Desperate for Lighting Help!

last year

last modified: last year

Being completely honest here—I have no idea what I’m doing!

We’re in the middle of a full home remodel, and I’m feeling overwhelmed trying to finalize a lighting plan. I've selected decorative fixtures for each room (nothing is purchased yet), so if you think a fixture doesn’t suit the space or layout, I’m open to feedback!

Where I’m really stuck is with recessed lighting—specifically the size and placement. My project manager (from our design-build firm) has recommended 35 wafer lights across the kitchen, dining room, living room, foyer, hallway, den/study, laundry, and mudroom. I’ve created a lighting layout on the floor plan and attached it here. I know I’ve probably gone overboard with the number of lights and could really use some guidance!

I’ve also included a kitchen rendering along with the decorative lighting fixtures I’ve selected. I would truly appreciate any guidance or input from those with more experience—your feedback would mean a lot!

Featured Answer

3onthetree

last year

First shock:

To be blunt, your house looks like it has chicken pox. There are just way too many lights overall, misplaced (every room), inconsistent (closets), and probably against code (over tub). And although a choice of wafer fixture is still functional and a "personal" choice, it is equivalent to choosing a laminate counter over granite, which many people would not do if they had a choice. For lighted ceiling fans, most people would abhor having a center boob light or 1950s glass plate cover in their bedroom, but a light on a ceiling fan is the very same thing.

Helping hand:

I could do a sketch with assumptions, but there are some rooms I can't get a read on. The Living Room looks like it is walled off, but the Dining is open to Foyer. I think Garrett's room is flex Office/Guest. I can't decipher if the Den is a Family Room. I can't tell if the drawing is to scale, which affects layout.

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Comments (7)

anj_p
last year
What size are the wafer lights?

For reference we have 6" lights, and we have 4 in our kitchen, 4 in our living room, and none in our dining room and foyer. I think you have too many. Maybe take a walk through some open houses and look at their lighting. If you keep that many, definitely make them dimmable.

I don't think your dining room fixture goes unless you're going for an older style. Also do you need a ceiling fan in your living room? If so just do the fan and ditch the light. Those lights are generally pretty terrible for actual lighting. If you don't need the fan but want a fixture, I would only get one if you have tall 10'+ ceilings.

Otherwise, lighting is pretty personal. I wouldn't choose the lights you chose, but if you like them that's all that matters.
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last year
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chispa
last year
last modified: last year
No wafer lights, unless that is the only thing that will fit in your remodel. You want the light source to be recessed into the can, otherwise you get glare from across the room. You also want to consider the Kelvin, Lumens and CRI of the recessed lights. Also important is how you group them with switches, which should all have dimmers).

How tall are the ceilings? I would use 4" recessed lights.

Agree with lighting being pretty personal. I definitely wouldn't use the fans you selected.

Also be careful with placing a fan near recessed lights, because you can get a strobe-light effect if not spaced correctly.

35 isn't necessarily too much ... I have around 180 recessed lights in my house, plus pendants & chandeliers!
anj_p
last year
I don't feel like ours cause glare at all so I guess it's up to you whether that possibility is worth the extra dollars for recessed.

Obviously the number of lights in a house kind of depends on how big the house is and how many rooms are being lit by them. But you are showing a crazy number in your kitchen and living room (too many to count) so yeah I think it's too many.
dan1888
last year
last modified: last year
Light depends on the output of the source. Two recessed 6" cans with 2400 lumen flood bulbs on dimmers will light up a large area to meet ambient light needs. What's the output of the wafer lights. This plan looks superficial to me.
remodelinmi
Original Author
last year
@3onthetree After many comments of the chicken pox layout, I did revise the number of lights. I would definitely welcome a helping hand on the revisions. To answer questions/concerns:
- Closet lights were not indicated on the layout because those are separate in the contracting quote and will be LED lights according to said quote.
- Over tub - that is supposed to be an exhaust fan (maybe with a light if able)
- Ceiling fan - personal preference, but I will admit, they are not used so much for the light, but rather air circulation.
- I have heard other negative comments about wafers so I will ask the construction company their reasoning behind that choice (assumption is price and ease of installation). If you have a
I didn't realize the floor plan did not show the wall openings clearly:
- Living room - there will be a 8"-12" header separating the room from the kitchen.
- Garrett's Room/Second Bedroom does have a closet - as indicated in the revised plan.
- Den/Study will be used as an office/crafting space.
- The floor plan is to scale
- Some of the lights are directional. I indicated which direction it should be shining.
I think that is it. Let me know if you have further questions.