LED Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting, also called can lighting, is a low-profile fixture that is most popular in kitchens, bar spaces, and entertainment rooms. This fixture uses recessed housings, trims, and other accessory parts to provide maximum downward lighting and lumen output into the space you desire.

Trim size options range from 1 inch to 6.875 inches, which is sure to give you a great selection to choose from. Conversion kits are available, as well as integrated recessed fixtures and housing packages.

Trim Styles

• Adjustable Trim. Also known as an "eyeball" trim, this light fixture uses an adjustable housing to aim the light where you want it. These trims are excellent options for accent lighting or downward lighting where you intend to illuminate items such as wall art, trinkets, and other home décor pieces.

• Baffle Trim. A baffle trim is the most common type of recessed lighting used today. The interior features thin ridges that are designed to reduce glare from the bulb. The ridges absorb the light and refract it so that the interior housing does not reflect the light and create glare. The darker the color or metallic tone you choose, the less glare you will have. By eliminating glare, baffle trim offers a gentle light that has a downward concentration. This trim also tends to be much deeper set, with the LED housing set farther up into the ceiling than most other housings.

• Open Trim. Open trim is similar to the baffle trim, except it tends to set shallower and it does not prevent glare via interior ridges. Open concept offers brighter lighting for large spaces than other types of trim. This trim will give you more ambient lighting and is great for whole-room lighting.

• Decorative Trim. Decorative trim is a type of recessed lighting that is highly ornamental and comes in a variety of designs, colors, and finishes to suit your home. This option gives you more detail options, color trims, and decorative features to choose from.

• Pinhole Trim. For more dramatic lighting options, consider pinhole trim. This type of trim gives off less ambient light, which means it is not an option for room lighting. Instead, this trim casts a highly-concentrated downward beam.

• Reflector Trim. This type is made for maximizing light through the mirror-like interior housing. Reflector trim is traditional in that it tends to be set deeper in the ceiling. However, the shiny, reflective housing allows this trim to shed much more light downwards into the room.

• Shower Trim. As the name suggests, shower trim is rated for wet and damp locations, such as bathrooms and showers. This trim features tempered glass that covers the bulb, and lighting, which keeps it safe and dry from moisture and steam.

• Square Trim. This type of recessed lighting shakes up the traditional round housing and replaces it with a modern or contemporary square design.

• Wall Wash Trim. Wall wash has a similar exterior trim as an open and baffle trim.The best way to explain this trim is understanding that it's a combination of a concentrated baffle trim and open trim with a half shield reminiscent of an eyeball trim. The light fixture is adjustable and features a half shield that partially covers the opening. This shield focuses light evenly onto items or features you wish to illuminate in your home.

• Trimless. If you prefer not to show any trim at all, then trimless recessed lighting may be the best option for you. This is the ultimate in recessed lighting. You simply install the LED housing unit within the ceiling. The look that is created is sleek and modern. Without the trim, you get a smooth interior can without the exterior trim.

Finish and Color Options

There are dozens of colors and metallic finishes to choose from, which will provide you with the perfect trim for your recessed lighting. Some of the color options include black, brown, white, grey, neutrals, bold, glass, chrome, as well as bronze, nickel, silver, gold, and copper tones.

Lumen Output and Color Temperature

Overall brightness is not the sole consideration when choosing the best recessed lighting and bulb for your space. Consider color temperature options and whether it will look best illuminating the room with the right feel and color.

The lumen output ranges from as low as sub-100 lumens to 6500 lumens. A lumen is essentially the measure of visible light emitted by a light source. The lower the lumen count, the softer or 'warmer' the emission of light appears. This refers to the "color temperature" of the lighting, which is rated with a number, ending in "K" for Kelvin. The higher the lumen count, the more natural and bright white the light appears; this is often called natural or daylight color.

The most popular lumens range is between 3000K to 4000K. This is the lumens range for cool white to bright white.

Take a look at this quick reference to identify color temperature based on lumen count:

• Warm White, Soft White: 2700K - 3000K

• Cool White, Bright White: 3500K - 4100K

• Natural or Daylight: 5000K - 6500K

This low-maintenance lighting option is highly-versatile and easy to install. Even better, it works in every room of the house.