Cool Kitchen Lighting Ideas
For most people the kitchen is the heart of the home and this is borne out by the amount of money typically spent on fitting out a kitchen. The kitchen is also a space that is used extensively both by day and at night so it’s especially important to get the lighting right.
Kitchen lighting has come long way since the days when it seemed that most kitchens had the obligatory fluorescent strip in the middle of the ceiling. Now there are track systems, chic pendants, dimmer controlled recessed spotlights, wall sconces, low-voltage and LED lighting in every style conceivable. In fact the main problem today is not lack of choice but reducing it all down to what suits your own requirements.
The most successful lighting designs are able to function on several levels, mirroring the multifunctional nature of modern kitchens. This is achieved by combining a variety of different types of light, grouped according to a classification: ambient, task and mood lighting.
The category termed “mood lighting” by the way is an amalgamation of what is often otherwise termed feature or decorative or accent lighting. The essential idea is simply to arrange for each of the different groups of lights to be controlled by their own switches (for preference dimmer switches) so that the balance between them can be adjusted.
The most effective ambient lighting is unobtrusive. Low-voltage halogen (or these days LED) spotlights recessed flush with the ceiling create a subtle overall background illumination and set the stage for the more showy lighting elements.
At some point of course you will have to get down to food preparation and so good task lighting is absolutely essential in any kitchen. You cannot rely on ambient lighting, no matter how bright, since the layout of kitchen work surfaces invariably results in shadows. A popular solution is to fit regular low-voltage or LED lights underneath units so that bright light shines directly on the surface in front of you and is not in your eyes.
Mood lighting is simply a means to create whatever ambience you want for your kitchen. Examples include angled up-lighters hidden above wall units or spot lights to accent particular features or maybe eye-catching pendants dropping over a dining area or setting low-heat low-voltage (LED’s are perfect) lights into glass fronted wall cabinets or a plinth even.
LED’s for kitchen lighting almost deserve an entire topic unto themselves. They produce almost no heat, cost next to nothing to run, are extremely durable and lightweight, and are incredibly versatile. LED lights can be used for task, ambient and mood lighting and always introduce a contemporary sparkle to any kitchen.
To find out more, check out also this article that looks at ideas for kitchen lighting.
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