KITCHEN Recessed lighting can get very technical and have many different things to consider. Many professionals have their favorite brand and style for many different reasons. Here are some important details to cover about each product and its location.
RECESSED LIGHTING
PRODUCT & PLACEMENT
In this Lighting Lab we will explore different things to consider when deciding on recessed lighting products and where to place them.
Recessed lighting is available in many different sizes or apertures, and each requires a housing that is installed behind the ceiling. The other part to a recessd light is a finishing piece called a trim. This trim many times includes a baffle or reflector and many other things to either soften, disperse or direct the light. The reflectors and baffles will all work differently when used with differentrecessed lighting bulbs considering these different things will make you a better buyer or specifier and help you achieve the best results.
WHAT SIZE RECESSED... WHY? Without getting too product specific the smaller recessed aren’t as noticeable and have a richer look. Kinda like stars in the sky. The larger ones are more noticeable and have the ability to give a wider beam of light. Again I cant stress enough it greatly depends on the bulb.
WHAT
COLOR RECESSED TRIMS & WHY?
Dark or black will cut down on horizontal glare where white and reflective will increase glare and beam spread.
*notice how the black also acts as a dark accent piece Notice how hard it is to see if they are even on.
Locati Architects
ARCHITECTURAL RECESSED LIGHTING
This ceiling not only adds dimension, but allows flexibility of placement because it drops down giving more space behind the ceiling. Ceiling beams or a shallow space behind the ceiling/plumbing always seem be in the way.
STRATEGIC PLACEMENT
Place recessed lights 12-18" off the cabinets or 24-30" from the wall. (most are 12" deep cabinets) this puts the light directly over the counter tops. Keep im mind different recessed products behave differently, some may have a different "scallop" or oval shape it will put on a cabinet door or wall.
Space the lights the same distance as the ceiling height. 8' apart for 8' ceilings or for higher lighting levels space them 4'-6' apart with 8' ceilings.
*Each kitchen layout is different there is no perfect rule of thumb for recessed lighting without looking at it or even drawing it out in scale. For the best results contact us or talk to your local lighting salesperson, electrician and or designer.
Locati Architects
SLOPED AND OR HIGH CEILING RECESSED
They make recessed lighting for sloped ceilings! Look for that type so the light will still go strait down not at the angle of the ceiling. Ive seen people use trims that correct the pitch (eyeballs), but then the light is very noticeable.
*Use also long lasting bulbs with a tighter beam of light so the light will reach better (see the bulb lab). Using a dimmer will also extend the bulb life.
Be careful if you use fluorescent. Not all fluorescents are dimmable and dimming doesnt extent fluorescent life or reduce energy like it will halogen or incandescent. Fluorescents also dont project light like others do. Learn more about bulbs in the bulb lab.
*Dont let this detail slide, many people just use standard fixtures and bulbs, you end up with a bulb shining directly at you, that or a frosted bulb high in the air that wont project the light.
Locati Architects
Choose focal points Now consider other places like stone, flooring or a copper hood maybe some window treatments.
Think about how the layout pattern will look as a whole...
After all those are considered look at achieving symmetrical placement. This may also help bring light to a forgotten broom closet or microwave you overlooked. Careful not to over do it, nobody likes a full grid of recessed lighting.
LOG HOME OR
POST AND BEAM RECESSED
Log home recessed lighting will be seen in a future case study, but for now ill give you a few ideas. Many times log homes dont have space behind the ceiling, it's usually the floor boards for the upstairs. So you really have to plan ahead ....try building a sub floor upstairs to create a space. maybe create a window seat upstairs or something like one along the wall.
ENERGY EFFICIENT RECESSED
Fluorescent and LED are the most energy efficient and long lasting on the current market. Check however if it will be dimmable and how much projection of light you will get. Sometimes it is more effective to use the screw in versions to keep your options open. A 23w fluorescent is usually equal to a 90 or 100w incandescent. Some 12w LEDs are also equal to a 50w or 65w incandescent.