Enhancing a Room with Recessed Lighting

Wall washing at British Museum, London

In order to infuse a sense of spaciousness to a small-sized room, interior designers often take advantage of a technique referred to as wall washing. This particular strategy directs the illumination provided by lighting fixtures along the walls in order to create the illusion of added space. Here are a few tips to follow in order to enhance the results that you get.

Choose the Proper Housing Trim | In order to direct the illumination of recessed lighting onto the walls, you should choose trim that features a directional reflector and light scoop. The trim is designed to direct the illumination toward the walls in order to make the room appear larger in size than it actually is. If the room has a sloped ceiling, you also have the option to use recessed lighting that uses eyeball trim in the mounting process.

Choose the Correct Mounting Design | The placement of your lighting fixture determines how well it will achieve the desired effect of creating the illusion of spaciousness to a room. Follow this guideline:
.    Ceilings of 9 feet: mount the lights 3 to 4 feet in distance from the walls and allow for 2 to 3 foot of space in between each fixture
.    Ceilings less than 9 feet in height: mount the lights 2 to 3 feet away from the walls and allow for 3 to 4 foot of space from one fixture to the next

Choose an Optimal Bulb Type | If you have chosen a wall washed trim, one that includes a directional reflector and light scoop, the most common choice for a bulb is to use a CFL bulb, LED, or an incandescent A lamp. Defer to your interior designer on the selection of the bulbs for your recessed lighting, particularly if you are attempting to wash your walls in illumination. The packaging instructions should identify the preferred type of bulb as well as the maximum wattage that you should choose.

Optimizing the Effect | Ideally, you should combine additional types of lighting with your recessed fixtures in order to enhance the appearance of the room. For example, wall sconces and cove lighting can be illuminate dark corners.