Last week Chris and I walked through the house and came up with a lighting plan for the entire house. I have a feeling that once we have the lighting optimized, we’re going to wonder how we’ve made it this long living in the dark. It’s strange because we have plenty of windows in our house, but beyond those windows are thick, tall trees, blocking a lot of the natural light, and a lot of our electricity in the main areas have been cut with the renovations. Consequently we’re tackling this from the inside and installing so many lights. We’re talking flush mounts, semi-flush mounts, chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and of course recessed lighting.

Our Go-to Recessed Lighting

We get asked about our favorite recessed lighting a lot. This is our FAVORITE recessed lighting! We’ve installed the 4″ ones in our last two homes. I’m such a fan of these because they are ultra slim and don’t require any can or light housing. They’re 4″ in diameter and you can even choose the color temperature you want. (I’m 3000K or bust!) Super easy to install and I love that the edging surface is really flat and doesn’t jut out. We’re going to be installing these in multiple places in the house.

sources

Believe it or not, recessed lighting can be a bit controversial. I get it and I don’t get it. I’d say recessed lighting wasn’t so common until about 15 years ago. Before that, rooms typically had just one central light source and maybe some table or floor lamps. Some are saying that recessed lighting is a trend that’s fading and that it’s time to simplify towards more traditional lighting. I say, put me in a box and I’ll find a way out. For instance Anissa added these adorable flush-mounts in her kitchen below. A great alternative to recessed lighting and it adds so much interest to the space!

House Seven Design

Are we installing recessed lighting in our house? Yes and I’m really happy with that. Am I venturing out to lighting alternatives to recessed lighting? Also yes.

Specifically in our home office, we’re actually installing multiple flush mounts to the space. It’s a big room with a blank ceiling, and it’s in serious need of a lighting glow-up. I thought that adding multiple flush mounts would add some interest to the ceiling and it’s a great alternative to recessed if you’re wanting to switch things up.

 Jean Stoffer Design

I cannot with this kitchen lighting! Mix and match those metals, and I see 1, 2, 3, 4 (if you look closely) lighting varieties in here! Outstanding.

Lauren Liess

Another beautiful example of multiple sources of lighting that doesn’t include recessed cans.

Alternatives to Recessed Lights

In the spirit of the debate, I thought it would be fun to share a round-up some great flush-mount alternatives to recessed lighting. I can see any of these appearing multiple times in a room. Which team are you on?

1. Gwynn Isle Dome Ceiling Light $65
2. Schoolhouse Flush Mount $74
3. Sculptural Glass Cone $89
4. Cadence Flush Mount $138
5. Hannah Bare Bulb $138
6. Metal Bell Flush Mount $169
7. Tapered Metal Hood with Brass $169
8. Nodes 1 $171
9. Cadet Flush Mount $196
10. Vintage Glass $199
11. Curved Metal Bell  $199
12. Pittock Semi-Flush $218
13. Young House Love Cone Pop $239
14. Crawford Flush Mount $249
15. Crawford Flush Mount $249
16. Crawford Glass Flush Mount $269

Lighting is all the rage these days and for good reason. It can truly make or break the look and feel of a room overall, which is why I’m so passionate about everyone knowing the difference between Lumens and Kelvins in any light bulb. Be sure to read this post, and also check out this Instagram Reel for a quick talk through on lighting. A beautiful light fixture isn’t going to solve anything if your light bulbs are too orange, or too florescent, or too dim, or too bright. So I would say if you’re struggling with lighting in your home, maybe start with your light bulbs. It could change everything.