One of the best things about can lights is that they’re nearly flush with the ceiling and don’t take up visual space. This is particularly helpful in rooms that need a lot of lights, where numerous conventional fixtures would clutter the ceiling.
Can lights are essentially for downlighting. They shine straight down or off to one side. This is great in some situations but not so great in others. By contrast, many standard fixtures light upward and outward, brightening the ceiling and creating an ambient glow. There’s a surprising amount of light that reflects off of a painted ceiling. Keep this in mind when considering recessed lights versus other types. One of the worst places to use can lights is over a bathroom mirror; the closer you get to the mirror the more it lights the top of your head instead of your face.