Recessed lighting has become more popular over the last decade for a host of reasons, one of which is that recessed lighting makes a room feel bigger. This makes it especially popular in smaller rooms or any room that needs to feel more spacious.

1.Recessed lighting makes a room feel bigger because it actually takes up less visual space in the room. Because the light cans are set into the ceiling itself, nothing hangs down to interrupt the visual space of the ceiling.

2.Recessed lighting also makes a room look bigger due to an effect called “wall washing”. No, that doesn’t mean you go and take soap and water to the walls. Wall washing is a lighting effect that casts more light around the room via use of the right kind of trim (the part of the light that is visible from the hole in the ceiling). Wall washed trim involves a directional reflector and a light scoop that directs light onto the wall. If you have a sloped ceiling, an “eyeball trim” can be used.

3.Recessed lighting also casts light on the wall you want to highlight for other design reasons. Consider recessed lighting if you want to highlight a wall bookcase, works of art or a special collection of some sort.

4.There are also other benefits of recessed lighting. First of all, it comes in all kinds of colors (the trim and the lights and the reflectors) so they can be used to really upgrade a room in several ways. The casing for recessed lights also protects it from dust, children and mishaps, so it’s also a safer lighting option than hanging lights.