Outdoor Recessed Lighting

“Recessed lighting” in general is a light source within a hollow fixture, rather than the light bulb protruding from the fixture as with most lamps or vanity light fixtures. Indoor recessed lighting has long been a popular, sophisticated lighting technique, but outdoor recessed lighting is also gaining in popularity.

One style of outdoor recessed lighting used in landscaping to light walkways or draw the eye’s attention to a particular landscape feature is the “well light”. The well light style of outdoor recessed lighting places the light fixture within a path, garden, or drive with the light bulb shining upwards. Well lights are an attractive and more subtle alternative to lighting pathways at night with standard outdoor lighting, such as lamps or flood lights.

There are also well light styles that do not implant directly into the ground, but protrude upwards in a short stand. Also used to light pathways or light statues, fountains, or similar landscape ornamentation, this kind of outdoor recessed lighting provides a romantic ambiance without glare.

An advantage of outdoor recessed lighting that shines down from porches or other overhangs is that it does not contribute to light pollution. Light pollution from regular streetlamps, floodlights, and other outdoor lights is a growing environmental concern, because, amongst other problems, it interferes with natural cycles of bird migration, insect reproduction, and human circadian rhythms. Because outdoor recessed lighting does not “leak” as much light upwards into the night sky, outdoor recessed lighting does not add to light pollution.

Likewise, outdoor recessed lighting fixtures that attach to a wall or the side of a building light the way without excessive light pollution. Wall-mounted outdoor recessed lighting comes in a variety of styles, from decorative, modern-looking round and oval-shaped lights to plainer square and rectangular recessed lights.

In addition to well lights, outdoor recessed lighting embedded into an outdoor overhang, and wall-mounted lights, outdoor recessed lighting is also used underwater. These are the recessed lights frequently used to light pools, fountains, and ponds for nighttime use. Some of these kinds of lights attract fish and other marine life, so they can be an excellent addition to your dock or pond.

To conclude, outdoor recessed lighting has a number of advantages over standard outdoor lighting. Unlike floodlights, recessed lighting provides a softer, less glaring outdoor light. Whether for your home or your business, visitors, friends, family, customers, and tourists alike will all appreciate the ambiance created by recessed lighting. And anyone concerned with a “greener” method to light the night will also appreciate the reduction in light pollution created by outdoor recessed lighting. Many businesses selling outdoor recessed lighting fixtures can easily be found through a quick web search, and home improvement stores such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s also provide an assortment of outdoor recessed lighting fixtures.