MiamiCuse wrote:

Trying to decide how many recessed can I really need to properly lit a room
(9' ceiling). Is there any guideline on how to calculate this? Is it based
on area or other factors?

Thanks,

MC

Some factors affecting lighting design:

- Ceiling height
- Beam spread of the trim used on the fixture
- Wattage of the bulb used in the fixture
- Desired light level in the room
- Tolerance to hot spots and uneven lighting
- Reflectivity of wall, ceiling, floor and furnishings
- Tasking of fixtures, i.e. wall wash, counter task light, etc.
- Other light sources in the room i.e. table, desk and floor lamps
- Items in the room vulnerable to reflection issues i.e. TVs, framed art
with glass, etc.

Fixture and trim specifications are on the manufacturers sites. Normally
you would work up a floor plan for the room including fixed items and
expected furnishings, determine light levels appropriate for the type of
room (tables of recommended levels available various places), and
determine fixture placement to give the desired results. The is a lot of
CAD software for planning this type of stuff.

Good lighting design is a lot more complicated that it seems at first
glance.