Recessed lights are ceiling light fixtures mounted in cavities in the ceiling to appear as if they are shining from a hole. This is why recessed lights are also called pot lights, as they have existed for decades and produce lights without being obtrusive. However, there are alternatives to recessed lights that can make your home look as beautiful as you want. These alternatives include modern semi-flush ceiling lights, and styles such as disc lights, pendant lights, tube lights, and track lights.
Why Are These Options Better?
Installing a recessed light involves cutting a hole in your ceiling, which means more effort, time, and cost. Since recessed lights need to be installed into cavities, they aren’t appropriate if your ceiling doesn’t have space. The hole causes air leakage in the long run, leading to energy inefficiency. Here are some better alternatives to recessed light and why they are better:
- Disc Lights: They fall into the category of LED flush ceiling lights, making for an excellent alternative to recessed light. They also save time, effort, and space. You can also be sure you won’t have any overheating issues. These can also come under surface mounted downlights.
- Track Lights: The track lights come in handy if you want multiple lights. While recessed lights may seem cheap, the cost of installing one can be overwhelming. But with track lights, you won’t have to make many holes in your ceilings. Track lights also provide ambient lighting in your room and can be used to light up certain areas such as shelving or cabinets.
- Tube lights: These types of lights work similarly to recessed lights. You might not get such an aesthetic look when using this type of light however, they are very practical. They shine outward and downward, fully lighting their installed room. The fluorescent or led light, an example of a tube light, does not need a ceiling cavity before being installed. Also, tube lights aren’t made from mercury, lead, or any harmful material; they are safe to use.
- Pendant lights (Flush Or Semi): If you want lights with a fancy touch without cutting a hole in your ceiling, you should opt for low ceiling pendant lighting. There are different types of pendant lights as they come in various sizes, shapes, and styles, including modern semi-flush ceiling lights, making great aesthetic lights.
- Ceiling Spotlights: You can also decide to install a spotlight instead if you plan on using recessed lights as accent lights. Ceiling spotlights don’t require much effort to be installed. Some even shine brighter than recessed lights.
Cost-effective Installation
The installation processes involved in mounting a recessed light can be more technical than installing modern semi-flush ceiling lights or LED flush ceiling lights. Leigh MacDonald, Technical Director For the SM Electrical Group, says, “Recessed downlights do require additional work when installing compared to a standard ceiling light. If your installation budgets are limited, a flush ceiling light which sits close to the ceiling can be a very good alternative.”
However, the alternatives to recessed lights are more cost-effective to install. You don’t need to cut a hole in your ceiling, which makes removing, replacing or moving the lights easier. Besides, fixing the holes can cost as much or more than installing the recessed lights.
Checkout Our Video On This Blog Post For Further Information
Author Profile
- Adam is an in-house technical writer for Scotlight Direct, a website dedicated to providing the latest and most accurate information on lighting topics. With a passion for writing and a deep understanding of various lighting concepts and designs. Adam has been a valuable asset to the team since joining in 2019.
Latest Post From The Author
Indoor LightingApril 30, 2023Inspiring Wall Lighting Ideas To Enhance Your Home
Indoor LightingApril 28, 2023Solving The Myth:Can You Install Ceiling Lights On A Wall?
Indoor LightingApril 21, 2023Everything You Need to Know About LED Lighting in 2025
Indoor LightingApril 18, 2023A Guide To Choosing The Right Light Fixture For A Low Ceiling – Semi-Flush Or Flush?