How to Choose the Right Recessed Lighting for Every Room

Now that you are confident in your choice of recessed lighting, it is important to know which lights go to a specific room. You can’t just slap the same recessed lighting into every room and call it a day. Your kitchen shouldn’t glow like a dungeon, and your bathroom deserves better than a sauna light. Check out some of our tips and suggestions on where and what each room deserves.

Kitchen Lighting

Starting with a big one, the kitchen. This space is where a lot of the magic of a home happens. It is not just the area where you come to take snacks at midnight; it deserves beautiful lighting for those afternoons filled with cooking and company. This room should be served with comfortable lighting that you will enjoy spending time in, without giving you an overwhelming headache. It is important that the lights are placed in the appropriate areas: Drown countertops, sinks, and islands in light. Skip the corners where dust bunnies party. You want to see what you are doing, but don’t want to be distracted by too much overhead lighting. The recommended bulbs for the kitchen would be LEDs in the 3000K–4000K watt range. They give a warm glow, without being too harsh. You can bask in the lights and feel cozy just from your kitchen. If you are feeling bold, add dimmers so you can pivot from “family cooking competition” to “romantic pasta dinner.” 

Recessed Lighting in the Living Room 

Moving on to another crucial room: the living room. This room is another area that will often hold large gatherings, or simply to host a TV show watch party. You want the lighting to fit the vibes for any occasion, while also keeping it bright during the afternoons for some simple hanging out. 

The ideal placement of the lights should be evenly covering the whole ceiling of the room. Avoid blasting any lights directly over a specific area. Having a glare on the TV is not the most practical idea. Having the lights evenly distributed will bring brightness to the whole area without being too intense. The recommended bulbs for this room are one step down from those in the kitchen:  LEDs in 2700K–3000K watt range. These lights are also warm-toned, giving the room a cozy and relaxed feel. Adjustable lights would be the best in this room, as the vibes are always changing. 

Bathroom Recessed Lighting

The next room that deserves attention for the lighting would definitely be the bathroom. This is a personal space, so the lighting needs to be welcoming and practical. Most bathrooms are typically used for grooming, so it is important to have strong lighting to see what you need to. Slightly cooler bulbs should be used, typically around the 3500K–4000K watt range. With these, you can see what you need to without being blinded. Now, the placement of these bulbs is up to how you want the room to be illuminated. You can also have lighting evenly distributed throughout the ceiling, or have certain areas basked in the glow instead. Having a light directly by the mirror may be ideal to some, however, not everyone enjoys seeing their pores up close and personal. Another feature that is nice is a separate light above the shower or bath. For these, it is important to get waterproof trims - we aren’t looking to have you electrocuted! Having the lights be dimmable also sounds appealing; sometimes, you just don’t want to take a bath with bright lights straight in your eyes. 

Recessed Lighting for Bedrooms

Now we need to focus on your personal room, the bedrooms. The room where you go to be most comfortable, so the lighting is very important. Fewer lights spaced throughout the ceiling definitely bring the right vibes to the room. You want to walk into a room with an ambient glow, not Times Square. The recommended bulbs would be a much warmer tone, the 2700K range. You want to have a bright room, but also want to enjoy the time you spend in this space. Paired with a bedside lamp, these lights make the room very inviting and nice to relax in. Like any room, having dimmable lights is also a nice touch in a bedroom. You can get ready in some light overhead lighting or switch it up with a powerful glow to prepare for an outing in the evening. 

Hallway Recessed Lighting

It is important to note that lighting up hallways and closets is also important. They deserve more than a single dingy light dangling from the ceiling. For a closet, the best placement would be in the center of the room. The whole area will get bathed in the light without having to bring any additional light sources with you. A hallway should have warm-toned bulbs, around the 3000K range, and be placed in a spaced-out manner. No need to bring a creepy vibe while you are walking from room to room. 

Laundry Room Lighting

A smaller room that also deserves some attention is your laundry room. This space definitely deserves the brightest of lights, to make sure anyone stays awake in there. Place the lights how you like, with a bulb of 4000K+ watt range. You definitely want to get the job done quickly there! 

Choosing recessed lights for your home

Lighting is not just about illuminating a room; you are also bringing a whole new feel to a space. You want to customize them accordingly so every room is tailored to what it needs. This is how to easily bring personality to your home. If this is too much effort, you can always light every room the same. We don’t recommend it as each room deserves its own tones and lighting setting, but want you, the homeowner, to feel comfortable in whatever setting suites you best.