Proper Lighting Techniques for Your Kitchen

The average homeowner now spends over 19 hours a week in their kitchen and it's become critical to properly plan for adequate lighting.

What's the Biggest Mistake Homeowners Make?

Mounting only one ceiling fixture in the middle of your room and thinking that it will be enough. When planning your kitchen lighting, think about where your main task areas be, and where your family will be dining, playing or doing homework. Look at the picture to your right and count how many lights have been installed in this kitchen.

Natural Light

Natural light is the best form of lighting. However, in a lot of cases, it is complicated to increase the amount of natural light coming in. In some cases, the kitchen is actually very dark. In this kitchen below, kitchen lighting is efficiently used to keep the room bring and luxurious, with ceiling lights installed throughout the kitchen.

Bring Daylight into your kitchen

Turn your kitchen and dining area extra bright and airy thanks to the addition of large roof windows. These windowns can provide ample light, fresh air and a better view. Learn more at Velux.com.

Under Cabinets Lighting: A Touch of Elegance & Exclusivity

Install lights directly under your top cabinets, giving your countertop excellent task lighting and your kitchen an upscale look.

Chandeliers in Your Kitchen?

If you are looking for a more formal, elegant atmosphere to turn your kitchen into an upscale room where you can entertain and dine, think about chandeliers. While homeowners typically invest a lot of money in chandeliers for hallways, they will spend the most time of their time in the kitchen.

A Chandelier Can Greatly Contribute to an Upscale Atmosphere, Particularly in an Open Design Setting

A Combination of a Chandelier and a Modern LED Ceiling System Ensures Proper Lighting in this Kitchen

Avoid The shadow TRAP, A Common Error In Kitchen Design

A large ceiling fixture, equipped with energy-efficient fluorescent tubes will supply plenty of well-diffused general lighting, but it may leave you working in your own shadow at the sink, range, and countertops.

How to avoid the shadow trap: think about your lighting plan

Miniatur Halogen Lights Are Now Very Popular, Allowing Homeowners the Flexibility of Changing The Directions of Lights

In This Room, A Curved Design Ensures Proper Lighting of the Countertop Areas

Some areas in your kitchen need supplemental task lighting.

THE SINK - One or two track lights over the sink will give you the illumination you need for washing dishes and scouring pots and pans.
At the sink and range, an individual recessed downlight, equipped with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent tube, will provide you with adequate task lighting when installed in the ceiling or in soffits over these two busy work areas.

BREAKFAST AREAS and ISLAND COUNTERS - can be lit with decorative pendants. When used with a dimmer control, these ceiling-hung fixtures will provide you with adequate task lighting for homework, hobbies, or family business and allow you to lower the light for dining or entertaining. Check out Lampsplus.com or decorative pendants on Lamps-Lighting.com.

COUNTERTOPS - Under Cabinet Task lighting is ideal for countertops. Mount as close to the back of the cabinets as possible to avoid glare and reflection off work surfaces. Choose energy-efficient fluorescent fixtures that cover at least two-thirds the length of the counter.

KITCHEN CABINETS - Highlight your cabinetry! Lighting effects on kitchen cabinets can give you an opportunity to give an original, modern look to your kitchen. Lighting can be accentuated by placing low-voltage mini-lights over, under, or inside cabinets.

How to add a warm, comfortable atmosphere to your kitchen?

Recessed lights	Flip a switch, and fixtures tucked into the ceiling bathe a room in a warm glow.
Dimmers	Dimmers set a lighter mood.
Cabinet lighting	Highlight your cabinetry.
Warm color pattern	Coordinate lighting with colors in your kitchen to create a unique welcoming ambiance.