Recessed lighting is the most requested lighting job we do, and the one where the difference between a good result and a mediocre one is entirely in the planning. Here is how we lay it out.
Spacing
The old rule of thumb is to divide ceiling height by two and use that as the spacing between fixtures. An eight foot ceiling gives four foot spacing. It is a starting point, not gospel — dark walls, matte finishes and task areas all pull the lights closer together.
Distance from walls
Keep the first row roughly two and a half to three feet off the wall. Closer and you scallop the wall with bright arcs; further and the perimeter goes gloomy while the middle of the room glares.
How many lights
Count the square footage, multiply by the lumens per square foot you want — roughly 20 for a living room, 30 to 40 for a kitchen work area — and divide by the lumen output of the fixture. The answer is usually fewer lights than people expect, particularly with modern LEDs.
Colour temperature
2700K is warm and reads as traditional incandescent. 3000K is the most common choice for living spaces in new Utah builds. 3500K and above starts to feel commercial in a house, though it suits garages and workshops. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent within sightlines — one 4000K can in a room of 2700K is instantly obvious.
Beam angle and trim
Wide beams wash a room evenly. Narrow beams pick out artwork, islands and features. Baffle trims cut glare; reflector trims throw more light. Adjustable gimbal trims are worth the extra on sloped ceilings and anywhere you want to aim light at a wall.
Dimmers
Most LED flicker complaints come down to a dimmer built for incandescent bulbs. Use an LED-rated dimmer, match it to the driver, and do not mix bulb brands on one circuit. We cover this under lighting installation.
Tape it out before cutting
We mark every fixture position on the ceiling with tape and let you stand in the room and look at it. Moving a piece of tape is free. Moving a hole is drywall work.
Wafer lights and older ceilings
Canless wafer LEDs need only a small hole and a junction box in the cavity, which makes retrofitting a finished ceiling far less invasive than traditional cans. In older Utah homes with shallow joist bays or insulation issues, they are often the only sensible option.
Planning a room or a whole floor? Call (888) 633-7804 and we will lay it out with you.