Canopy lighting, both surface mounted and recessed canopy lighting, is popular and has many applications. You can often see canopy lights in parking garages, gas stations or bus stations, but they are also used in residential areas (above porches, decks etc. and even indoors).
The trend in canopy lighting fixtures was to make them smaller and smaller, directing the focus on the lighting effect instead of the light source itself.
You can choose from surface-mounted or recessed lights:
- Surface mounted canopy lights are installed directly on top of the surface (wall, ceiling) you are mounting them to. This is considered the easiest mounting option and it is also waterproof. These safety features, often combined with low-voltage lights, make this option very popular especially for outdoor use.
- Recessed led canopy lights are set in the wall or mounting surface. They can create a beautiful decor, placing the focus on the light rather than the fixture. They can be used when you want to set a specific mood or emphasize specific details in the surrounding area. However, it is important to keep in mind that they aren’t waterproof, so they might not be a good fit for single-layer canopies as there would be a risk of leaks.
As you can see, the right choice really depends on your needs. If you are worried about rain and leaks, surface-mounted lights should be your best choice. If protection from the weather isn’t an issue (e.g. you have a double-layer canopy for instance) and you want to emphasize the décor and not the fixture, you might want to consider recessed lights.