Recessed cans look simple in the showroom. The difference between a kitchen that glows and one that looks like a parking garage is layout — and quietly, fixture choice. Here's how we plan and install recessed lighting in Sonoma County homes.
Spacing and layout
The rule of thumb: divide ceiling height by two for the spacing between cans (8 ft ceiling = 4 ft spacing). Adjust for room use — kitchens want tighter spacing over work surfaces, living rooms want wider. We mock the layout on the floor with painters' tape before drilling anything.
Fixture choice — 4-inch is the new 6-inch
Older homes have 6-inch cans because that was the standard for incandescent flood bulbs. Modern LED-integrated 4-inch fixtures put out the same light with a fraction of the visual footprint. Almost every retrofit we do moves to 4-inch.
Color temperature and CRI
Pick 2700K (warm) or 3000K (slightly cooler-warm) for living spaces. Pick 90+ CRI — the difference between an 80 CRI and a 95 CRI fixture is dramatic on skin tones, food, and finishes. We default to 95+ CRI.
Dimming — never skip
Every recessed fixture should be on a dimmer. The same room at 100% and 30% are completely different rooms. Use a dimmer rated for the LED fixtures you've chosen — Lutron Maestro and Diva are reliable workhorses.
Insulation and air-sealing
Cans installed in insulated ceilings must be IC-rated and air-tight (ICAT). California energy code requires it. Modern LED retrofit cans handle this with ease, but plug-and-play kits sold online are sometimes not ICAT — check the rating before buying.
What the install day looks like
Most retrofit jobs in a typical kitchen or living room take 4–8 hours. Cleanup is included — we don't leave drywall dust in your sink. New construction or jobs requiring access from above can take longer.
Sonoma County · Since 1990
Talk to a licensed electrician about your recessed lighting installation.
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