Accent Lighting — mount olive nj
mount olive nj — Recessed lighting offers a clean, streamlined look in a home. It can increase the amount of light in a room, highlight artwork or other special features, and open up spaces so they look and feel bigger. Though recessed fixtures are most easily installed between ceiling joists of new building or major remodeling projects, some recessed fixtures are designed specifically for retrofit applications and can slip into an existing ceiling space through holes made to accommodate wiring. In this case, however, it is necessary to determine if there is insulation above the ceiling. If there is, the fixture must be IC (insulation contact) rated.
When selecting recessed lighting, several types of fixtures and bulbs are available for specific needs. Standard incandescent bulbs, for example, are inexpensive and good for general light or wall washing with the use of reflectors. However, they generate heat, consume more energy and have a shorter life expectancy than compact fluorescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs offer a clean white light, and are available in both flood and spot types, while low voltage halogen bulbs have a long life and put out more light than incandescent bulbs, but require the use of transformers and special low voltage housings. Whether you choose fixtures with standard line voltage, low voltage halogen, or fluorescent fixtures, the basic sizes are 4-, 5-, or 6-inches in diameter. The 6-inch fixtures can be used in tall entryways or two-story hallways, while the smaller 4-inch sizes work better in smaller spaces since they have a sleeker, contemporary look with minimal intrusion. Whatever style or size you select, here are some basic tips in what to look for when considering installing recessed lighting:
- Avoid recessed lighting fixtures placed too close together or in rows down the center of the room. This type of installation can have the look of an airport runway.
- Match the size of your recessed lighting fixtures to how close together they can be installed. The common rule is that 4-inch fixtures should generally be placed at least 4 feet apart and 6-inch fixtures about 6 feet apart.
- Center recessed lighting fixtures in front of the objects you wish to light - a painting, bookshelf, or drapery panels, for example - and about 12 to 18 inches in front of that object.
- Recessed lights used for reading or task lighting should be carefully placed overhead so your head and shoulders will not block needed light.
- When lighting a three-dimensional object such as a fireplace, sculpture, or flower arrangement with recessed lighting, it is more effective to light it from two or three different angles.
- Use wall-washing recessed lighting fixtures around the perimeter of a small room to help "push" the walls out and make the space feel larger, or aim them at a collection of artwork or photographs to call attention to the display.
- IInstall recessed lighting fixtures in the bottom of your kitchen cabinets. The light will wash your counter top with focused light.
