How to Replace Recessed Light With a Ceiling Fixture

Turn off the power to the circuit you'll be working on at the home's circuit breaker panel.

Pull off the trim ring at the intersection of the ceiling and the recessed light. Remove the bulb from the light.

Loosen and remove the screws on the interior of the light fixture that fasten the light to the ceiling joist. Pull the light fixture down out of the ceiling. Loosen and remove the wire nuts connecting the home wiring to the wiring of the light fixture. Place the recessed light fixture aside for disposal or recycling.

Route the home wiring through one of the openings in the side of your light fixture box. Place the box in the ceiling opening, with the open end level with the ceiling. Screw the box into the ceiling joist.

Secure the new lighting fixture's mounting hardware to the light fixture box. Match the bare ends of the home wiring to the bare ends of the light fixture wiring. Match black to black, white to white, and green to green. Slide a wire nut over each of the pairs and twist until the wire nuts are tight.

Slide the light fixture base onto the mounting hardware attached to the light fixture box. Secure the light with the provided thumbscrews. Place a bulb in the light fixture and turn the power back on.