Thoughts on Recessed Lighting
We’re in the middle of doing a partial gut renovation and I suggested that we do recessed lighting in almost all rooms, as that seems to be the way to update lighting. My wife says no to the lighting, and says that a ceiling fan with light is all we need. To me, recessed lighting…
We’re in the middle of doing a partial gut renovation and I suggested that we do recessed lighting in almost all rooms, as that seems to be the way to update lighting. My wife says no to the lighting, and says that a ceiling fan with light is all we need. To me, recessed lighting looks clean, neat, and makes the ceiling look higher. Plus it would be a great selling point later down the line if we decide to sell. I hate thinking that we’re doing a gut reno and putting back the simple lighting that was done 100 years ago in the house. Any thoughts?
We put it in the kitchen, task areas, combined with some old schoolhouse pendants over the island. Love it.
We put some (less than recommended) in the master bedroom, because it was just too large to light with lamps, plus it’s not an overly architecturally detailed room. At first we cringed but now we agree it was the right thing to do.
In the living room we resisted and boy are we glad we did. It would have been criminal to see all those cans up in that beautifully smooth plaster. That said, we are struggling to get the right indirect lighting going there–but we’ll get it eventually.
Buy good fixtures. 4″ maximum. Low voltage is nice in kitchens, otherwise line voltage is fine–though it does get a bit hot.
Recessed lighting is inappropriate in an old house. It will be extremely unpopular with buyers. It is also going out of fashion very quickly. It is the equivalent of shag carpet.
Where it is appropriate is in a loft. That’s where it started.
Your wife is right.
But no one says you are stuck with one ceiling light in every room. For example, you can have pendant lights over the kitchen table, wall sconces in the bath and a variety of other rooms, double lights over the sinks, floor lamps and lamps on tables, etc. Best to keep the permanent fixtures simple and classic.
what about for low ceilings? the pendant lights don’t work because they hang down and make the room seem even smaller; the wall scones are also low enough to hurt someone walking by. Is there a lighting solution here?
my 2 cents: I put in recessed lighting ( all with dimmers) during my renovation and like it a lot.. We offset the lighting with table and floor lamps and the mix is quite nice and balanced. I think recessed lighting is a good starting point, but not a complete solution. One neglected issue ( and not a trivial one) is the electric bill. We have a 1200 sq. ft apartment and the electric bill is over $100 not including AC use.
BTW, if you do reno and thinking about recessed lighting opportunity, maybe it would make sense to put wires in place. Latter if you decide on it – make holes and hook up cans.
I agree that some recessed fixtures can be done appropriately. I also think wall sconces work well, especially in a dining room, and should be considered. I also like the purist approach the wife espouses, with the lighting enhanced with sconces, torcheres and or table lamps.
I think the most important factor is that both of you are happy, and that may require compromise from both. There are many options, and can be negotiated.
Unless I’m lighting artwork, or doing task type lighting over counter tops, etc.), I go very easy on the recessed lights.
The main reason is simply that they only throw light in one direction…down. These are overused all the time, and you get this sort of zebra striping of light/dark that’s very harsh on the eye.
Instead, use well chosen surface mounted or pendant fixtures that throw light in all directions for general illumination…put them on dimmer switches to you can really control how much light they throw off. You also need to take into consideration how big the room is that you’re lighting. Don’t pick a fixture that can only take one 60W bulb for your big living room.
This looks better, and you can actually save some serious $ in the reduction in the rough in and the fixtures.
Just a personal preference, but I love the sensation of turning on a light at its source. Lots of lamps for me. The best use of recessed lighting is to light a feature on a wall – a piece of art for example. Not so great for general lighting. I also would second the sentiment that Bobjohn is a wise man indeed, even though ceiling fans are better for managing comfort than they are at providing light.
i usually just put everything on dimmers regardless. you can add in more lighting later if you do do the recessed lights – like have them for convenience, but at night, you can dim down and then turn on a table lamp for nicer feel.
i don’t have recessed lighting now, but i don’t mind it.