Can lighting be installed in tall ceilings w/o go thru attic?

Scu12155364
by Scu12155364
My ceilings in living room, master suite, & family rooms are very high; rooms are dark, I need lighting in ceilings. Do I have to go thru the attic, or do they have lighting options that don't require an electrician going up into the attic to install them? I'm trying to remodel entire home via DIY but I am a lady that doesn't know how to install ceiling lights. What are lighting options? I thought I saw an HGTV show once that installed lights from the inside of the house; drilled hole, installed lighting, much like offices have today in ceilings. Thank you in advance for your assistance!

  8 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 27, 2018

    We dug a tiny trench in the ceiling and ran wire to a ceiling fan. After installation was complete filled the trench in and painted the ceiling color.

  • Dee Dee on Jun 27, 2018

    Built-in recessed ceiling fixtures can add substantial light to a room, but it is important to remember that all light is directed downward. In the absence of enough wall and furniture-scale lighting in a room, the contrast between light spots and bare ceiling can create a spotty effect. Spacing recessed fixtures evenly over the whole ceiling and close enough to walls to add to their illumination can help prevent shadows and unevenness.

    That being said Remodelhaulic has a great tutorial without going into the attic. www.remodelaholic.com/install-recessed-lights-without-attic-access/

    • Scu12155364 Scu12155364 on Jun 28, 2018

      Thank you so much! I will check out the link and i am so grateful for your helpful insights. Thank you.

  • Dee Dee on Jun 27, 2018

    All of the above is great but I think you need to hire an electrician.

  • Lina Splichal Lina Splichal on Jun 27, 2018

    You can run your wires across your ceiling to where you want to place your light fixture and cover them with wire channels. We put a ceiling fixture in our family room that we never use. We use a table lamp the most, and secondarily dimmable wall sconces. You might like strip lights lower on your walls instead of actually on your ceilings, which is what we did in my craft room and son's bedroom.

  • Scu12155364 Scu12155364 on Jun 28, 2018

    Yeah I was considering the strip lights for the family room and I've seen them with different directions and some with remote to shift the lighting... very cool ideas! I think for the extremely tall formal living room, I'll have to do the recessed lighting. I think they remind me of what we have at my office where I work, and we have very, very tall ceilings like I do in half of my entire home.

    Thank you, everyone for your ideas. I'm going to probably incorporate everyone's ideas so far and yes, I will need an electrician for this project. I just wanted to do my homework so I don't get "snowed" into work that is not necessary, nor is an over my budget options for lighting. Thank you for helpful information and ideas.

  • Kathy Rycroft Kathy Rycroft on Jun 28, 2018

    Swag lighting can look cool if done right.


    • Scu12155364 Scu12155364 on Jun 28, 2018

      Thank you, Kathy! I did happen to do that for my formal dining room - the ceiling is very high up so a beautiful chandelier (swagged to the center of the dining room/dining table) to fit... it's beautiful and I especially love the dimmer slider!

  • Scu12155364 Scu12155364 on Jun 28, 2018

    So now that I have incorporated everyone's helpful ideas, I think I know what to do and I feel good knowing I can have an electrician install everything I want done. Problem resolved & Mission accomplished (soon)! Thank you everyone!

  • Dee Dee on Jun 28, 2018

    Your welcome