Lighting is an important part of any room, and the type of lighting you choose for an area can help create the mood and feel you are going for in that particular space. Recessed lights are functional but do not provide a lot of style or visual appeal. Brooke and I wanted to add some character and sophistication to our downstairs hallway, so we decided to convert our recessed lights to flush mounts. If you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily update the look of your space without breaking the bank, consider converting those recessed lights to flush mounts or pendant lights that will add something more to the area. This guide will walk you through the steps required to convert a recessed light to a flush mount light with minimal effort.
Tools You Will Need
Before we get started, let me run down the list of tools I used for this project. You’ll need a flathead screwdriver, wire cutters, electrical tape, and, most importantly, a recessed lighting converter kit.
This kit made it so easy to change our recessed lighting into flush mounts. It adjusts to fit any recessed can light from 4 to 6 inches. The recessed light converter includes a pigtail, a bag of screws, a patented brace, and a decorative medallion if you need it.
Removing the Old Fixture
Once you have all of your tools and supplies ready to go, it is time to remove your old fixture from the ceiling. Begin by turning off the power at the circuit breaker or fuse box. This is very important because you don’t want to get zapped during the installation.
If your recessed light uses a regular bulb. Go ahead and unscrew that first.
Most recessed trims snap into place. So you’ll need to use a flathead screwdriver to gently pull the trim down far enough to get your finger over the top of it. Then pull it all the way down. Once it is out from the ceiling box, upi can set it aside. If it’s an LED trim, you will need to unscrew it from the socket once you have pulled it down.
Install the Kit to Convert Recessed Light to Flush Mount
Now you are all ready to start using your converter kit. As I mentioned above, the converter kit comes with a trim medallion since more recessed light cans are bigger than most pendant and semi-flush mount plates. We don’t like the look of the medallion, so we chose a flush mount that was big enough to cover the recessed can.
To Install the converter kit, simply follow the instructions provided.
Installing the New Fixture
Now that you have the converter kit installed, you can start installing the flush mount or pendant light. Connect the wires for the new fixture to those coming from the converter kit.
Do so according to their color codes. Once all wires are correctly connected with wire nuts, use electrical tape around each connection point for added safety precautions before securing the new light fixture to the converter kit. Finally, turn the power back on at the circuit breaker box and enjoy your newly installed flush mount light!
Final Thoughts
Converting a recessed light into a flush mount light can be an affordable way to instantly update any room without having to do extensive renovations or remodeling projects. As long as you have all of the necessary tools and supplies on hand beforehand, it is actually quite a simple process that anyone can accomplish in just a few hours!
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