Interior of modern kitchen with breakfast bar

What Even is a Recessed Light?

Don't blame yourself for not knowing, the world of lighting is vast and can be confusing, even a little overwhleming! 

Besides, that's what we're here for, to clue you in when you're a little lost. 

So, recessed lighting is pretty simple really, it just means it recesses into the ceiling. They're an absolutely stellar choice if headspace is a concern, they're simple, sleek and you can have as many of them as you want and need for your space. They're installed into a hollow opening in the plasterboard and sit flush with the ceiling. You might also see them referred to as 'downlights'. They're not new, they've actually been around for decades and there's a reason they've stuck around for so long. 

The Three Components

Your standard recessed lights are made up of three components; the bulb, the casing and the trim.

Despite being a reliably minimalist lighting choice, there are actually alot of different types of recessed lighting for you to choose from if you decide they're the fixture type for you. 

Something to consider, especially when considering installing some recessed kitchen lights, is the heat recessed lighting can generate. Recessed lighting can get very hot and so proximity to insulation might be a concern worth keeping in mind, and if you're trying to light a room that's too large it might require a few too many recessed lights than you can safely accomodate. 

We all love a DIY, but remember; if you require a light fitting to be hard wired into the ceiling then get a qualified electrician. You can always tell people you did it yourself, they don't have to know. It can stay between us.

Kitchen Lighting

Have a gander through our recessed lighting to get an idea of what your options are. The main choice you're going to be faced with from an aesthetic point of view is the finish. Whether you're a simple black, polished chrome or antique brass fan, there's something for every space. 

No Rules Just Guidelines

When it comes to adding recessed lighting to your space there aren't really any hard and fast rules for spacing, but there are some guidelines. 

A commonly found piece of advice that you'll get when asking online or seeking out the expertise of qualified experts is to have one light for every 4-6 square feet of ceiling space. This is just a guideline though and ultimately what the spacing will depend on is the amount of natural light in the space, the size of your kitchen, whether or not the recessed lights are your sole lighting source and your personal preference. 

MiniSun Fire Rated Downlight In Polished CopperMiniSun Fire Rated Downlight In Polished Copper
MiniSun Fire Rated Downlight In Polished Copper

The Planning

Recessed lighting is a great option for creating that ambience that makes a house feel like a home.

The lights are permanently fixed downwards so they need to be spaced evenly so that the light is cast evenly and smoothly across the kitchen.

Despite the lack of 'rules' around recessed lighting, we would softly suggest that you be mindful to plan them evenly spaced. In part just to avoid a messy and chaotic feel but also so that the light is evenly distributed around the area. 

Take this handy little diagram as an example of how to plan your kitchen lighting. 

Having recessed lights doesn't mean you can't also include a more statement making light fixture. Having pendant lighting over a breakfast bar or kitchen island is a great way of using otherwise negative space and adding an element of style to it. And you can do it without having to give up any precious headspace and risking any potential head injuries.

Of course, the pendant lighting probably won't be enough to light up the whole kitchen, especially when you consider how important a well lit counter top is. Cooking can be a dangerous game, regardless of how talented a chef you are. 

To avoid shadowing on worktops you can position the lights above and a few inches back from the front of the worktops. 

If you're still worried about countertop lighting you can always add some recessed lighting to the underside of the cabinets. It'll be like there's nothing there until you're working in the best lit food prep space you've ever had the pleasure of chopping on. 

Now, What About Ceiling Height?

The height of the ceiling you're working with is probably going to effect your lumen needs (the brightness of the bulbs). So it's a good idea to keep in mind that low ceilings will probably play best with 3 watt bulbs, whereas higher ceilings would benefit more from 5 watt bulbs. 

Wattage vs. Lumens

So, basically, lumens refer to the level of brightness that a bulb can provide. 

The wattage is the power it takes to achieve that level of brightness. The game has changed big time since the introduction of the newer 'light emitting diodes' (LED), they use less wattage to achieve the same brightness. That's why LEDs have become to the go to for so many, saving energy isn't just good for the planet, it'll save you a whole boat load of money.

Still not 100% sure what we're on about?

Fear not, we have a super comprehensive bulb guide that will explain watt's going on with bulbs!

Brightness 220+ 400+ 700+ 900+ 1300+
Incandescent 25w 40w 60w 75w 100w
LED Bulbs 4w 6w 10w 13w 18w

The Recess Review

So, this has been quite the journey through the wonderful world of recessed lighting. 

There are a few guidelines to consider when you're getting started planning the recessed lighting in your kitchen, ultimately the most important things are that your vision is achieved and that it's achieved safely. 

The heat generated by recessed lighting  can potentially be quite dangerous, so although we always recommend getting a qualified electrician to install your lighting this is all the more relevant with recessed lighting. 

Improper installation of recessed lighting has a nasty reputation for lighting kitchens up a little too well, as in lighting them on fire. Don't let that scare you away from enjoying recessed lighting in your space, just let it scare you away from trying to DIY them.