Kitchen Lighting

 

When designing the lighting for your new home, or when remodeling an existing home, don’t forget about your kitchen lighting. As everyone knows, the kitchen is the center of every home, the place where wonderful meals are prepared and friends and family gather to visit and celebrate each other’s company. And the proper lighting can add to this atmosphere of warmth and companionship.

Since people spend so much time in their kitchens, a well-designed kitchen lighting system can really make this room stand out. Today’s modern kitchens sport expensive appliances, custom cabinets, stone countertops and more. To light such a space with generic, low-contrast lighting fixtures would be like illuminating the Mona Lisa with a flashlight.

If you don't know where to start, you might try your local lighting supply or home improvement store. There are usually trained staff on hand who can assist you in creating a lighting plan for your kitchen. The idea behind a good lighting plan is to create different dimensions in your kitchen. The idea behind having several source of lighting is that each provides a different feel and function to the room.

When choosing fixtures for your kitchen lighting, be aware that there are 4 primary types of fixtures you can use - ambient, accent, decorative and task lighting. Undershelf or undercabinet fixtures offer both accent and task lighting. Task lighting is focused lighting that helps you get your work done in the kitchen (like reading a recipe or slicing vegetables), while accent lighting is more aesthetic and adds contrast and depth to your kitchen.

Recessed Kitchen Lighting.

There are several ways you can use recessed lighting in your kitchen. This first is by using recessed lights as accent lighting. For example, have them configured so that they provide a wash of light across your newly-remodeled cabinets. The other function of recessed lighting in your kitchen would be to illuminate the entire room.

Track Lighting.

Track lighting is another good option for lighting your kitchen. A track system serves basically the same function as recessed lighting, only it gives more flexibility as the track heads can be adjusted as the need arises. These fixtures can provide light above the stove, cabinets, countertops, spice racks and other areas of the kitchen.

Under Counter Lighting.

Under, or below the counter lighting is important for providing task lighting when cutting or preparing food or performing other tasks on your kitchen counters. It also provides light where track or recessed lighting can't. If you make the decision to install under counter lighting, make sure you install it beneath all your cabinets to provide a uniform look to your kitchen.

Ambient Lighting.

Another type of kitchen lighting to consider is ambient lighting. This the naturally-occurring light in a kitchen from windows or skylights. This general lighting can be enhanced by the strategic use of track lights or recessed lights to reduce glare or shadows and give the kitchen a warm, lived-in glow.

Decorative lighting is just that - it adds a decorative touch to your kitchen decor. These fixtures that add life and sparkle to a space, but should also be used in moderation. Nothing’s worse than a busy, cluttered kitchen that makes you wince the moment you walk in.

Whatever kitchen lighting design you decide on, just remember how much time you’ll be spending in the kitchen. Not just meals but memories are created in this room, and a thoughtful and well-illuminated kitchen will add pleasure and value to your home for many years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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