How to Choose the Best Pot Light Types
Where Should You Install Pot Lights?
Pot Lights are Ideal for Kitchens
Putting pot lights in your kitchen is a great idea, as they are low profile and provide ample, even lighting for all of your cooking and meal preparation. Kitchen recessed lighting options will vary according to the size of your space, but a reflector trim is highly recommended. Choose lights that are 4-inches or 5-inches in diameter to provide enough concentrated light for meal prep and cleanup.
Provide Even Lighting to Your Living Room
Your living room is another great place for pot lights, as the flush-to-the-ceiling look makes the space look larger and more inviting. The bright, even lighting helps to light up even the darkest corners. Plus, dimming them can set the mood for a movie or some relaxation.
Great Option for Bathroom and Shower Areas
Shower pot lights are great as they don’t take up any hanging space so you have even light distribution and maximize your shower area. Bathroom pot lights are helpful in providing light for getting ready in the morning or for any other task.
Create the Perfect Ambient Light in Your Bedroom
Bedroom pot lights can be used to provide lighting in a general sense and also to highlight any areas you want showcased, such as a fireplace or a bookshelf.
Outdoor Pot Lights
Lighting your outdoor area with pot lights is a great way to illuminate your entertaining space without adding a hanging light or stand-up lighting, maximizing your entertaining area.
Highlight A Wall or Decorative Item
Pot lights can also be used as accent lighting, highlighting a showpiece, fireplace, artwork or any other prominent feature in your home. They can also be used to highlight a certain wall or area that you’d like to have featured.
How to Find the Perfect Pot Light Sizes for Your Room
Finding the perfect sized pot lights for your space depends on a number of factors including how much light you want in your room, your ceiling height and room size.
Here are some examples of sizing and their appropriate usage.
3-inch
Great for task and accent lighting.
4-Inch
Great for kitchens and overhead countertop lighting.
6-inch
Good for general, more broad room lighting purposes.
Popular Trim Styles
Baffle Trims
Baffle trims have the light recessed into the socket to help avoid glare and have a ribbed inside surface to help shape the light.
Gimbal or Eyeball Trims
Gimbal trim pot lights allow you to control the direction of the light and focus it onto a specific area or feature.
Open Trims
Open trim pot lights have a low-profile trim that sits flush with the light and the ceiling
Surface Mount Trims
Surface mount pot lights are another low-profile option that sits almost flush with the ceiling. They have a small bezel surrounding the light.
Reflector Trims
Similar to baffled trims, but with a reflective coating inside to help cast light over a wider area.
Shower Trims
Shower trim pot lights have a gasket to seal against the ceiling, making them water-tight and perfect for wet areas like the shower.
Housing Types
New Construction Housing
New construction pot light fixtures are made to be installed from scratch and are screwed or nailed to the ceiling joists before drywall is installed.
Remodel Housing
A remodel fixture is designed to be retrofitted into an existing home. Usually when a homeowner wants to add more lighting for tasks or to illuminate a feature space or piece. They have clips that help the attach to an existing ceiling making installation easy.
IC Rated Housing
IC (Insulated Contact)-rated lights must be used when the light will come into contact with insulation or other flammable materials in the roof. They usually have a metal sheathing that contacts the insulation, and then are installed inside that sheathing to prevent fires caused by overheating.
Airtight Recessed Lighting
Airtight recessed lighting helps to control temperatures and keep drafts at bay. The fixture is airtight, stopping air from circulating through the opening in the ceiling between the lights and the drywall or housing.
Popular Pot Lights Features
Dimmable Recessed Lighting
Dimmable pot lights are a great way to control the amount of illumination in your room, or to set the mood for a movie or party.
Smart Light Bulbs
Smart light bulbs can be controlled from your smart device, allowing remote control of power, dimming and other features.
Colour-Tunable Pot Lights
Colour-tunable pot lights offer the highest level of customization, allowing you to create colourful ambience for any setting.
Additional Features
| Retrofit | Low-profile Recessed Lights | Sloped Ceiling Compatibility | Low Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can be installed in your existing outlets. | Lights that sit flush or nearly flush with your ceiling. | Lights with a gimbal trim to accommodate sloped ceilings. | Use less energy to help you save money. |
Installation Tips
Always check your local codes and wear safety equipment before starting any kind of electrical work. If you’re unsure, leave the work to a professional electrician.