How to Choose Kitchen Lighting?

Hi Buddy,

When I first started thinking about how to illuminate my kitchen, I imagined making a fast trip to IKEA or Home Centre, picking up a few light strips, and kitchen lamps, putting them under the cabinets and calling it a day.

However, the query of how to choose kitchen lighting was not that simple because ambient lighting, which provides broad background illumination in a space, is important. Although it must offer a consistent, pleasant level of light for the space at all times, it should be planned with consideration for how much natural light the room receives.

Which colour is best for the kitchen:

Pick a cool white light for the kitchen. This denotes a Kelvin scale between 3,000 and 4,500. For a living area as opposed to a kitchen or dining area, warmer, yellower light with a lower Kelvin value is preferable.

I had a very clear vision in my head of how to illuminate a kitchen, which I believe entails adding both pendant kitchen lamps and lights to the kitchen cabinets. Let me share my experience in choosing both.

How to choose pendant lights for kitchen:

There are many excellent options for kitchen pendant lamps, whether lighting a kitchen island or a small dining table.

Pendant lights should be hung between 28 and 36 inches above a countertop or table's surface. It should be elevated above eye level while remaining sufficiently low to illuminate the surface.

When choosing pendant lights for kitchen, you need to ensure that the light underneath is not too harsh, consider a pendant with an open top, such as one with a conventional drum shade. The glare from those with translucent-glass shades is reduced, while a softer glow is produced by opaque shades. Consider a pendant with a light-diffusing shade or use semi-opaque bulbs to prevent rings of intense light.

Place pendant lights evenly spaced throughout the room or over the workspace if you need general lighting. Over a dining room table or kitchen island, group small pendant lights together or use a pendant with three or more lights. Generally speaking, the size of the pendant lamp should increase with the size of the space you want to light. Over a sink or desk area, tiny pendant light works well, but over an island, you'll need a larger fixture (or a cluster of pendant lights).

How to choose under cabinet lighting kitchen:

There are a few factors that you need to consider when choosing kitchen cabinet lights;

• Size & Position: 

First, check to see that your lights are shallow enough to remain concealed behind the cabinet face. The fixture will neatly tuck away out of sight into the cabinet lip with just a little measurement. Choose a finish that closely mirrors the look of your cabinets for optimum results.

• Energy Source:

Consider how you want to power your lighting: Direct wire or plug-in.

• Source of light:

LED under cabinet lighting is by far the most adaptable, well-liked, and useful alternative, but there are also a variety of other choices, including fluorescent, halogen, and xenon.

The most durable and energy-efficient lighting is LED. Furthermore, it is ideal for use under kitchen cupboards, where food may be stored, because it releases very little heat while it is on.

Here are some other features to think about:

• Remote controls: 

Some under-cabinet lighting can be turned on or off, dimmed, or changed in colour via remote control.

• Dimmers: 

By putting under cabinet lights on a dimmer, you may lower them for ambience and brighten them for duties like dinner preparation. But keep in mind that not all systems can be dimmed. Details can be found in each product.

• Outdoor Use: 

Some rope and tape lights may be used both inside and outside, making them a convenient solution to illuminate covered workshops, outdoor kitchens, and other areas. Details can be found in each product.

I would like to conclude here by saying that the appropriate lighting transforms a space, whether you want to update your decor or illuminate a specific task. Hence, you should choose the appropriate kitchen lamps or pendant lights that suit your need.

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