Downlight & Recessed Placement Tips

Where you place downlights or recessed lighting can make a big difference in how it lights up your space. Layer next to a decorative fixture or evenly-space along the ceiling to help create the perfect ambient light. We have tips for how, where and how far apart to place your downlights for maximum impact.

Spacing

How you space your downlights will influence how they illuminate your space. Follow these simple guidelines:

• Start with downlights no less than 2 feet away from your walls. Then space your downlights evenly across the room.

• How far apart you space your lights generally depends on the size of your space. A good rule is to divide your ceiling height by 2 to give you the space between each light, but don’t go more than 6 feet apart, or you’ll lose the impact. 

• Mini downlights are great for perimeter lighting and in the nooks and corners of large rooms.

Effect

To maximize the effect of your downlights, consider a few things:

• First of all, if you have darker wood floors, darker tile or dark carpet, install the downlights closer together or with higher lumens to ensure the space is well lit.

• For ceilings higher than 10ft, use 1000 lumens in your downlights to make sure light reaches the floor.

• Gimbal downlights can tilt and therefore are great for showcasing architecture, artwork, and walls.

• Keep in mind, when the beams (also called foot candles) cross each other, it can produce even more light.

Install

To make sure your downlights are installed well and effectively, consider two things:

• First, consider the location. If it’s in a bathroom or shower, make sure it has a ‘wet’ rating, so you know it’s safe.

• Second, know where your ceiling joists are. This can impact not only fixture placement, but it could impact your decision of which fixture to pick, as some work better near joists than others. A good option to think about is Direct-to-Ceiling (DtC) lights, which can be placed anywhere on the ceiling with little to no joist restrictions at all.

Not many know there is a difference between a recessed light (also referred to as "can") and a downlight. The traditional recessed light takes up more space in the ceiling to accommodate a replaceable light bulb, whereas an LED downlight takes up very little space with no joist restrictions.