Kitchen Lighting

A variety of kitchen lighting options offer functionality as well as aesthetics and ambiance.

Proper kitchen lighting helps you work more efficiently.

Regardless of whether you’ve installed new cabinets in your kitchen, you may want to consider under-cabinet kitchen lighting to enhance your kitchen's look. Before you start, it may be beneficial to do a bit of research to find out not only what you like, but what works best for the layout of your kitchen. You can find help at your local home improvement center, or online with professional sources like this article on choosing under-cabinet lighting. This publication provides a wealth of information about the three types of under-cabinet kitchen lighting, including:

• incandescent lamps
• fluorescent lamps
• light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Once you understand the types of lights, you can choose under-cabinet lighting to give your kitchen a warm, welcoming feel that also offers functionality. To accomplish the look and feel you want, take into consideration factors like:

• color of lighting
• dimming capacity
• brightness and glare
• fit of fixture
• safety codes and standards

Today’s selection of kitchen lighting options allows homeowners to combine types of lighting to create your ideal lighting situation. Along with your under-cabinet lighting, you can light your kitchen with a variety of styles of ceiling fixtures and track lighting to produce decorative and functional lighting.

Directional kitchen lighting provided by track lighting, recessed or semi-recessed lighting concentrates light where you need or want it. You can use it to illuminate work areas like over the sink, stove or island where you prepare food or read a recipe. The ability to focus lighting can also be used to highlight decorative collectibles or artwork you’ve selected to embellish your kitchen. This is known as accent lighting. Three directional lighting lamps offer choices for every need:

• Compact fluorescent
• LEDs
• Incandescent

Decorative pendant lighting fixtures make a statement in any kitchen. These light fixtures suspend from the ceiling by a chain or rod, and larger ornamental fixtures can be used to enhance the décor of your updated kitchen. Another plus with these attractive fixtures is that if you find the right fixture, it can present more than one function. For example, a decorative island pendant light fixture can also serve as a pot hanger.

If you have a smaller kitchen, mini pendant lighting may be the choice for you. If you decide to hang a mini pendant to add that decorative touch, be careful to install it high enough. You'll want to be sure you can see under it as you work rather than around it. Hanging fixtures high enough also helps keep them from getting dirty from cooking. Mini pendants are available in a number of styles and finishes and are often hung in groupings of two or three at varying heights.

The kitchen is the central meeting place in most homes. Because of the amount of in and out household activity, lights are often left on after raiding the refrigerator or answering the phone. One way to save on energy in the kitchen is to install an occupancy sensor. This device detects whether someone is in the kitchen with the use of two possible technologies:

• Ultrasonic sensors, which detect occupancy based on sound
• Infrared sensors, which detect occupancy based on motion

These sensors signal when a person comes into the room and automatically turn on the lights. After there is no sound or movement for a period, the lights turn off. You may want to consider installing one of these automated controls when installing your new kitchen lighting to save energy and money.

As you remodel or renovate, you’ll want to make the right choices for a well-lit kitchen. When upgrading your kitchen lighting, be sure to use top-quality lighting fixtures that will last. With so many options available today, you may want to consult a lighting professional at Lowes, Home Depot or another home improvement supplier or local contractor. They can aid you in choosing the best fixtures for your kitchen lighting needs as well as offer input as to particulars such as placement and the installation of dimmers based on the correct wattage for your lighting needs.

With your new kitchen lighting installed, you’ll enjoy the results of your hard work with a flip of a switch.

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