Installing Recessed Lighting

The light of your life

Learning how to install recessed lighting is as easy as following these steps:

1. First, choose the style of lighting and the placement of those lights. Some styles can be aimed and should be considered for areas where artwork or other details need to be featured.

2. For good coverage, space your lights between 6 and 7 feet apart. You will need a stud finder in order to locate joists. Placing your lights on the same joists will make wiring much less complicated. This will allow you to minimize the number of joists that you have to run wire through.

3. You will be cutting through drywall so cover floors and furniture to save time on cleanup. Opening outside windows is also essential to allow for proper ventilation.

4. Shut the power off at the breaker before doing any electrical work.

5. Then you will want to remove and disconnect the wires your existing fixture. Be sure to test that the power is disconnected. This wire will be used to provide electricity to your recessed fixtures.

6. Installing recessed lighting requires between 7 and 8 inches of clearance for the fixtures. Drill a pilot hole and check the depth with a wire hanger. You will also want to confirm that the joists are where the studfinder has indicated with the hanger as well.

7. The manufacturer will include a template for installing recessed lighting. Use the template to outline where to cut your openings. Use a drywall saw to cut the openings. You can now install the hardware, including the electrical box, for your lighting.

8. Now you will need to drill holes in the joists to run wires to the recessed lighting. These holes should not exceed 1/4 of the width of the joist.

9. At this point you are ready to run wire from the old fixture to the first recessed light fixture. Continue to run wire from fixture to fixture until all have been connected. Make sure you have between 1/2 to 1 foot of extra wire dangling from each opening.

10. Use wirenuts to connect the wires: red-to-red, black-to-black, and green-to-green.

11. Lift the fixture into its hole and install the trim.

12. Now you can screw in your light bulbs and turn on the power.

The above instructions for installing recessed lighting are the same for new and older homes.

More information on recessed lighting