Recessed lighting was first developed in the 1930s, but it's become very popular in recent years. It's easy to see why - recessed lights are sleek and stylish, they fit into any décor, and they never need to be dusted. If you're building a new home or addition, remodeling, or just looking for a change in your light fixtures, this is an option worth exploring.
Ceiling Fixtures
The average light fixture is attached to a ceiling (or sometimes a wall) and hangs down or protrudes. They're usually covered by decorative glass. Most people don't think too much about their lighting, but they have to dust it often, and there's always a chance of broken glass. And if the room is redecorated, the glass fixture may need to be replaced to fit in, adding to the cost of the décor. These problems are all eliminated with recessed lighting. A recessed light fixture is simple. The light bulb is enclosed in a canister-like housing and mounted inside the ceiling, flush with the outer surface. This gives the impression of a completely flat, clean ceiling, with light shining from a perfectly placed spot.
The exposed part of the housing can be trimmed in many different styles if desired. Recessed housings are made by a large number of manufacturers now, and a wide variety can be seen at a lighting or home improvement store. Recessed lighting is particularly popular for kitchens, because they require little or no cleaning and give a sleek, modern look to the room. Guests can focus their attention on the beautiful butcher-block island, rather than the dusty and greasy lighting. It's also popular for bathrooms. Special housings are available on the market to control brightness, diffusion, and directionality of the light, so it can be tailored to suit the specific needs of any space, from a reading nook to a poker table to a laundry room.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
A specific kind of recessed lighting is designed especially to be installed under cabinets or shelves. These are available as puck (spot) lights or as linear strips, and can easily be installed to light a work surface or display area. These are excellent for illuminating countertops in kitchens, work benches in garages, desks in offices, or any kind of display shelf or cabinet. They can even be installed inside a cabinet, making it easier to see the contents of your pantry or other storage area.
Many Different Varieties
Recessed lighting is available in incandescent, fluorescent, and LED varieties, which each have different characteristics. Incandescent lights are cheap, easy to find, and easy to maintain. However, they have short lives and use more energy than the others. Fluorescents have improved a lot in recent years - they provide excellent color and are highly efficient as well as having a very long life. Fluorescent fixtures are sometimes not easily concealed, though. Finally, LED lamps can last 10 years or more and are extremely energy-efficient. They are also the most expensive of the three varieties, and they generate heat which can limit their usefulness in recessed lighting.
There are four different categories of recessed light housings, according to UL requirements. There are two categories each for new construction and remodel styles, and each of them has an IC (insulation contact) and non-IC category. IC housings are to be used when there will be contact between the housing and any insulation, to prevent fire hazards. Non-IC housings must be at least 3 inches from insulation material. Usually, these categories will not impact your style choices at all, since only the trim of the housing is visible.
Recessed lighting is a great design choice for any room in your home, but like any remodeling task, great care should be used in installation. To prevent fire hazards and ensure that the wiring is safely done, a professional electrician or contractor should consult with you about placement of your new lights and do the installation. Your family will be able to enjoy the new lighting even more knowing that it's safe and secure.
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