What to Know About Recessed Lighting

Lighting plays an integral role in every room. While it can seem like a simple matter of taste, choosing the right lighting fixture can be a little more complicated than you realize. For instance, how do you know whether to go with a large fixture or simple recessed lighting?

Knowing a bit more about recessed lighting fixtures (also known as pot lights), what they can offer, and the different types is definitely a good place to start. Consider this your guide to recessed lighting and knowing when it can be the right fit for you.

The Function of Recessed Lighting

There are three parts to any recessed lighting fixture: the housing, trim, and bulb. The trim is the part that remains visible and can come in any number of styles and functions. Typically, the trim is a thin lining that can be seen around the edge of the housing.

The housing is the portion that gets inserted into the ceiling. This connects to an electrical box or directly into the electrical wiring of your home. The housing performs the functionality without being seen.

Finally, there is the bulb itself. Depending on what kind of light generation you require, the bulb can vary from fixture to fixture. 

Different Types of Recessed Lighting Trim

Though you can narrow down your selection by making the determination that recessed lighting is for you, there are a lot more choices available thereafter. For instance, did you know that there are nine different recessed lighting trim types? Let’s take a look at each.

• Wall wash. Similar to Gimbal in that some of the light will be blocked out. The goal is to focus the light in a feature light or wall wash style.
• Shower. As the name implies, these are for wet locations. The bulb is covered by tempered glass, which helps to keep the water away.
• Canless. No electrical box is required for this one. The canless option will get hooked up directly to the electrical wiring in your home instead.
• Gimbal. Similar to the eyeball trim, though the bulb is a bit further back within the ceiling. When you make adjustments to a Gimbal trim, some of the light can be blocked out.
• Eyeball. An adjustable type of trim, allowing you to change the angle of the lightbulb. Great for when you want to make changes to the quality of lighting.
• Pinhole. Those looking for a more modern look would prefer the pinhole trim. This is where the light from the bulb goes into a narrow channel, focusing the light in a distinct manner.
• Baffle. The most common type of recessed lighting trim. The bulb sits within an interior that has black ribbing, the goal being to minimize reflection and glare.
• Reflector. As the name implies, there is a reflective surface on the inside of the fixture. The goal of the reflective surface is to amplify light production, creating a brighter, stronger light.
• Open. Open trim is where the lightbulb is nearly flush with the ceiling. This means that you won’t see the inside of the fixture itself.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of reasons to like recessed lighting or “pot lights.” Making the right choice for your needs comes down to knowing the various types and what they can offer within that specific room.

Recessed lighting can be a great choice for several reasons. In tighter or smaller spaces, it can put an emphasis on lighting rather than the fixture. Not to mention the various ways in which they can be angled and moved to create the look you have been trying for.