Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen remodels are one of the most popular home improvement projects in the nation for good reason. Fewer areas of the home can benefit from upgrading old, outdated equipment and systems (plumbing, electrical, etc.) like a kitchen can. Aside from replacing old appliances with new ones that function better and make the room more pleasing to look at, replacing and reworking fixtures, workspaces, cabinetry, and other kitchen components can really turn a room into something unique and well-suited to the needs of your particular household. It doesn’t hurt, either, that homes with newly remodeled kitchens are both easier to sell and often recover a significant amount of the remodel costs in added market value!

Kitchen Lighting Basics

Homeowners who renovate their kitchens often breeze past one of the most important concerns: kitchen lighting. It’s a common oversight because many homeowners mistakenly believe they have to forego adequate kitchen lighting in order to use this room in a modern way. With good design, common sense and some of the latest lighting technology, your kitchen can remain the center of life in your house while providing plenty of light for your work.

There are three major types of kitchen lighting:

• Ambient lighting is the general light in the room. Good ambient light allows you to work safely in most areas of the kitchen and provides the overall lighting feel for the space.
• Task lighting provides higher and more focused levels of light to a particular work area, keeping in mind the essence of getting the light to where you need it. This is mostly found in closets, pantries, cabinets or drawers. Task lighting takes advantage of small light sources and makes specific jobs much easier.
• Accent lighting is even more focused and highlights objects or areas you want to show off, such as artwork, glassware or special pottery. Though this kind of kitchen lighting isn’t meant to make your workspace a more functional place, it can add an aesthetic touch to the room that will enhance the space and bring your newly remodeled kitchen to life.

Know Your Kitchen Lighting Options

There are many new products and ideas that can help you enhance the charm and form of every aspect of your kitchen; lighting might seem like a “no brainer” but it can be trickier than you think. The problem is that even well-informed homeowners might not know about all their options. In most cases, getting a little help from a lighting professional will give you a far better idea not only of what’s available, but of how newer products (and older products, as well) are likely to perform and hold up.

Reviewing all the possibilities with a lighting designer, a knowledgeable interior decorator, or a reputable electrician can actually save you money and hassle in the long run. These professionals will be happy to help you discover how to provide the best light for the least money and will be able to provide excellent advice on products or brands that they’ve seen work well in the past.

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