Types of Recessed Lighting
Recessed light fixtures — sometimes called recessed can lights or downlights — are flush with the ceiling, making them great for rooms with low ceilings. A downlight has three main components: the housing, the trim and the type of bulb or lamp.
You can use recessed lighting in the bathroom, kitchen, living room or office.
Recessed Lighting Housings
The housing is the actual light fixture. It sits above the ceiling and holds the trim and light bulb. Find the housing that suits your needs:
- New-construction housing is used before the ceiling is installed in a new home or when adding a room onto a house.
- Remodel housing is designed to allow for installation in an existing ceiling.
- Insulation contact (IC)-rated housing is designed for direct contact with insulation.
- Non-IC housing must have at least 3 inches of clearance from the insulation above.
- Airtight housing reduces the airflow between the unconditioned space above (usually the attic) and the conditioned room below.
- Shallow ceiling housing is used in ceilings with 2-inch-by-6-inch joists.
- Slope ceiling housing allows space for the light to be angled in a sloped ceiling. Check angles before purchasing.
Recessed Lighting Trim Types
The trim fits inside the housing and extends to form the outer ring you see when looking up at the ceiling. Below are the most common types of recessed lighting trims.
Baffle Trim
- A ribbed interior minimizes glare.
- The bulb fits inside the fixture and isn’t flush with the ceiling.
- It’s the most common recessed lighting trim.
Reflector Trim
- The bulb is inset like a baffle-trim style.
- Mirrored surfaces make the most of illumination.
- Tinting is available on some fixtures.
Open Trim
- The bulb is flush or nearly flush with the ceiling.
- It offers unrestricted illumination from the bulb.
Eyeball Trim
- The bulb pivots to focus light where you want it.
- It can function as an accent light or wall-wash light.
Gimbal Trim
- The bulb functions much like eyeball trim.
- The lamp stays mostly flush with the ceiling.
- When fully pivoted, the housing blocks some of the light.
Pinhole Trim
- The bulb narrows the light to a tight beam.
- It can spotlight specific objects or areas.
Wall-Wash Trim
- A shield over half the light restricts light to a specific area.
- It’s useful for highlighting features such as a fireplace or a painting.
Shower Trim
- The bulb has a tempered glass lens.
- It’s wet-location listed for use over showers and baths.
A dimmer switch can change the mood of a room with recessed lighting. Be sure to use the appropriate switch.
Canless Recessed Lighting
- A canless recessed light is a single unit that connects directly to your home’s electrical wiring.
- Instead of requiring a light bulb, canless recessed lighting typically consists of thin discs with integrated LED lights. This means that if some LEDs stop working, the whole fixture must be replaced. However, LED lights have a very long life span and will dim as they age rather than completely burning out. LED lights are also more energy efficient than traditional bulbs.
- Canless lights don’t require housing or an electrical box; the trim is typically built-in.
- There’s a lot of variation among canless light manufacturers when it comes to installation procedures. Each product will come with its own how-to instructions.
- Canless lights are a low-profile lighting option, and they fit easily into a variety of architectural themes. In a room with a modern design, canless lights provide a sleek look. You can use them in combination with more traditional types of lighting, such as chandeliers and pendant lights, to provide additional brightness in corners or any area where you’d like mood lighting.
Canned Recessed Lighting
- A canned recessed light, or can recess light, gets its name from the can-shaped housing it's built into. This housing-required design makes canned lights different from canless lights.
- Unlike canless lights, canned lights are designed with an electrical box on their top.
- Can lights are typically pretty simple to install, and many of them are installed the same way.
- There is more flexibilty with canned recessed lights as homeowners can choose their own light bulbs.
Light Bulbs
When considering recessed lights, pay attention to the type and size of bulb your fixture uses. Some recessed lights work with screw-in bulbs, while others use
pin-base
bulbs. Different factors — color temperature, lumens and wattage — affect the quality of light in a room. Halogen and LED bulbs are the most common bulbs for recessed lights. LED lighting helps lower energy costs, and the bulbs are cool to the touch. In general, look for a warm white color temperature for living rooms and bedrooms, a bright white color temperature for kitchens and workspaces, and a daylight color temperature for reading nooks and studies. For more information on light bulbs, read our Light Bulb Buying Guide.
Never exceed the maximum wattage recommended for your light fixture. Read the inside of the housing to determine what wattage and bulb type to use.
Recessed Lighting Kits
To get the housing and trim in one convenient package, look for a recessed light kit. Kits are available for many sizes and types of recessed lighting. Line-voltage kits are the standard light kit. They run on household current.
Low-voltage kits use a transformer to reduce household voltage and help with energy costs but are more expensive. Some kits have a built-in transformer; others require a transformer that’s sold separately.
LED retrofit kits let you convert incandescent recessed lights to LED in existing housings.
Recessed Lighting Sizes
Recessed lights are typically available in sizes ranging from 3 to 6 inches in diameter. The size you need depends on how you plan to use the light and where the fixture will be located. Small recessed lights fit well with modern décor styles.
They’re good for accenting areas and can be used for task lighting. Larger lights work with more traditional looks and are useful for lighting a whole room. Keep your ceiling height in mind when choosing recessed ceiling lights. Lights installed in a higher ceiling will cast a wider but more diffused area of light.
Recessed Lighting Finishes
Take a cue from the existing finishes in your home. If the door handles and cabinet hardware are all brushed nickel, choose a trim in a complementary finish. White is usually your best option if you want the trim to blend in with the ceiling. Popular trim finishes include:
- White
- Black
- Nickel
- Chrome
- Bronze
- Silver
You can also change the trim to get a different finish or style at any time without changing the housing. Most varieties come in a 6-inch trim, but 3-inch and 4-inch trims are also available in a selection of finishes.
Installation
Refer to the manufacturer’s instruction manual for step-by-step instructions and safety information. When in doubt, consult a licensed electrician. For general instructions, see Install Recessed Lighting.