How to Create a Kitchen Lighting Scheme

 

The kitchen is the "heart" of the home, as many people say. Whatever the occasion may be, we always wind up snuggled in this space, whether it's an evening with the family or a get-together with friends. This place nourishes our bodies and souls while also reflecting our style in its own way. It's no surprise that when it comes to modernizing your house or doing a significant redesign, the kitchen is at the top of the priority list.

If you're planning a kitchen remodel, make sure to consider the lighting design and fixtures. Alternatively, if you aren't ready for a complete kitchen renovation, consider updating your lighting for a relatively low cost.

Lighting, like LED flood lights, provide utility, drama and beauty to a room. It's an important part of a great kitchen design! Unfortunately, lighting is often an afterthought in the design phase, despite its importance or is left solely to the electrician or contractor.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the three types of kitchen lighting and the important areas to consider.

Three types of kitchen lighting:

1. Ambient
   This will be your major light source, either in addition to or instead of natural light. You want to cast as much of it as evenly as possible from your ceiling. You can employ chandeliers, pendant lights, recessed lighting and flush mounts, to name a few option
   
   
   
2. Task
   In the kitchen, task lighting is one of the most important (and often underestimated) lighting types. Because the kitchen is really a workroom, make sure you have the correct illumination in the right places so you can work safely. Consider what tasks you perform in the kitchen on a regular basis and where you do them. After that, divide the space into sections, such as cupboards, drawers, countertops, sinks and pathways.
   
   
   
3. Accent
   Consider placing accent lights in strategic locations throughout the kitchen for a unique aesthetic effect. Accent lighting can be utilized to draw attention to architectural or design elements in a space. Lights placed strategically in cupboards or along shelves, for example, might draw attention to display shelves. Accent lighting can be used in a variety of ways with several alternatives that go beyond standard shelving strip lights.
   
   

Key areas to consider for lighting:

1. Kitchen island
   If you plan to utilize the kitchen island for food prep and other tasks, you'll need task lighting before you can consider hanging pendants. While decorative lighting, like pendants, is frequently placed on the kitchen island, most pendants spread light in all directions instead of producing focused beams of light to appropriately illuminate surfaces.
   
   To illuminate the kitchen islands, consider using adjustable accent heads or recessed lighting. Later on, decorative pendants can be added as an extra layer of lighting. Because you can bend its rail in any direction and have both accent heads and pendants on the same rail, monorail works wonderfully over kitchen islands.
   
   
   
2. Under-cabinet lighting
   Installing under-cabinet lighting, which provides light where it's required the most without the risk of casting shadows or the need to install bulky fixtures, is one of the most effective ways to light your workspaces. Keep the following points in mind:
   
   
   • Granite and marble are both reflecting surfaces and if your kitchen has them, seek under cabinet lighting with a diffused light source to avoid glare, such as LED strip lights facing your wall.
     
     
   • Install under-cabinet lights along the front edge of higher cabinets to illuminate the entire countertop rather than just the wall.
   
   
   
3. Pantry lighting
   Many homeowners wish for a walk-in pantry. The installation of LED strip lighting on the top of such cabinets improves the visibility of the contents while also making the cabinet more user-friendly. The strip light should be placed in front of the cabinet, and the shelves should be pushed back slightly to allow the light to shine down to the cabinet's base. Consider installing pantry lighting with a door sensor so that the lights turn on and off automatically when the doors are opened and closed, eliminating the need for a switch.
   
   
   
4. Stovetop
   Did you know you can also install task lights over your stovetop? To obtain a better view of your food's colours and textures, use a chimney with built-in LED lights.
   
   
   
5. Ceiling lighting
   You'll want to project as much ambient light as evenly as possible from your ceiling because the kitchen is essentially a "task-driven" space. Pendant lights, LED downlights, track lights and flush mounts can all be used to accomplish this look. While your kitchen should seem light and bright, you should consider adding dimmers to your primary lighting so you can adjust the light intensity as needed.
   
   

If you want to save money on your energy bills, solar lights are a good option. The correct layers of kitchen lighting will help you maximize the utility and aesthetics in your space, whether you're planning an upgrade or a complete kitchen makeover.