Pot lights (recessed lights) are the most common lighting upgrade in Ontario homes. Here’s the practical framework before you commit.
Bulbs vs integrated LED
- Bulb-style (older) — uses a separate GU10 or PAR16 bulb. Easy to swap bulbs when they fail. Limited dimming compatibility, bulbs vary.
- Integrated LED (modern) — LED is built in. Brighter, more efficient, longer lifespan (25,000+ hours = 20+ years at 4 hr/day). When it fails, replace the whole fixture (rare).
We install integrated LED for almost every job — longer life, better dimming, lower energy use.
How many do you need?
Rule of thumb: one pot light per 16 sq ft of usable floor area for general lighting. So a 12×14 living room (168 sq ft) wants about 10 pot lights. Kitchens with task areas want more.
For accent or wash lighting, you can use fewer.
Standard sizes
- 4” trim — the modern default. Compact, less obtrusive, plenty of light. Good for new ceilings and most renovations.
- 6” trim — older standard. Still common in older homes. We can match if you’re replacing one out of many.
Colour temperature
- 2700K (warm white) — cozy, matches incandescent. Living rooms, bedrooms.
- 3000K (soft white) — slightly cooler. Hallways, kitchens, dining rooms.
- 4000K (cool white) — bathrooms, kitchens, work areas.
- 5000K (daylight) — garages, basements, utility rooms.
Adjustable-CCT fixtures are increasingly popular — pick the temperature via a switch on the back during install. Worth the small premium.
Dimming
Almost all modern integrated LED pot lights are dimmable, but compatibility with your dimmer matters. A Lutron Caséta smart dimmer is the safe choice. Avoid pairing a low-end LED with a cheap dimmer — flicker and buzz are common.
IC vs non-IC
IC-rated (insulation-contact) fixtures can have insulation packed around them — required by code in insulated ceilings. We always install IC-rated.
Wet-rated for bathrooms and outdoor soffits
Bathroom showers and outdoor soffit installs need wet-rated fixtures. Cheaper non-wet fixtures rust out within a couple of years in those locations.
See our lighting page for installed pricing on common pot-light packages.