How To Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps

Recessed lighting is a great way to upgrade lighting spaces for your business. Not only does it provide a clean and modern look, but it can also make your space appear larger and more organized. Additionally, recessed lighting options such as LED retrofits and bulbs can provide great task lighting for kitchens and blend seamlessly into the ceiling when not in use. With recessed lighting, you can use them for ambient lighting or focal point lighting. Review this guide to see why you should use recessed lighting for your next lighting project for your business.

Adding Recessed Kitchen Lighting or Recessed Lighting into Living Areas

Recessed lights are generally meant to provide additional task lighting to supplement the light given off by other lighting fixtures. Use these tips as a guide to create the ideal level of brightness:

• Choose the right bulb - Opting for LED bulbs or retrofits can help you create the perfect level of brightness. LED bulbs are energy-efficient and long-lasting, while retrofits are a great way to convert existing recessed lighting to LED without having to replace the existing housing.
• Take advantage of dimmer switches - Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the brightness of your recessed lights to fit the mood of the room. Whether you are looking to create a cozy atmosphere or brighten up a room for a party, dimmer switches give you the control you need.
• Layer your lighting - Layering your lighting with recessed lights, decorative fixtures, and wall sconces can help create a warm, inviting atmosphere. You can also use recessed lighting to highlight architectural details or artwork.

Additional Tips for Planning Recessed Lighting or Can Lights

1. Sketch your recessed lighting ideas to figure out placement and spacing.

When considering recessed lighting, it is important to plan ahead and make a lighting plan. Measure the furniture and areas in the room where you spend the most time, such as near the coffee table or bookshelf. This can help you understand where light is needed in the room. Take note of any architectural features you'd like to highlight with recessed lights, such as a fireplace or stone wall. Once you have determined the best placement for your needs, sketch the placement of the recessed lighting on a blueprint. At this point, you can decide on what recessed lighting size and type you would like to use.

2. Choose a focal point (or not)

When it comes to recessed lighting, it's important to have a lighting plan. If you know a place that needs a recessed light directly above it, begin your plan with that as the starting point. For example, when planning kitchen recessed lighting, make sure to provide ample task lighting such as LED downlights directly above the stovetop, sink, and main food prep area for those specific tasks and work areas within the kitchen.

In living areas, you can use pot lights to focus light on a specific area, such as a reading chair. To do this, center the first recessed light exactly where you want it and space the rest of the lights around it. Fireplaces are another popular area for installing focal point lighting. Using an adjustable trim like gimbal recessed lighting above your fireplace will give you the ability to concentrate accent lighting on the mantel, highlighting family pictures or intricate stonework.

If you prefer even placement around the room, start with the first LED light in the center of the room and work outwards from there taking into account the dimensions of the room.

3. Follow the ceiling height rule of thumb.

To determine how far apart recessed lighting should be in bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, divide the height of the ceiling by 2 and use that as your light spacing. For example, if a room has 8-foot high ceilings, recessed lighting should be spaced roughly 4 feet apart. Similarly, if the ceiling is 10 feet high, the lights should be spaced about 5 feet apart.

This rule should be used as a baseline, however, as other factors such as the brightness of the décor, the type and wattage of light bulbs, and the purpose of the recessed lights (including general or ambient lighting as well as task or accent lighting) should be taken into account.

Dimmable recessed lights also make it easy to control brightness levels with dimmers. Smart LED downlights and LED bulbs provide an additional element of control via mobile app or even voice control.

4. Avoid shadows in the corners.

Pay attention to recessed lighting spacing to prevent shadows from forming in the corners and to create a more inviting atmosphere. Generally, the proper distance from a wall for pot or can lights is approximately 3 feet to minimize shadows. When canless downlights are placed at the appropriate distance, they should make the room appear brighter and larger.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you plan a recessed lighting layout?

Planning a recessed lighting layout is an important step when installing recessed lighting. To create a successful lighting layout, it is important to consider the size of the room and the type of light you want to create. It is also important to calculate the wattage of the bulbs you will need, as well as the spacing of the lights. With careful planning, you can create a recessed lighting layout that will provide the right amount of light in the right places.

How do you determine the number of recessed lights needed in a room?

Calculating the number of recessed lights needed in a room can be a difficult task, as there are many factors to consider. These include the size of the room, the type of lighting you want to use, the level of illumination desired, and the layout of the recessed lights. By taking these factors into account, you can determine the proper number of recessed lights needed to create the desired lighting effect.

Now that you know how to achieve balanced placement for recessed lighting, consider the options available at LightUp including LumeGen LED Recessed Lights to create the ideal home lighting scheme for you and your family.