March 29, 2025

There’s nothing quite like ending the day with a good book, especially when you’re curled up in bed next to the one you love. For my wife and me, this evening ritual of reading together has become one of our favorite ways to wind down. However, the lighting situation in our bedroom wasn’t ideal. We had a small bedside lamp on one side of the bed, but they didn’t quite cut it — the lighting was uneven, the shadows were annoying, and honestly, it just wasn’t as cozy as we wanted.

So, I decided to take on a little weekend project: adding two recessed lights in the ceiling above our bed. Not only would this provide better lighting for our evening reads, but I also wanted them dimmable to adjust the ambiance as needed. The final result exceeded our expectations — and now I want to walk you through exactly how I did it.

If you’ve been considering a similar upgrade, read on. I’ll take you through the full process, from planning and layout to the final installation.

Step 1: Planning the Project

Before I ever touched a tool, I started with a clear vision: two recessed lights, centered over our bed, aimed directly at where our books would be when we read. That meant I had to carefully plan their placement for functionality and aesthetics. I wanted the lights symmetrical and spaced just right to avoid hot spots or dark patches.

I also had to be mindful of the ceiling structure. In our home, the ceiling above our bedroom is directly beneath the attic, which has blown-in insulation. That meant I needed to use IC-rated recessed lighting cans, which are designed to safely operate in insulated ceilings without the risk of overheating.

Another important factor was where to run the wiring. I wanted the switch conveniently located near the door with the other switches. Luckily, there was an existing double-gang electrical box with one opening from my ceiling fan installation years ago. My plan was to tap into this box and install a dimmer switch to control the new recessed lights.

Step 2: Locating the Ceiling Joists

One of the first physical tasks was to figure out where the ceiling joists (roof trusses) ran. It’s crucial to avoid cutting into them when installing recessed light housings.

To find them, I was hoping to use my stud finder but it did not work well with the textured ceiling. It does work well with smooth walls. So I had to go old school here and knock on the ceiling and try to determine where it sounded hollow (between joists) and where it sounded solid (joists). I took painter's tape and them out making sure they were 16" OC. Next I drilled a small exploratory hole and put a long wire with a flag attached. From there I went up in the attic and found the flag under all the blown insulation. I was about 1" off on my knocking technique. I rearranged all my tape on the ceiling below to match what I discovered above in the attic.

This was an important step, not just to avoid the joists themselves but to ensure I had enough space between them to place my can lights without interference.

Step 3: Determining the Layout for the Lights

Once I had the joist locations marked, I measured the width of our bed and centered everything from there. My goal was to install one recessed light above each person’s side of the bed — centered approximately where our heads and books would be while reading.

After a few measurements and mock-ups with painter’s tape on the ceiling, I settled on the spacing that I was happy with and each light 16 inches from the headboard wall. This layout gave us great coverage without over-lighting the area.

I double-checked the planned locations to make sure they were between joists — not too close to either side — and I marked the center point for each light.

Step 4: Cutting the Ceiling Openings

With the layout finalized, I grabbed my drywall saw and cut two clean, round holes in the ceiling at the marked locations. I used the template provided with the recessed light housings to ensure an exact fit.

If you’re doing this yourself, take your time with this step. You don’t want to make a mistake here — a misaligned or oversized hole is tough to fix once the drywall is cut.

As I cut through the ceiling drywall, some insulation naturally dropped down through the holes, so I had a vacuum and trash bag ready.

Step 5: Choosing the Right Recessed Light Cans

Because we have blown-in insulation in our attic, I selected IC-rated, airtight recessed cans. IC (Insulation Contact) rating ensures that the fixture won’t overheat even if insulation surrounds it. The airtight rating helps prevent warm air from leaking into the attic — an added bonus for energy efficiency.

I went with 6-inch LED-compatible housings that are low-profile and designed for retrofit installs. These were perfect because they could be wired and slipped into place from below, without needing full attic access.

Step 6: Wiring the Lights in Series

In the room, I wired each one by connecting the black, white, and ground wires from one fixture to the next. I used wire nuts and electrical tape for extra security, then pushed the wiring neatly into the junction box in each can. Once I had the cans wired in series I placed them in the ceiling and secured them. Then I went up into attic and ran a longer stretch of wire from the second light over to the wall where the existing electrical box was located.

Step 7: Running the Wire to the Wall and Down to the Switch

This part took some patience and some help from my wife.

From the attic, I knew I already had a hole in the top plates above the electrical box. I fished the wire down into the wall cavity and my wife pulled it through the open section of the double-gang box.

I already had a regular switch and an outlet in that box, but there was enough space to install a dimmer switch for the new recessed lights. I made sure the dimmer was LED-compatible, so the lights would operate without flicker or buzz.

Step 8: Installing the Dimmer Switch

With the wire pulled through, I connected it to the new dimmer switch. I wired the hot and neutral leads properly, grounded everything securely, and screwed the switch into the box.

I replaced the old faceplate with a new one that fit the two elements — old switch, and the new dimmer — and turned the power back on at the breaker.

Moment of truth: I flipped the dimmer switch on and — boom! — the recessed lights lit up the space just the way I imagined. Smooth, even lighting that could be bright for focused reading or dimmed for a relaxing wind-down.

Step 9: Final Assembly and Trim

Once everything was working correctly, I went back and secured the recessed cans in the ceiling using the clips provided. Then I attached the trim and LED inserts.

I opted for warm white 2700K LEDs, which gave the room a cozy, inviting glow — perfect for a bedroom.

The slim, modern trim on the fixtures blended beautifully with the ceiling and didn’t draw attention. It was the kind of upgrade that looked like it had always been there.

Step 10: Enjoying the Results

That night, my wife and I each grabbed our books, flipped on the dimmer, and cozied up under the new lights. What a difference! The recessed lights created focused pools of soft light directly where we needed them — no glare, no awkward shadows, just a warm glow that made reading in bed more enjoyable than ever.

The dimmer allows us to adjust the brightness depending on our mood — high when we’re alert and engaged in a gripping novel, low when we’re winding down with some light reading.

It’s amazing how such a small project — a couple of lights and a dimmer — can completely transform how a room feels and functions.

Final Thoughts

If you love reading in bed but feel your current lighting just isn’t cutting it, adding recessed lights might be the perfect solution. It’s a DIY-friendly project if you’re comfortable with basic electrical work, and it offers a big return in comfort and enjoyment.

Here are a few quick takeaways from my project:

• Plan carefully. Measure everything twice and check joist placement before cutting.

• Use IC-rated lights if you have attic insulation.

• Install a dimmer to make the lighting more versatile and cozy.

• Work safely. Always shut off power at the breaker and follow electrical codes.

Now, every night ends with the flip of a switch, a cozy pool of light, and a good book in hand — just the way it should be.