Why Square Recessed Lighting is Popular

Square recessed lighting has many benefits to offer the homeowner, ranging from its aesthetic appearance to the cost efficiency of installation.

Appearance

Recessed lighting adds a sophisticated flavor to any room in the home. Square recessed lighting has a vintage appeal, and offers a wide range of covers and borders to enhance any look. The popularity of this form of lighting is partly a result of these characteristics. A balanced, symmetrical look is easy to achieve when working with the even geometry of the square, and lining them up in the room is simple and nearly foolproof.

Light Characteristics

The light diffusion characteristics of recessed lighting are a large part of their popularity. Lights for particular uses, such as a light over a favorite chair for reading, or lights surrounding a table or space used for art or photography, often come in the form of square recessed fixtures. This is because the directional capabilities of recessed lighting make them uniquely adaptable to almost any lighting need; recessed lights can be used to highlight art or tapestries, or to bring color to a corner of the room that doesn't get much natural sunlight. They can be installed on dimmer switches for even more control over the light quality and character of any room.

Energy Efficiency

Square recessed lights often operate on, or are at least compatible with, compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs are not aesthetically appealing in traditional lighting applications, and may not even fit some fixtures—but they are one of the most energy efficient lighting sources available, and a fixture that takes advantage of this technology is sure to be popular. Compatibility with fluorescent bulbs also makes square recessed lights easier to install in greater quantities, because the amount of power needed in order to run the lights is reduced, and thus the likelihood that modifications to the home's electrical system will be necessary in order to install the lighting is also reduced, again reducing the overall cost of the project, both upfront and in the years to come.

Easy Installation

The installation process for squared recess lighting is simple and accessible to your average DIY homeowner. Some above ceiling access is required, but the wiring process and application of the actual fixture and cover is very streamlined. A variety of products are available, with many companies offering easy to install recessed lights at reasonable prices, saving cost on home installation by a professional. The accessibility and simplicity of installing these fixtures is a large reason why they are so popular. Combine this with the energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, aesthetic appeal, and unmatched control over the lighting quality and character, and the popularity of square recessed lighting is no mystery.

Where it Works Best

Consider square recessed lighting for your next home renovation project if you have existing fixtures in the same shape and general size, or if you have traditional fixtures and will be making the holes for the recessed lights yourself. Converting round recessed lights to square ones can be challenging, as the existing hole may be too large, requiring drywall patching.