Recessed Lighting Vs. Flush Mount - Which is better?

Using the perfect lighting for your building project will give it a beautiful appearance. It will also make the building unique and exceptionally inviting.

However, the abundance of lighting options to choose from makes shopping for the right lighting a bit difficult.

If you’re contemplating choosing between recessed and flush mount lighting, this article is a great guide to help you make the right choice.

Choosing one of these lightings based on people’s recommendations may not give you the desired satisfaction. So, the best thing to do is to know everything about recessed and flush mount lighting to enable you to decide which is best for your building and can serve you well in terms of functionality.

That's why this article is a must-read for you.

Here, we'll show you the pros and cons of both recessed and flush mount lights, their differences and similarities, and the distinct features that make one better than the other.

 

Recessed Lighting

Image credit: lights.co.uk

Recessed lighting has different names, such as can light, down light, or pot light. It is a type of lighting installation that includes ceiling, floor, or inside wall fixing.

Recessed lighting gives your room a type of illumination that doesn’t cause distraction. To add, it is a type of lighting that gives you satisfaction if your room has a low ceiling.

Recessed lighting has two fixtures, including the following:

 

• Housing fixture

It is the act of hiding the electrical connection and wires from outside.

 

• Trim

Trim fixtures include the bulb hanger or what helps in holding and framing the bulb. There are different types of trims, such as the reflector, baffle trim, and shower. Each has its unique benefits.

 

Pros of Recessed Lighting

Image credit: rootelectric.com

Good choice for directional illumination

Recessed lighting gives you the best-aimed illumination where you can focus it on your desired location. Most people use it to point or give attention to some particular details in their building.

You will come across these types of lighting at events or in some art galleries because they help grab people's attention.

 

Perfect for low ceilings

If your room has low ceilings and you want to maintain the space well, it’s nice to go for recessed light. Apart from your room, you can also install it in other parts of your house, including your corridor, basement, and attic, especially if they have low ceilings.

This type of lighting gives you the privilege to use your space well and still enjoy perfect lighting.

 

Affordable maintenance

The bulb has its hanger and cover, serving as a protector. It gives the assurance of durability and safety from dust. Most of the recessed lightings come with a protector, making it easier to maintain for a long period.

 

Available in different styles

You can install it in different environments, either in a formal or informal setting. And you can choose your preferred style, depending on what you want and the type of recessed lighting you intend to buy.

 

Cons of Recessed Lighting

It has limitations

The illuminating coverage of exposed lighting cannot be compared with that of recessed lighting. Recessed lighting has limitations because of its small size. Therefore, using it in a wide room with a high ceiling may not give you your desired light coverage.

 

Unexpected malfunction

Recessed lighting may disappoint you once it overheats and goes off, making you feel uncomfortable and frustrated. Another disadvantage of installing recessed lighting is that overheating may trigger the thermal sensors.

 

Energy consumption rate

Recessed lighting consumes a lot of energy for effective performance. So, it’d be nice to stay off recessed lighting if you have a poor energy efficiency system.

 

Tampers with your ceiling

If you don’t install recessed lighting while constructing your building, you might need to create holes in the ceilings and make some repairs when you want to install it. It equally applies to recessed lighting installation on walls or floors. As a result, you’ll need to reconstruct the damaged areas.

 

Flush Mount Lighting

Image credit: wayfair.com

Flush mounts are lightings that you can attach directly to the ceiling. You don't have to hang or cling with a chain or wire. They can serve as alternatives to semi-flush mount lights.

Also, they come in different shapes and sizes, making it easier for you to choose your preferred shape.

You can buy the square-shaped flush mount lights or any other shape, such as rectangular, drum, and bell. Just like recessed lighting, they make your home beautiful and give you homely satisfaction.

Another interesting thing about flush mount lights is that you can get a customized one. So, you can have your flush mount crafted into your desired style(s).

If you desire a full light in your small room, then a flush mount can give you that. Some homeowners use them in expansive rooms as task lights. They’re useful and can function well in almost every part of the house because of their excellent illumination.

 

Types of Flush Mount Light Fixtures

Flush mounts are of different sizes, designs, and shapes. And each has its specific usage. The following are the various types of flush mount light.

 

Full flush mount light

It beautifies and gives rooms with low ceilings significant illumination. In addition, it's rare for dust or insects to penetrate since its installation is always close to the ceiling. And it doesn’t take space.

 

Semi-flush mount light

This type uses a small rod that serves as a connector between itself and the ceiling. However, you can only use them in a room with a high ceiling of about nine (9) feet.

Likewise, a semi-flush mount is brighter in the room than a full flush mount.

 

Directional lighting

Directional lighting focuses on a specific direction or area. It can also serve the same purpose as the semi-flush mount light; however, it mainly helps in focusing on specific areas.

 

Pros of Flush Mount Lighting

Image credit: ylighting.com

Minimal heat

Flush mount lighting produces little heat, probably due to the LED bulb it uses. With this feature, you don’t have to worry about overheating.

 

Comfortable maintenance

When using flush mount lighting, you don’t have to stress yourself with everyday cleaning. Dust or insects cannot enter or cause any damage to your lighting. And whenever you’re ready to clean it, you can do this comfortably.

 

Excellent illumination and perfect for small rooms

It gives perfect lighting in a small room with a high ceiling since it won’t take much space. There are flush mount lighting with many bulbs in a lighting unit, which helps them function better.

 

Cons of Flush Mount Lighting

Expensive for a large room

You will need to install many flush mount lighting in a large room before they can serve their purpose.

 

Tough to change

Changing the bulb may give you a tough time because of its fixtures. Their designs may require that you tamper with some screws before changing the bulb.

 

Similarities between Recessed Lighting and Flush Mount Lighting

Image credit: destinationlighting.com

Even though they both have different fixtures and capacities, they still have some obvious similarities, which include:

• They are both perfect for small rooms with low ceilings for space maintenance
• They can serve as a focus or attention-grabbing lighting in a home or an event
• They both have protectors, making it possible to use both of them in wet rooms
• If used in the bathroom, water can’t touch both lightings, preventing constant replacement
• Recessed and flush mount lights are ceiling lights. They can both be attached to the ceiling of any room

 

Differences between Recessed Lighting and Flush Mount Lighting

The following are the differences between the two lightings.

• Recessed lighting involves creating holes in the ceiling while the flush mount lighting may not need this because it comes with a small rod or canopy
• Light diffusion in flush mount lighting improves its function and spreads through the room. But in recessed lighting, the diffuser narrows its beam, making it focus in one direction
• Recessed lighting can serve better in a cinema hall, concert, and some events because you can install it on the floor and the ceiling. But flush mount lighting can’t achieve this, except it's semi-flush with a transparent canopy

 

Where Can You Use Recessed Lighting?

• You can use it in the bathroom, and nothing will happen to it
• Kitchen lovers can also fix recessed lighting in their kitchen for focusing illumination
• You can fix it in the bedroom and other rooms with other types of lights

 

Where Can You Use Flush Mount Lighting?

• You can use it in formal and informal environments
• It can also give you your desired lighting in the kitchen and dining
• Your bathroom can also experience the beauty of flush mount lighting. It beautifies your bathroom
• It can serve as mini-security lighting at the entrance of a hall or any outdoor event
• You can use it with a chandelier in a large space for a friendly design

 

Final Verdict

Ceiling lighting is a superb choice for excellent illumination in your house. You can use either the recessed lighting or flush mount lighting, depending on the lighting you want in your building.

For larger rooms, you can use both.

However, if you want a low ceiling and well-protected lights, go for recessed lighting for effective usage. But, if you wish to move to the next level to enjoy minimal space, brighter light, and comfortable maintenance, flush mount lighting is your ideal choice of lighting.