Walking into a light store or the lighting section of your local hardware store can feel immediately overwhelming, especially with all the bright lights literally putting you in the spotlight. Do you go for the big décor light or the simply designed light? Do you go for one that stays close to the ceiling or one that hangs down?
Before you short out your brain with all the options, make sure you take a look at the rooms you're lighting. What's the intended function of the room? How tall is the ceiling? Answering these questions will help you narrow down the options.
To further help you narrow down your options, discover the major pros and cons of typical ceiling lights and recessed lighting below.
Ceiling lights come in a variety of types: chandeliers, pendant lighting, track lighting, ceiling fans with a light fixture, semi-flush mounts, etc. Yet no matter which type you choose from, by definition all will protrude from the ceiling either by several inches or several feet.
Ceiling lights work best in dining rooms, over kitchen islands, bedrooms, foyers, and patios.
Ceiling lights don’t work well in basements, water-intensive environments, skinny hallways, and rooms with low ceilings.
Recessed lights, also known as can lights, are described as metal light housings installed in the ceiling for a sleek look that gives you back your ceiling. Their diameter generally varies from 3” to 6.”
Recessed lighting is great for kitchens, hallways, shower stalls, home movie theaters, basements, and anywhere there are low ceilings.
Recessed lighting is not great in large rooms where you’ll need to install a lot of them or where you want your light to achieve an aesthetic effect.
Hopefully after reading through the pros and cons of each type lighting you can shine the spotlight on the type best for your space.
If you've picked your lighting but don’t want to install it yourself, Hire an Expert in Your Home to complete all the electrical work needed to illuminate your room!