Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is a type of lighting fixture installed into the ceiling or wall. Recessed lighting is designed to sit flush with the surface for a sleek and polished look. The housing and electrical wiring components on recessed lighting are hidden, and the bulb appears to glow from within the opening.

Whether you’re looking for task lighting, decorative lighting, canned lighting or shower lighting — recessed lighting can do the trick. Recessed lighting, also referred to as can lights, pot lights, or high hat lights, is energy efficient and lasts longer than ordinary bulbs. When you upgrade to integrated LED recessed lighting, you can forget about changing your light bulbs for years. From black recessed lights and rectangle recessed lighting to downlights and wall wash lights, we have the recessed lighting you need for your home.

Integrated LED Recessed Lighting

Integrated LED recessed lighting fixtures have the LED bulb or lamp built in. It’s all in one unit. These recessed lighting fixtures connect directly with the main lines or tracks. You may want to hire a professional to do this recessed lighting job. But look on the bright side. Because LEDs are more compact and versatile than ever, the design options are endless with integrated LED recessed lighting fixtures.

LED Retrofit Recessed Lighting

If you just want to add LED bulbs to your existing recessed lighting fixtures, that’s called an LED retrofit. There are retrofit recessed lighting kits that convert recessed lighting cans that were made for old fashioned bulbs to work with modern LED lights. Just take out your old bulbs and remove the existing trim. Then, pop in your new LED recessed lighting retrofit kit or module and you’re done. We also have a wide recessed lighting selection of recessed lights for kitchen, living room, bedroom.

Where to Place Recessed Lighting

With new construction recessed lighting projects, recessed lighting is usually installed between ceiling joists, but you can retrofit recessed lighting almost anywhere in your home. If your ceiling is insulated, the recessed lighting fixtures must be IC housing rated, meaning they are approved for use near insulation. Avoid recessed lighting in concrete ceilings or in ceilings with detailed plasterwork or moulding. Place recessed lighting about three feet away from the wall to avoid creating shadows that make your ceilings look lower.

When spacing recessed lighting, use this general rule of thumb: divide the height of the ceiling by two to get the distance the lights should be from one another. For example, an 8-foot-tall ceiling should have recessed lighting spaced four feet apart.

Use recessed lighting to illuminate focal points such as kitchen bars, bookshelves, paintings, statues and fireplaces. For task lighting, install recessed lighting directly overhead. Install recessed lighting under kitchen cabinets to have focused light on counters.

If you need assistance laying out your recessed lighting, our how-to recessed lighting guides can help. Choosing the right recessed lighting layout takes careful planning. Our guides will show you the basics of how to lay out recessed lighting.

Tip: Using a recessed lighting kit can make the entire process easier. All the materials you need for multiple recessed lighting installations are grouped together in one box.

Recessed Lighting by Room

Recessed lighting can be a great upgrade to any space. Common rooms to install recessed lighting include the kitchen, bathroom and living room. This type of recessed lighting is also commonly used in outdoor living spaces.

Kitchen recessed lighting options will vary according to the size of your space, but a reflector trim is highly recommended. Bathroom recessed lighting options are waterproof and designed for wet or moist locations. Living room recessed lighting fixtures serve many purposes. If your ceilings are sloped, choose recessed lighting with a sloped trim to accommodate the space. Outdoor recessed lighting is designed to stand up against the outdoor elements, including rain, storms and extreme temperatures. These recessed lighting choices are also available in multiple sizes and trims and with a host of unique features.

Recessed Lighting Parts

There are two basic components to recessed lighting: the trims and the housings. The recessed light trims are basically the parts of the recessed lighting fixture that you can see on the outside. You can choose decorative trims in a variety of styles and colors to match whatever look you’re going for in the room. The recessed light housings are installed into the ceiling and hold the bulb. If you plan to add LED recessed lighting bulbs to fixtures on a dimmer, make sure you get dimmable LEDs. You’ll also need to replace the dimmer switch.

Whether shopping in store or online, let us help you with recessed lighting kits, LED lights, and everything else you need to complete your new construction or remodel recessed lighting project. When it comes to recessed lighting, look no further than The Home Depot.