Where Recessed Lighting Works Best

Recessed lighting is just a term for lighting fixtures that are installed directly into a surface, such as the ceiling or wall. Homeowners who appreciate a modern, contemporary style often choose to make the switch to recessed lighting because it offers a clean, seamless finish to any space. If this is a style that you want to incorporate into your home, keep reading below! We’ve detailed some of the benefits of switching in addition to some must-knows about recessed lighting.

When can recessed lighting be used?

Whether you have a newer or older home, you can have recessed lighting installed. Surfaces can be insulated or non-insulated and still have recessed lighting, but you have to make sure that the correct fixture is used (IC housing rated or non-IC housing rated depending on if you have insulation or not in the desired area).

Ceilings and walls are the most common areas for recessed lighting, but those aren’t the only surfaces. Some choose to introduce recessed lighting directly into the bottom of kitchen cabinets. Recessed lighting is not ideal for concrete ceilings or ceilings with a lot of plasterwork. If you have either one of these ceiling types, you’d be better off with a chandelier or scones.

Where should I place recessed lighting fixtures?

Placement is key with recessed lighting. If you put the fixtures too close together or down the center of a room, you’ll get an effect that looks similar to lighting on an airport runway, which isn’t exactly a great aesthetic. This can be avoided with proper spacing and having the fixtures placed in front of desired objects that you want to highlight. If you have artwork, shelving, or drapery, these would be the areas in which to install recessed lighting in front of.

It’s also important to remember angles. There are circumstances when you will need overhead instead of angled lighting and vice versa. The Berkeley Electric techs can help you with this when we visit your home.

What kind of bulbs should I use?

Incandescent, LED, halogen, and CFL bulbs are all common with recessed lighting. We recommend speaking with our electricians to see which would be best for your home, budget, and needs.

Berkeley Electric is a residential company that has been locally owned and serving the greater Berkeley, CA region for more than three decades. When it comes to your electric needs, we’re the company to call!