Use a recessed downlight luminaire designed for compact fluorescent lamps, rather than putting a screwbase compact fluorescent lamp in a downlight designed for an incandescent lamp. Position recessed downlights near important visual tasks. Wall-wash recessed luminaires light a wall evenly. They should be spaced as far from each other as they are from the wall. Wall-wash luminaires mounted closer to the wall than 1 foot 6 inches produce harsh, scalloped patterns of light on the wall.
Manufacturers provide proper mounting positions on product literature.
Manufacturers offer a variety of accessories for recessed downlights. Baffles and trim cones that are deep or dark in color reduce a luminaire's efficiency. A room may contain many recessed downlights. Dimmers installed on incandescent lamps extend the user's ability to set room scenes. Grazing light from recessed downlights installed close to walls accentuates taping and sanding irregularities in the same way as light from architectural luminaires.