Designers Say Recessed Lighting Is ‘Out’—So Why Is It Everywhere?

Interior design trends love a villain, and recessed lighting has played that role more times than most fixtures can count. One year it’s the hallmark of a clean, modern home; the next, it’s dismissed as cold, builder-grade, or unimaginative. And yet—no matter how many times recessed lighting is declared “out”—it never actually leaves. 

In fact, recessed lighting might be the most paradoxical element in interior design: constantly “falling out of style” while simultaneously remaining essential. It’s criticized, rebranded, softened, warmed, hidden, re-aimed, and reintroduced—over and over again. And through every trend cycle, it continues to quietly and perfectly do its job. 

The Trend Cycle Problem 

Design trends move really quickly. One decade worships minimalism, the next romanticizes vintage excess. We swing from glossy white kitchens to moody, layered spaces filled with texture. Lighting trends follow suit. 

Recessed lighting, by contrast, doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn’t trend on Instagram. It doesn’t anchor a room stylistically. And that’s exactly why it keeps surviving trend purges. 

“When designers say recessed lighting is ‘out,’ what they usually mean is that it shouldn’t be the only lighting source,” says architect and interior designer Casey Hannes, who has spent over two decades designing residential and commercial spaces. “But somehow that gets translated into ‘never use it again,’ which is just not how real spaces work.” 

Function Never Goes Out of Style 

Here’s the artistic, inconvenient truth: homes need functional light. I love a good stained-glass sconce as much as the next guy, but their purpose is mostly ornamental. Recessed lighting excels at providing even, unobtrusive light that supports daily life. Cooking, cleaning, reading, working—these moments don’t care what’s trending on design blogs. 

“Every project I’ve ever done had some form of recessed lighting,” Hannes explains. “Even the most traditional homes, even the most vintage-inspired spaces. You can disguise it, soften it, or layer over it—but removing it entirely almost always creates problems.” 

Even When It’s ‘Out,’ It’s Still In 

What’s fascinating is how recessed lighting adapts. When stark white ceilings fell out of favor, recessed fixtures got warmer. When glare became a concern, trims became deeper and more directional. When minimalism softened, recessed lighting learned to disappear entirely—placed strategically, dimmed thoughtfully, and paired with vintage or statement fixtures. 

Ironically, recessed lighting often completes a vintage look rather than detracting from it. Instead of replacing chandeliers or sconces, recessed lighting supports them. It fills in shadows, balances contrast and ensures that a space feels livable.  

The Real Mistake Designers Make 

The issue was never recessed lighting itself. The issue was overuse and poor placement. Rows of harsh downlights, evenly spaced with no thought to furniture or function, earned recessed lighting its bad reputation. 

Modern design thinking has corrected that. Today, recessed lighting is used more intentionally: fewer fixtures, better optics, warmer temperatures, smarter controls. 

A Trend-Proof Truth 

Recessed lighting doesn’t belong to any single style, and that’s why it keeps outliving them all. It’s modern, traditional, transitional, and vintage all at the same time. 

So yes, recessed lighting will fall “out of style” again; but most things do. Designers will swear it off. Headlines will declare its demise. And then—slowly, inevitably—it will return. Slightly redesigned. Slightly renamed. Still recessed. 

Because trends come and go. Function doesn’t.