I'm looking to upgrade my home with 4-inch recessed lights (four in each bedroom) to achieve a modern aesthetic. Since it's a single-story house and I have full access to the attic, I need some guidance on whether to opt for retrofit assemblies or new construction housings. I like the HALO lights, specifically the HALO RL4 for retrofits or the HALO H995 for new constructions. My preference is for cans over canless lights due to glare issues. With my rooms being 10x10 feet, I believe four lights with 600-700 lumens will be just right. Also, I have loose insulation in the attic, and I'm concerned that the sloped roof may complicate installation next to the external walls.
2 Answers
Are you sure you need housings? If you're open to avoiding them, I found these direct mount recessed lights. They’re insulation contact rated, air-sealed, and have selectable color temps. Plus, they tend to be cheaper than having to deal with separate bulbs and housings, and installation is a breeze.
If you can easily access your attic, both options are viable. New construction lights will be secured better to the joists, while retrofits can attach directly to drywall using butterfly clips, letting you install them anywhere, provided it's not under a joist. Just ensure whichever you select is rated for insulation contact. If you can, test out a few lights that allow you to adjust the lumens and color settings. It might be worth the extra $5-10 for models that let you modify the brightness and hue later on, especially for bedrooms where you don’t want overly bright or cool light.
Thanks for the info! I'm leaning toward the HALO RL Series 4 inch Recessed LED Retrofit Light with adjustable color temperature (from 2700K to 5000K) and lumens. It's got great features like being insulation contact rated and is reasonably priced, so it feels like a solid choice.
Sounds like a good plan! You're right—digging through insulation can be a hassle, and retrofitting should save you some effort.
You make a valid point! I'm mostly interested in recessed lights that are insulation contact rated, so that helps. Thanks for the alternative!