How is your kitchen lit up? Do you have a hard time looking at what you’re cooking up in your kitchen? Do you have the right amount of light?
Having the right lighting in a kitchen is essential as it may either create a great space and energizing atmosphere while you’re cooking up your meals, or it may also be a dull and boring unit of your home that needs a little fix to get it up and beyond.
Here are a few lighting trends that you may consider in updating your kitchen and getting the style and mood you want when creating some meals for the day.
Under- Cabinet lighting
Nothing looks more illuminating in a kitchen with under cabinet lighting. It creates an ambiance for a well-lit kitchen making it easy for preparation, cooking and reading recipes. A well placed and installed under cabinet lighting creates a fresh and bright space.
There are a number of varieties of under cabinet lighting options in the market today. It all depends on how you want the light to work for you. They are easy and simple to in
stall. From puck lights and rope to tape and lighting bars. You have other options to even get them with motion sensors or not. It comes in either battery operated or connected to power source.
Puck lights are more for a targeted area and show a definite lighting effect. These are normally placed strategically around the room. They are great for reading and for those late night visits to the refrigerator.
Tape and rope lights normally run throughout the entire under cabinet. They offer a soft lighting effect or may be accent lighting for the backsplash. It is a nominal lighting and thus adds on to the overall lighting plan on the entire kitchen. A variety of colors are available as well for those wanting to create a unique and unusual effect, although white is popular and commonly used.
Lighting bars are a brighter source of light that covers a broader area than puck or tape lights. All the varieties and styles for under cabinet lighting come in LED options as well. LED lights are energy efficient and have a longer life than traditional bulbs. Another option is getting these under cabinets light with motion sensors. That way you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off. The only downside with motion sensors is if you are standing still for a period of time while figuring out a new recipe, it might just turn off and would be a hassle if you’re in the middle of something. But this is just a small hind side of it. There are a few different options as well when it comes to the under cabinet bulbs. It comes in halogen, xenon, and fluorescent. When selecting which best fits your kitchen it all depends on the look you’re trying to achieve. Halogen and incandescent bulbs are the most common and best ones used today.
Task Lighting
It is important to have a lot of light in the kitchen specifically in the areas that you work on such as the countertops, around the sink and stove areas. A great way to focus light around the kitchen is by having recessed lights. This type of lighting can be aimed at the specific areas where they are needed most.
In- Cabinet Lighting
In cabinet lighting may also be called mood lighting. It is a great way to show accent to those beautiful pieces of kitchenware. This option works best when you have glass paneled cabinets. It gives a nice illumination to the kitchen and creates a glam look.
Track Lighting
Track lighting installed in a kitchen gives you multipurpose options. This can be positioned to the specific areas needed and focuses on that area.
Pendant Lighting
Pendant lighting is most commonly placed over an island and gives off a nice light effect. It is decorative and with the numerous styles we have in the market today, you can chose one that can give drama and uniqueness to your kitchen.
Kitchen Chandeliers
Chandeliers in a kitchen create a unique glam and sophistication to your meal workspace. It gives a character to the room. This form of lighting is not used to give focus on a specific task in the kitchen but usually used as an a
ccent to the space.
A combination of different light sources usually works best in the kitchen. A great way to creating a mix of diffused and directed lighting in a kitchen is when you combine the effects of general, task and mood lighting.
Calling a Pro will always give you the best advice in supplying the most efficient lighting option for your kitchen and most importantly installing the units the right way.
As a Design+Build General Contractor, I offer my clients a one-stop shopping approach to all of their home remodeling projects. I work with my clients from initial conception of a project through its completion. Every aspect of the job is managed by me and my professional crew. You will be included in every step of the design process until the final drawings are completed. No detail is left to chance. General Contractor Specializing in Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Remodeling Throughout the Los Angeles area.
Written By:
Offer Steuer
President
OTM Designs & Remodeling, Inc.
For more information you may contact us via email at service@otm1designs.com or you may call us at 888-981-1415. Our website is www.otm1designs.com