Recessed cans
(down lights)

Recessed lighting has been very popular for many years and can be successfully applied to many lighting functions including kitchen tasks, spotlighting artwork, dining tables, and washing walls. Recessed lighting works best as an accent light and for some tasks. Most recessed fixtures are designed for directional light sources (or lamps), these can be R lamps, BR lamps, PAR lamps or low voltage types. Some recessed fixtures are designed for omni directional lamps (standard light bulbs or "A" lamps, and compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs). In all cases the entire lamp should be recessed above the ceiling plane to control glare.

• Except in small rooms with light colored surfaces, recessed lighting is a poor choice for ambient or general lighting.
  
  
• There are quite a few recessed fixtures designed for CFLs, however the ones that perform well enough to, say put in a living room or kitchen are commercial products that are quite expensive ($150.00 and up) and often not suitable for residential use (not IC rated, and with housings and apertures that are too large).
  
  
• When lighting vertical surfaces such as wall art, the type of effect you want (spotlighting, wall washing or grazing) will determine the location and quantity of the housing(s) you use.
  
  
• Recessed lighting and track lighting function in much the same way, and have many of the same advantages and disadvantages.