ASL
Few upgrades change the look and feel of a room as quickly as well-planned recessed lighting. A single ceiling fixture leaves corners dark and casts shadows across counters; a thoughtful layout of slim LED recessed lights gives you even, glare-free light, clean ceilings and the flexibility to dim a room from bright and functional to warm and relaxed. ASL Electric designs and installs recessed lighting in Orange County homes, from one room to the whole house.
Our electricians plan the layout, choose the right fixture, trim and color temperature for each space, cut cleanly into existing ceilings or install during new construction, and wire everything to dimmers or smart switches. Modern LED recessed lights use a fraction of the energy of old incandescent cans and meet California's Title 24 efficiency rules, so the upgrade looks better and costs less to run.
Recessed lighting we install
⚡Slim LED wafer lights
Ultra-thin LED fixtures that mount in the ceiling without a bulky housing. They are ideal for retrofits in existing homes, fit where joists or ductwork leave little room, and are rated for direct contact with insulation.
⚡Remodel and new construction housings
Traditional housings with interchangeable trims for new builds and open-ceiling remodels, including adjustable gimbals to aim light at art, fireplaces or architectural features.
⚡Kitchen task lighting
Recessed lights positioned over counters, sinks and the range so you work in your own light instead of your own shadow, often paired with pendants over the island and under-cabinet LEDs.
⚡Living rooms, bedrooms and hallways
General lighting laid out for even coverage, with dimmers so a living room or bedroom can go from full brightness to a soft evening glow.
⚡Bathrooms and showers
Damp and wet-rated recessed lights for showers and bathrooms, wired to code and coordinated with the vanity lighting and exhaust fan.
⚡Old can to LED conversions
Replacing old incandescent and halogen cans with LED retrofit modules or new fixtures for better light, lower heat and lower energy use, without patching drywall.
Signs your rooms need better lighting
Recessed lighting is worth considering when:
- Rooms rely on lamps or a single center fixture
- Kitchen counters are in shadow when you cook
- Old cans run hot or use halogen or incandescent bulbs
- Lights flicker, buzz or turn off by themselves
- Popcorn ceilings are coming down and it is a good time
- You are remodeling a kitchen, bath or living area
- Hallways and stairs are dim at night
- You want dimming or smart control by scene
Why a planned layout matters
The difference between recessed lighting that looks custom and lighting that looks like a ceiling full of holes is the layout. Too few lights leave dark patches; too many in a grid make a room feel like an office; lights placed too close to a wall create harsh scallops. Spacing, beam angle, color temperature and dimming all matter, and so does what is above the ceiling. We plan around joists, ducts and insulation so the lights land exactly where they should.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How we plan and install recessed lighting
Layout for the room, not a template
We plan spacing from ceiling height, room use and furniture placement, add task light where you need it and keep lights clear of walls and cabinets to avoid hot spots and shadows.
Choose color and output
We help you pick a color temperature (warm white is popular in living spaces, slightly cooler in kitchens and baths) and a brightness that matches the room, and keep it consistent throughout the space.
Clean installation in existing ceilings
Using wafer fixtures and careful fishing of wire through the attic or ceiling cavities, we install in finished ceilings with small, clean cutouts and minimal patching.
Dimmers and controls
We pair the lights with compatible LED dimmers or smart switches so they dim smoothly without flicker or buzz, and can group them into scenes.
Recessed lighting options compared
LED wafer lights
Best for most retrofits. Thin, efficient, insulation-contact rated and fast to install in existing ceilings.
Housing with trim
Best for new construction and open ceilings, and when you want interchangeable or adjustable trims.
Adjustable or gimbal lights
Best for highlighting art, fireplaces, built-ins or sloped ceilings where light needs to be aimed.
LED retrofit of existing cans
Best when your existing housings are in good condition and well placed: modern light without new holes.
Choosing color temperature and brightness
Color temperature, measured in kelvin, sets the mood. Around 2700K is a warm, incandescent-like white that suits living rooms and bedrooms; 3000K is a slightly crisper warm white popular in kitchens and open living areas; 3500K to 4000K is a neutral white that some homeowners prefer in kitchens, baths, garages and workspaces. Many LED fixtures today are color selectable, so you can choose on installation day.
Look for a high color rendering index (CRI 90 or above) so food, finishes and skin tones look natural. Brightness depends on ceiling height and the room: kitchens and work areas need more light than a bedroom, which is why we put most recessed lighting on dimmers.
Recessed lighting and California's Title 24
California's energy code requires high-efficacy lighting in homes, and recessed fixtures must meet specific requirements, including approved light sources and airtight, insulation-contact construction where they penetrate an insulated ceiling. Dimmers or vacancy sensors are required in some rooms. Modern LED wafer lights are designed to meet these rules.
When the work is part of a remodel or addition that needs a permit, we make sure the lighting passes inspection the first time, so you are not replacing fixtures to satisfy an inspector.
What affects the cost of recessed lighting
The main factors are the number of lights, the type of fixture and trim, whether we are working in a finished ceiling or during construction, attic access and ceiling height, the type of dimmers or smart controls, and whether a new circuit is needed to carry the added lighting. A single-story home with good attic access is simpler than a second floor with no access above. We give you a free estimate with a clear count and layout before any work begins.
How it works with ASL Electric
We look at the room, the ceiling and the attic, and plan how many lights you need and where they should go.
You approve the layout, fixtures, controls and price before work begins.
We install the lights and dimmers, test every fixture, and clean up so the room is ready to use the same day.
Recessed Lighting Installation across Orange County
Recessed lighting is one of the most requested upgrades in Orange County's 1970s and 1980s homes. In Irvine, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Laguna Niguel, many homes were built with a single ceiling light or none at all in living rooms and bedrooms, and replacing that with dimmable LED recessed lighting transforms the space. Customers in Mission Viejo and Huntington Beach have had us add recessed lights to living areas and even bedroom closets with a new switch.
On newer homes in Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo and Irvine's newer villages, the request is usually about adding more light, converting older cans to LED, or putting the lighting on smart controls. Whatever the age of the house, we plan the layout around what is above the ceiling, use insulation-contact rated fixtures, and leave clean ceilings behind.