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Electrical Wiring Design Dilemma living room

Wafer lights replacing light fixtures throughout house?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I have seen alot of houses with LED hi hats that are slim and no housing needed as they are slim flat to the ceiling in place of light fixtures. Is this a new trend? I have a raised ranch and the foyer has a light fixture that lights up the foyer as well as the upstairs living room. I am wondering if I should replace fixture with a high hat? I am thinking of adding these above living room couch across from the tv but afraid of glares on tv. These are the 2 fixtures I am thinking of converting to hi hats? At least the hall way maybe install 2 instead of 1 fixture? The main entrance one puts a glare on TV not the worst as we just use wall washer lights when that happens on other side of room.

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Comments (7)

3onthetree
2 years ago
First, here's a "hi hat" light, like you might find in a school gymnasium:

As it appears now, you are borrowing both the Foyer light and Hall light as your main sources of Living Room lighting (I do see a reading light over the chair though). If you'd like recessed (aka "can," or "pot") lighting for a general sustained illumination across the whole room instead of table/floor lamps, that is an option if you like that.

You can leave the chandelier in the Foyer if you desire the decor function a chandelier gives at a "formal" guest entry. Just use it only when needed for circulation on the stair. Or, you can put recessed lights there instead.

You can put a recessed light in the hall just for hall circulation if you want. In the hall you shouldn't have a problem fitting a remodel can, certainly a wafer light, in between the attic access panel and return grille.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
2 years ago
sorry I meant wafer lights. I agree keep foyer light and wafer the hallway and replace fixture. What about over the couch will it rflect in tv?
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So by reading "throughout" and "online calculator per room" that infers that you are just going to put a grid of recessed lights everywhere. No consideration for furniture placement, doors/windows, function, mood or aesthetics. Many choose to do just that and if that is your goal, carry on. Seeing the rooms or ceiling height aren't big factors between choosing 4" vs 6", that choice would pertain to spacing, cost, and aesthetics. And the fact that they are wafers is more about installation method than lighting layout, as they have pros and cons just like any other type of recessed lighting you choose. But if a lighting designer were choosing, a grid of lighting would not be the solution everywhere. As an example, in the Living Room, That would not fit the seating layout or mood of the space. Instead, a couple accent lights over the fireplace, maybe over a feature wall too, layered with table lamps would be a better choice. And removing the existing center flush mount. Another example is the Kitchen/Dining, where the existing chandelier over the table is perfect, no recessed needed. The Kitchen could have recessed to replace the 2 flush mounts and provide task light over the counters and into cabinets, but a general grid does not usually line up with the task functions, that is better to be based on cabinet/counter/island locations. For bedrooms, a recessed light in each corner usually creates a hot spot over the bed, attracting attention to a dead nook created by a dresser, or an unbalanced wall wash caused by a window interruption. So without some architectural features, any recessed would be more uncommon.
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3onthetree
2 years ago
Your tv is on the wall facing the large window. So if you notice you can see the reflection of the window, and probably what's happening on the street too. You will see the reflection of the ceiling and any lights there too, no matter what style or how many. However, with wafer lights, because they are "flush" with the ceiling, you get a glare from them. If you were to use deeper recessed baffles, then that would hide more of the 'bulb' and seeing so much of the glare in the reflection of the tv.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
So I guess wafer lights over the couch in front of picture window will just reflect in TV.
3onthetree
2 years ago
I would consider how you want to light the room first, then figure out a good lumenaire for that, with reflection on the tv only a contributing part of the equation, not the main point. Lowering the tv will help reduce reflecting the ceiling plane, as your view from a seating position is more straight forward than up.

And I admit I'm always nosy to see what's on driving by houses that I can see the tv front and center through the window.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
2 years ago
Lol I'm on 2nd story so no one's can see blind closed when tv on.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
2 years ago
I have also seen where people have wafer lights next to the tv on the sides. I feel the room is to dark as is but if I'm watching TV and kids playing in the room the lights will reflect on TV to

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