Recessed lighting installation in Austin, TX
Even, glare-free light overhead starts with the right layout and the right housing for your ceiling. We plan the spacing, choose the correct can or canless fixture, and give you a flat-rate price before any holes are cut.
Recessed lighting installs LED downlights into the ceiling for clean, even light without a fixture hanging below the surface. The job has two parts that matter: the layout, which is the spacing and placement that keeps light even and off the walls, and the housing, which is the can or canless unit sized and rated for your specific ceiling. We walk the room, mark a layout, confirm whether your ceiling needs new-work or old-work housings and whether they must be IC-rated and airtight, then quote a flat-rate price before we start.
This is the right call if:
- A room feels dark or shadowed even with lamps, and you want clean overhead light that disappears into the ceiling.
- You are remodeling, opening up a kitchen or living area, or updating a dated or popcorn ceiling.
- Your downlights buzz, flicker or will not dim smoothly on an LED dimmer.
- You need a shower or wet-area downlight that is actually rated for moisture.
- Old recessed cans run hot, show heat stains, or sit against attic insulation without the right rating.
- You want warmer or cooler light than the harsh bluish downlights you have now.
Recessed lighting options
Canless LED recessed downlights
Canless fixtures are a thin LED housing that mounts directly to the ceiling through a small hole, with the driver tucked into the cavity. They are our go-to for retrofits and tight or insulated ceilings because they install clean, run cool, and come IC-rated and airtight in one unit. Many offer a selectable color temperature switch so you can dial the light warmer or cooler.
Can downlights with baffle or reflector trims
Traditional can housings hold an LED module behind a trim you choose for the room. A baffle trim uses a ribbed black or white interior to soak up glare in living areas and bedrooms, while a reflector trim pushes more light down for kitchens, baths and work areas. We match the trim to how you use the room instead of defaulting to one look everywhere.
New-work installs during remodels
When the ceiling is open or being redone, new-work housings nail or bracket to the joists before the drywall goes up, which gives the cleanest result and the most placement freedom. This is the ideal time to run the wiring, set the layout right, and plan dimming for an open-concept kitchen or living space.
Old-work retrofit into finished ceilings
In a finished ceiling we use old-work housings or canless units that clip into a cut hole with no need to open the drywall. It is the standard approach for adding downlights to an existing room or swapping dated cans, and we keep the cuts clean and patch-free.
Wet-rated and shower downlights
Showers, tubs and covered patios need a downlight rated for moisture, not a standard dry-location trim. We install wet-rated or damp-rated fixtures with a sealed lens so the light holds up to steam and splash and stays safe in the space.
What waiting can cost you
The wrong rating against insulation is a fire risk
A non-IC can pressed against attic insulation can overheat. In insulated ceilings the housing must be IC-rated, and airtight housings also stop conditioned air from leaking into the attic, which matters in Central Texas summers.
A bad layout wastes the whole install
Cans placed too far apart leave dark gaps, too close creates hot spots, and lights set wrong relative to the walls scallop them unevenly. Spacing has to be planned to the ceiling height and room, not eyeballed, or you live with uneven light.
Mismatched dimmers cause flicker and buzz
LED downlights need a dimmer rated for their load and driver type. The wrong dimmer causes flicker, buzz, a limited dimming range or lights that will not turn fully off, and it can shorten the life of the fixture.
Our process
- 01
Walk the room and mark a layout
We measure the ceiling, account for its height and the room's use, and mark the downlight positions for even spacing before anything is cut.
- 02
Match housing, trim and color temperature
We confirm new-work or old-work housings, whether they need to be IC-rated and airtight, and we help you pick baffle or reflector trims and the color temperature that fits the space.
- 03
Flat-rate price before we start
You get a clear written price for the layout, the fixtures and the dimming, with any patching or permit needs spelled out, all approved before we begin.
- 04
Install and wire the downlights
We cut cleanly, set the housings or canless units, run and connect the wiring, and install dimmers that are rated to match the LED load for smooth, quiet control.
- 05
Aim, test and verify
We power up, check that spacing and brightness read evenly, test the full dimming range for flicker and buzz, and confirm every light behaves before we clean up.
What is included
Every recessed lighting job from Magnify Electric includes the same standards, start to finish.
- A planned layout sized to your ceiling height and room so the light lands evenly.
- The correct housing for your ceiling, IC-rated and airtight where the ceiling is insulated.
- Baffle or reflector trims chosen for how you actually use each room.
- A color temperature set to the look you want, warm, neutral or selectable.
- An LED-rated dimmer matched to the fixture load for flicker-free, quiet dimming.
- Clean cuts and tidy work in finished ceilings, with a complimentary 54-point safety inspection.
- A walkthrough of the controls and what changed, plus cleanup when we finish.
Cost factors
We give you a flat-rate price after we see the job. These are the things that move that number up or down.
Number of lights and the layout
How many downlights the room needs for even coverage is the biggest driver. We size the count to the ceiling and the space rather than padding the plan.
New-work vs. old-work access
Open ceilings during a remodel are faster to wire, while retrofitting into a finished ceiling with insulation above takes more care. The ceiling type shapes the labor.
Fixture, trim and dimming choices
Canless units, specific trims, wet-rated shower fixtures and smart-ready dimming each carry different costs. We price each option separately so you can weigh the look against the budget.
We add recessed lighting to 1970s and 1980s homes around Lakeway and Westlake with dated or popcorn ceilings, retrofit downlights into finished rooms without tearing up the drywall, and plan fresh layouts for open-concept remodels and new builds in Leander, Liberty Hill and the Lake Travis communities where high and insulated ceilings need the right rated housings.
Rated by Central Texas homeowners
Real reviews from our Google Business Profile, in our customers' own words.
Chris and Caden did an amazing job installing my EV charger and helped assist me with other electrical questions I had around my house!! Very professional and kind. I highly recommend them!
Chris and Caden did a great job of installing a dedicated circuit and outlet for us. They were very thorough in checking out the existing circuit outlets and also patient with explaining everything before starting. I appreciated especially the quality of their work, their professionalism, and their willingness to throw in extra work where they saw fit at no charge. In short, I couldn’t be happier about the job they did.
Chris and Caden were awesome - they installed an entire new main panel and a new subpanel very effectively. We knew exactly what to expect at every step in the process, and now everything is up to code! If we need any additional electrical work, we will absolutely call Magnify Electric.
Trayvon is such a professional. He answers any and all questions. Does an amazing job in whatever is needed, and you’d never even know he had been here as he tidies up impeccably. He is our family’s electrician. I’d give 10 stars if able!
Felt lucky to have found Magnify Electric. Christian fixed the issue we were having with our hardwired smoke alarms, installed a whole-house surge protector, and fixed a longstanding light switch issue. He did everything with excellence and efficiency. He did a great job of communicating throughout the process. Thanks so much!
Showed as scheduled. Had to coordinate with PEC and everything went very smoothly. Christian was very professional and completed the job quickly. Very satisfied with the results. I would recommend them to do any electrical work in my home.
Recessed lighting questions, answered
How many recessed lights does my room need?
It depends on the ceiling height, the size of the room and how you use it, not a fixed rule. We walk the space and mark a layout with spacing that keeps the light even, so you avoid dark gaps and harsh hot spots. You see the plan before anything is cut.
Can you add recessed lighting without tearing up my ceiling?
Yes. In a finished ceiling we use old-work housings or canless units that clip into a small, clean-cut hole with no need to open the drywall. We keep the cuts neat and patch-free, which is the standard way to add downlights to an existing room or replace dated cans.
What is the difference between can and canless recessed lights?
A can light uses a housing in the ceiling that holds a separate LED module and trim. Canless lights are a slim LED unit that mounts straight to the ceiling with the driver in the cavity, so they run cool, install clean and often come IC-rated and airtight in one piece. For most retrofits and insulated ceilings we lean canless, but we match the choice to your ceiling.
Can you update a popcorn or dated ceiling with recessed lights?
Yes, and it is one of the most common upgrades we do in older Hill Country homes. We plan a layout that modernizes the room, use retrofit housings where the ceiling stays in place, and coordinate with your remodel if the ceiling is being redone. The result is clean, even light with no dated fixtures hanging down.
Why do my recessed LED lights flicker or buzz when I dim them?
That is almost always a dimmer that is not matched to the LED fixtures. LED downlights need a dimmer rated for their load and driver type, and the wrong one causes flicker, buzz or a light that will not turn fully off. We install a dimmer matched to the fixtures and test the full range so it dims smoothly and quietly.
Can I pick how warm or cool the light looks?
Yes. We help you choose a color temperature, from a warm, cozy tone for living areas and bedrooms to a crisper, neutral light for kitchens and work spaces. Many canless fixtures include a selectable switch so the temperature can be set at install or changed later.
Can recessed lights go in a shower or bathroom?
Yes, with the right fixture. A shower or tub area needs a wet-rated or damp-rated downlight with a sealed lens, not a standard trim, so it stands up to steam and splash safely. We install the correct rated fixture for each spot in the bath.
Is it safe to put recessed lights in an insulated ceiling?
Yes, as long as the housing is rated for it. In an insulated ceiling the housing must be IC-rated so it can sit near insulation without overheating, and an airtight housing also keeps conditioned air from leaking into the attic. We confirm the ratings your ceiling needs before we install anything.
Licensed, local and upfront
Upfront
Flat-rate repair pricing you approve
Licensed
TECL 29321, Master 269417
Local
Family-owned in Spicewood since 2012
Backed
Work guaranteed and done to code
Serving Austin and the Hill Country
We are based in Spicewood and cover the lake communities, the Hill Country and greater Austin. Find your town below for local details.
Headquarters: 22503 State Highway 71 W, Spicewood, TX 78669
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