Recessed Lighting Trim

What does recessed lighting offer a homeowner?

Recessed lighting offers a smooth, sleek look in any home. It is very versatile and has the ability to be positioned to highlight the best parts of a residence. It is not difficult to install and is virtually unnoticeable until turned on. Recessed lighting is the right light to work, play, cook, dine, and entertain by.

Why use low voltage recessed lighting in your home?

In today’s economic climate, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Using low voltage lighting is one way to do that. Regular “line” voltage lighting uses around 110 to 120 volts per bulb. Low voltage lighting uses approximately a tenth of a line voltage bulbs voltage through a step-down transformer. This makes low voltage recessed lighting more energy efficient and translates into lower electric bills as well as global impact. That means more of your hard-earned money that you get to keep and perhaps best of all leaving the world a bit cleaner.

Where should recessed lighting be used?

Low voltage recessed lighting is ideal to illuminate any decor you wish to be a focal point. Recessed lighting will give life to your artwork, accentuate bookcases or draperies or even dramatize your dining area. Though recessed lighting is commonly used in vaulted ceilings, it is also effective at making small rooms or spaces appear larger. Low voltage recessed lighting in a long hallway can make it safer by illuminating it more fully. In addition, placing recessed lights along a wall and washing it in light will give the appearance of additional room. It can offer focused lighting when placed under kitchen cabinets by flooding the countertops with light. Workshop workbenches, home offices, or sitting rooms can also benefit from properly directed recess lighting.

Important information when using low voltage recessed lighting.

Recessed lighting while versatile can be overused. Fixtures should not be placed to closely together; generally, you should allow 4 to 6 feet between fixtures depending on the fixture size. It is important to direct low voltage recessed lighting properly when using it as reading or task lighting to avoid your head or shoulders getting in the way of the light. Low voltage halogen lights, while brighter and longer lasting than incandescent bulbs, require low voltage housings and the use of a transformer. Many regions require that recessed light fixtures be rated and labeled as “Air Tight” lights. This is another great benefit that can save money on your electrical bill by lowering heating and air conditioning expenses. It does this by eliminating the escaping heat or conditioned air that normally is released through a non-Air Tight fixture.

Lighting is essential to good home design. A good lighting plan can emphasize architectural details, provide task lighting, and create a comfortable and warm ambiance. One of the amenities most frequently requested by home buyers is recessed lighting.

Recessed lighting is set into the ceiling, and can be laid out in an endless array of formats. While recessed lighting has long been a staple of home builders and remodelers, new innovations have brought recessed lighting into the new millennium. Halo recessed lighting trim can be used to customize the look of new or existing recessed lighting.

Halo recessed lighting trim comes in a variety of styles to match the function and design of any home decor. There are several different types of trim available:

• Reflectors: Reflectors are just what you would imagine, they are shiny, reflective trims used to reflect light and create a brighter effect from the recessed fixture. Reflector trims are best suited to use in general and task lighting functions, as they tend to give off more light.

• Baffles: When a lighting application requires bright light to be directed in a specific direction, baffles can be used. Baffles are used with reflectors to direct the light in the direction needed. Halo recessed lighting trim baffles are designed to work in concert with halo reflectors to direct light where it is needed.

• Open trims: The basic recessed lighting trims are called open trims. Open trims create a clean, neat look for your recessed lighting installation. Open trims are available in a variety of colors and metallic finishes complementing any decor.

• Directionals: These trims are exactly as the name describes, used to point light in a specific direction. Directionals and adjustables are uniquely designed to provide emphasis on artwork and other important features the homeowner wishes to highlight.

• Diffusers: When direct light is too bright for a lighting application, diffusers can be used to decrease the light level of recessed lighting. The halo recessed lighting trim collection offers diffusers that will create the perfect atmosphere for any room in the house.

• Architectural trims: Some modern homes have steep, dramatic ceilings that in the past would not have lent themselves well to the installation of recessed lighting. Today there are a variety of trims to fit in with any home design. Shallow and steep trims are available to give a clean, finished look to recessed lighting on any type of ceiling.

Recessed lighting is a modern application for any home. Modern recessed lighting goes beyond the applications of the past, and includes “greener” options such as housing for fluorescent and halogen bulbs. If you are considering recessed lighting in your home, halo recessed lighting trim can be used to customize a lighting plan that meets all your needs.

Recessed lighting is considered by some to be the best lighting available in homes today. Recessed lights are lights that are installed inside the ceiling. No part of them protrudes past the even surface of the ceiling. This offers a clean line that opens up the room without any distractions from light fixtures. They can offer increased lighting while opening up a room to more light. Most houses can accommodate recessed lighting. If you have concrete ceilings or ornate plasterwork on the ceiling, you may want to stick with floor lamps or chandeliers to provide your lighting.

There are a couple things to make sure of if you are installing recessed lights in your own home. You don’t want to put them too close together. The common rule of thumb is if they are 4″ lights, place them 4 feet apart; 6″ lights, six feet apart. Also, don’t put too many in a straight line. It will make it look too straight and cold, not warm and inviting.

One popular place to put recessed lighting is in the kitchen under the cabinets. These lights shed direct light onto the counter tops without having harsh overhead lights. This allows the room to have a cozy look to it, and it draws people into the kitchen. People also use recessed lights to highlight artwork on the wall. By installing a recessed light centered over the artwork and about foot and a half out from the wall, the piece of art will be reflected in the light from the ceiling. This is a nice way to highlight the artwork without the harshness of a floor lamp.

When you install your recessed lights, make sure you know the building codes in your area. Some states require a building permit to install them, while others do not. Make sure you also know about electrical wiring. If you do not, it might be better to rely on a contractor or general electrician to install the lights for you. Also, make sure to match the size of the lights with the size of the room. For a smaller room, such as a hallway or entryway, install the smaller 4″ lights. The 6″ or 8″ might overwhelm that small space. In a living room or den, however, the larger size would be more appropriate. For another special touch, you can even add dimmers to your recessed lights, to add just that extra touch of ambiance.

Whichever you pick, know that you have picked type of recessed lighting that will stay in style for years to come, and that you will enjoy completely. This will add value to your home, for just a little bit of extra time and money, but very little effort.