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Recessed and surface-mounted ceiling lights

With recessed ceiling lights, the fixture is installed directly into the ceiling—for example, in cavities or false ceilings—so that most of the light fixture is no longer visible and, if possible, it sits flush with the ceiling. Surface-mounted ceiling lights, on the other hand, are mounted on the ceiling rather than inside it, making the light fixture visible. However, this visibility is often desirable for architectural reasons, as the fixture itself contributes to the room’s aesthetic. A surface-mounted fixture is usually chosen for retrofit installations, as it does not require a recess in the ceiling and is therefore much easier to install. Recessed ceiling lights, on the other hand, require at least one such recess—if not a suspended ceiling—which makes retrofitting very complicated.  If you want a nearly invisible light fixture without major installation effort—whether you live in a rental apartment or own a home or commercial space that’s already built—a very flat surface-mounted ceiling light is recommended. Thanks to modern LED technology, precisely such flat designs are now possible, making a surface-mounted ceiling light appear just like a recessed ceiling light.

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