recessed lights also provide dimming effects that are easy to control. You can install these lights in a media room and dim the lights to view movies. Or, you can install the lights in a bedroom, kitchen or bath to provide a large amount of light into a room. Either way, these lights are versatile and highly sought after by many homeowners.
5 Disadvantages of Recessed Lighting
Cost: Depending on the type of recessed lighting you have selected, the cost may be higher than a traditional light fixture. The cost of bulbs and installation of recessed lights may also be more expensive compared to a traditional fixture.
Installation: Recessed lighting is often more difficult to install than a traditional fixture. If the lighting is being installed into a ceiling, you must create holes into the drywall large enough for the light. Also, the housing of the light must fit snugly into the space so you have a proper seal against heat loss.
Permanency: Permanency may be a disadvantage of recessed lighting, because once it has been installed, you cannot move it. If you wish to change the layout of your room, the lighting will remain in the same position, which may not suit your new layout.
Bulbs: Recessed lights use different types of light bulbs than a traditional light. The bulbs are smaller and differently shaped than traditional light bulbs. In other words, changing the light bulb may be troublesome, since there is a small space within the housing to rotate the bulb in and out of the socket.
Safety: You must choose safe recessed lighting, such as Insulation Contact (IC) rated lighting. An IC rated light will not be a safety risk. But, lights that are not IC rated may create heat, which can lead to fires since recessed lighting is installed so that the housing is in contact with home insulation.