How to Choose Recessed Lighting for a Living Room

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (4 Ratings)

Recessed lighting can provide general, task and accent illumination in your living room. Here's how to choose recessed lighting to fit your needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Jot down the ways that your family uses the living room and the kind of lighting needed for each activity.
Step 2

Decide where to position your recessed lighting fixtures. Consider the following possibilities:
Step 3

Place one fixture with reflector lamps for each 4 to 6 square feet of ceiling space.
Step 4

Arrange general lighting fixtures midway between the walls and the center of the room around the perimeter to create a central pool of light.
Step 5

Highlight artwork or sculpture with focused recessed lighting positioned 3 to 4 feet away from the wall.
Step 6

Provide extra lighting over task areas to facilitate reading, playing games and other activities.
Step 7

Create a dramatic accent by installing wall washers that can bathe one wall in warm light.

Step 1

Measure the ceiling of your room.
Step 2

Choose the type of lamps you'll use. Fluorescent and halogen lights offer a wide variety of color choices and are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs.
Step 3

Choose the mood you'd like to set. In a living room, warm fluorescents with tones of yellow and rose create a relaxed, peaceful light. Lights with hints of blue give clear, crisp light for reading and other tasks.
Step 4

Choose the right housing for your ceilings and construction. New construction housings can be installed from above. Remodel housings are designed for installation from below.
Step 5

Choose the right trim for your lights. The trim is the most visible and obvious part of the recessed lamps. Choose colors and styles that coordinate with your dining room. If you have cathedral or sloped ceilings, choose trim designed especially for those.

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