how to hide gaps around a ceiling light box

This is easy to do if you have access to the attic. It's a very old house that the ceiling is made out of lath and plaster so it would be too much work to dig a hole to put in a large junction box for the wires.

Put some drywall mud into the bag. By taking these steps, you'll have a nice looking product when finished!

I’m thinking either fiberglass mesh and duct mastic or UL 181 foil tape.I have both of the above, I could buy Great Stuff Fireblock foam but since that still ignites at 240 degrees I doubt that’s the best idea.

Don't use housewrap tape or similar on a lighting fixture box without checking the service temp & ignition temp ranges of both the adhesive & backing. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Others come in brass, antique brass, and other colors that are made to match the ceiling fan or light fixture.

Permanent Covering. You will have to countersink the screws and then fill in the holes and sand it smooth.Lay down a thin bead of caulking around the perimeter of the medallion and then paint it.
Do not apply GREAT STUFF™ foam around heaters, high heat lamps or recessed lighting fixtures, radiators, furnaces or fireplaces where it could contact heat-conducting surfaces. This is quite troubling when the new light fixture fails to cover to the same point, leaving a mismatch of colors by the light.

It is not a recessed light. That said, most weatherization contractors or homeowners would seal this type of air leak with whatever product is handy: for example, canned spray foam or (better) a small piece of high-quality European air sealing tape. If you can't get in the attic, the best option is to cut out a section of drywall large enough to access the box. You may want to paint the medallion before you install it, and then just touch up the screw holes.You can then re-hang your light fixture, but you may need a longer threaded rod to make up for the thickness of the medallion.This project should help your husband preserve his masculinity and you will look like a hero for suggesting it.Because the coronavirus pandemic is keeping many children at home, parents must make online education at home as enjoyable and conducive to learning as possible.Beans, carrots and beets should have been harvest before the weather got hot. Unscrew the wire nuts and separate the wires.The fixture will be held to the ceiling by a mounting bracket that supports the fixture with either a threaded rod or screws. It can be any shape you want, as long as it's large enough to cover the hole. Reinstall the bulb in the recessed light fixture. You can paint both screw-on or spring-loaded cover plates with the same paint you used to paint the ceiling, but it will always remain visible. Reinstall the ceiling fan and wire it back up. be sure that the medallion sits flush and secure to the ceiling and that it indeed covers the area of unlike paint colors.

Apply a bead of caulk around the cutout in the ceiling. I've used fire caulk for all of them, but this last one has a big gap on one side, probably a half inch wide. How to Replace a Wall-Mounted Light Fixture (Sconce)

Caulk won't work, it just falls in. you can also turn on the light switch and leave it on while shutting off the breaker. How to Replace the Electrical Box for Ceiling Light | Homesteady.
Don't worry; large holes in drywall aren't much more difficult to repair than small ones.Rectangular holes are easier to patch than irregular ones, so you must first shape the opening with a drywall saw. Press the trim ring into the caulking. The size you should choose depends on the size of your fixture, the size of the room and the height of your ceiling. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Or is not the right kind that you need for the chosen fixture.

When your remodeling plans call for the elimination of a ceiling light, you have more than one option for patching the hole that it leaves behind.