How To Update Old Recessed Lights To LED | Thrifty Decor Chick

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How to Update Old {and Yellowed} Recessed Lights to LED

September 28, 2023

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A tutorial on how to easily change your energy sucking recessed lights with LED versions!

When we were having some electrical work done for the wall of basement built ins years ago, the electrician noted how many recessed lights we have in the basement -- a ton! He recommended looking into replacing the standard can lights with an LED version that would save a us a lot of money. He told us it was easy to change them out, so I started doing some research. It's a quick change and you don't need any electrical experience!

Turning off your lights at the breaker is all the electrical knowledge you'll need.

Even though we have plenty of light down in the basement, my photos were usually dark. You can see how grainy the wall and ceiling are in this "before" photo I took: While I worked on that build I started changing out these recessed lights -- what a difference!: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. See my policies and disclosure page for more information. I found my LED lights at Lowe's, but you can find them at any hardware store or online. I'll share links for a few versions at the end of the post: You'll want to look for this specific version that has the base that you screw in like a light bulb. Any other version that requires changing out the can part of the light takes electrical know how and isn't really necessary. We loved that you can change the warmth of the lights with these: You have to pick what warmth you want before installing, but it's very easy to change them to a different "color" after they are in the ceiling. Before you start, if you have the adjustable option, decide on the warmth you want first. Well, you may want to install one and see how it looks to decide. But after picking, I highly recommend going through the lights before installation and moving them to the light and kelvin option you want. Otherwise you'll forget and turn them all on and only one will be right. Speaking from experience. ;) Soft white is the most "yellow" or warmest version, and the least bright. Cool daylight is a more white look and much brighter.

I prefer the daylight options for bathrooms or spaces without natural light, and the warm or soft light for living spaces.

Mine came with a bracket that didn't work for our fixtures, so I had to remove them: And replace them with the wire clips that come with the lights: See how I have the clips pulled all the way out? Our ceiling holes are six inches. For five inches you want to install them closer to the fixture. (All of the instructions are included!) Smaller options are available as well. That's the only prep to get them ready for installation! To replace your old fixtures, first TURN OFF THE POWER at the breaker box. This process is almost as easy as replacing a light bulb, but you will be up inside the fixture where there are wires. Always better safe than sorry. Remove the light bulb and then just pull down on the metal trim: Grab the metal clips and squeeze to remove them from the ceiling fixture: Then grab the part where the bulb screws in and squeeze the two metal brackets on the side to remove it from the metal can: Now you're ready to install the new one! Take your LED light and screw it into the fixture that is already wired...like a light bulb: Grab the metal clips and squeeze them into the brackets inside the ceiling fixture: Make sure the wires are tucked in above the fixture and then push it up into the ceiling. That's it! Attaching the new light with the metal clips is the hardest part, and even that isn't bad. I found it helpful to wear rubber garden gloves when I was installing a bunch of cans at a time. These lights aren't just money savers, they look much better (in my opinion) than the standard recessed trim kit. The new ones don't create a dark hole in the ceiling when the lights are off: You can get LED can lights that are completely flush with the ceiling as well. I've replaced all of the recessed lights in our house -- and it was a lot! But once you get the hang of it, it only takes a couple of minutes each. It's hard to capture the huge difference in photos, especially if you are keeping the warmth at a softer level like the originals. The LED versions have 70 more lumens than the incandescent bulbs we had before. So at the very least, even at the warmest light, they are still brighter! Here's the before: And here's the after!: I used the warm white setting and it's much brighter and way less yellow! I've talked about changing your bulbs to daylight versions in some rooms for years now. The slightly cooler lights take all of the yellow out of the space and let you see the real colors in the room! Here's another view before: And after -- see how the lights wash the walls with more light?: You can't beat it -- brighter, cleaner light for less money!

• In general, I prefer the warmer tones in living spaces and bedrooms. But in rooms with no windows or very little (like a basement) I always go with the cooler lights. Bathrooms are the perfect place for daylight or cooler bulbs -- you'll see what your makeup TRULY looks like!
• Depending on how many bulbs and what warmth you use, you may want to consider adding a dimmer switch as well. If you go with a cooler tone it can be really bright!
• The metal trim on the standard recessed lights tends to yellow over time. I've heard that's due to the high heat from recessed bulbs. LED bulbs will cool down rooms with can lights, especially if you use halogen bulbs before!
• Overall these save a ton of money -- our electrical bill dropped by $70 and I'm not even done replacing them all. We'll make up the cost of the new fixtures in just a few months!

Have you changed out your old recessed can lights with brighter, energy saving LED versions? I've finally embraced the LED -- I used to hoard incandescent bulbs. 😂 Now I appreciate how far the LED options have come! Here are a few LED can light options. You'll save money by buying a set:

• The same set we used with adjustable warmth
• Our version in the 2700K warm light
• These are adjustable and the set of 12 comes to only $5 each!
• If you have a ton to replace, this large set is adjustable and very affordable.

Read more about replacing incandescent bulbs with daylight versions here: Did you know you can easily change out a recessed light to hang a pendant?: See more of our home and shop items in each room here.Never miss a post by signing up to get posts via email.

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September 28, 2023 before and after lighting solutions

Comments

1. SaraMay 4, 2021 at 4:54 PM

   Hi! Our electrician recommended these earlier this year and wow, what a difference! So easy to change out and they look so much cleaner. We have a lot of recessed lights so I still have a ways to go to replace them all, but it's on the list.

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2. SarahMay 4, 2021 at 11:54 PM

   Hi! This is probably a dumb question but why can’t you just screw in LED lightbulbs instead? I feel like I’m missing something. As the lightbulbs in our recessed lights burn out, we have just added a LED bulb as a replacement. They don’t dim well but other than that they seem fine. Just curious as I’m wondering if we’ve done something wrong by not swapping out the whole kit. Thanks!

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   1. Thrifty Decor ChickMay 5, 2021 at 1:50 PM

      Oh you can! Not a dumb question at all. The bulbs just don't last nearly as long as these, and if you compare the cost these are a better deal (considering how long they last). A lot of people find them more aesthetically pleasing. And these dim beautifully!

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   2. AnonymousMay 10, 2021 at 11:36 PM

      Mainly aesthetics. these kits look so much better, also they last longer. some of the cheap LED bulbs aren't worth the cost of the box they come in. The adjustability of the kits is really nice too. Threading in an LED bulb into a down light that was never intended to have one in the first place is really the wrong approach. a new LED assembly which was designed to be LED is the smart choice

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3. NadineMay 5, 2021 at 6:39 AM

   You've never shown your loft before. Very nice. That's the very first thing we did in our new to us house was change every light to LED. I prefer brighter than the sun's surface everywhere. It really helps with keeping the house clean since I can see everything.

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4. Elizabeth WMay 5, 2021 at 9:17 AM

   Ohhhh! I see a new project in my future!!! Cute "Nook" space!

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5. AnonymousMay 5, 2021 at 1:12 PM

   Hi, A quick question. How do we replace these LEDs in the future? Follow the same process? Thanks.

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   1. Thrifty Decor ChickMay 5, 2021 at 1:43 PM

      They last for 35,000 hours, so for decades! You would need to replace the fixture after that.

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   2. AnonymousMay 10, 2021 at 11:38 PM

      Yes, however... doubtful that you will ever need to. These should last well over 20 years. Maybe longer...

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6. AnonymousMay 6, 2021 at 8:12 AM

   We've been replacing our cans with the CREE retrofit kit like these from Amazon. LOVE them too! They are also physically cooler. Our studio room used to get SO HOT with all the lights on, but now we can run them all and it doesn't get over heated. Very nice!

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7. MegMay 6, 2021 at 4:12 PM

   I didn't retrofit my pot lights, but I did change them to LED bulbs. I've changed a lot of my house lights to LEDs. We've had a few duds where we had to replace bulbs well before 35k hours, but mostly it's been a lot better.

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8. MrsSWJuly 23, 2021 at 5:47 PM

   We switched out our lights just after reading your article - still have one to replace over a staircase. What a great update. Thanks,Sheila

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9. UnknownOctober 7, 2021 at 2:47 PM

   What color is your basement?

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   1. Thrifty Decor ChickOctober 10, 2021 at 11:46 AM

      Westchester Gray

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10. Will "The anti-LED" Grump"January 19, 2024 at 3:00 PM

    They're replacing the recessed lights in my NYC apartment (in the hallways, bathrooms and kitchen) with the LED lights and I am distraught. I do NOT like the new lights, even on what the building repairman said was the warmest setting. Is there something, anything I can do to make it look more like the halogen lighting we had before? He's going to make sure we have a good dimmer (which I will use to dim it as LOW as possible). He's finishing it all tomorrow, and I feel like I'm going to have to go through a mourning period, lol. I'm the type that bought a 5-year supply of 60 Watt incandescent bulbs a while ago when I heard they were going to ban them. Any thoughts on how I can better adjust, or make the space more cozy?

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    1. AnonymousFebruary 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM

       Agreed, and the warmest light is the 2700K. I've decided I just need to get used to the look and feel of the LED's.

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11. MeganFebruary 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM

    Love the How-to! How have your lights aged? Are they still going strong?

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    1. Thrifty Decor ChickFebruary 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM

       Thank you! They still look like new!

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If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here! You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site. THANKS so much for reading!

Hi! I'm Sarah, and I love sharing simple, inexpensive ways to decorate your home.

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