Step Into a Stylish Kitchen Makeover with Stunning New Lighting
Is your kitchen shrouded in harsh, cold fluorescent lighting? Do you dream of a warm, welcoming kitchen illuminated with stylish fixtures? Upgrading outdated fluorescent lighting presents the perfect chance to completely transform your kitchen's ambiance and function.
From elegant pendants to brilliant task lighting, we'll cover placement tips and fixture options tailored to your personal style.
Say Goodbye to Dated Fluorescent Fixtures
Fluorescent kitchen lighting gained popularity in the 1950s and 60s for its efficiency. But the unrelenting glare from tube fixtures affixed to the ceiling delivers an antiseptic, institutional feel.
While fluorescent lights seem bright, the clinical white light they emit can contribute to headaches and eye strain. And without options to control direction, distribution or warmth, fluorescent lighting limits your ability to create an inviting mood.
The good news? Now is the perfect opportunity to upgrade. Today's lighting options not only save energy, but allow you to choose fixtures that align with your aesthetic and illuminate your kitchen just the way you want.
Warm and Inviting - Ambient Lighting Options
Ambient lighting provides general illumination to make the entire kitchen navigable. Swapping out rows of fluorescent tubes for recessed and pendant lights lends cozy, welcoming warmth.
Recessed LED Lighting
Recessed light fixtures seamlessly set into the kitchen ceiling offer subtle, indirect lighting. The discreet fixtures can blend into the architecture or add interest with unique trims and finishes. Recessed lighting works well for delivering even, ambient light throughout the kitchen.
Opting for recessed lighting with built-in LEDs, versus less efficient incandescent bulbs, maximizes energy savings. Place recessed fixtures evenly spaced to cast broad, uniform light for navigating and socializing.
Pendant Lights
Nothing complements a kitchen makeover like stylish pendant lighting. Handcrafted, decorative pendants lend artful ambiance. Hung above kitchen islands, sinks and dining tables, pendant lights provide both task lighting and distinctive style.
Match pendant shapes and finishes to your kitchen decor - drum pendants for a contemporary look, lantern styles for traditional kitchens or sculptural designs for modern spaces. Choosing LED pendant lights consumes a fraction of the energy of incandescents.
Strategic Task Lighting
Beyond overall ambient light, carefully placed task lighting illuminates specific work areas to maximize function and safety.
Under Cabinet LED Lighting
Discreet LED lighting tucked under upper cabinets provides focused illumination ideal for food prep tasks. Under cabinet lighting offers the perfect replacement for inadequate fluorescent tubes mounted along backsplashes or soffits.
Opt for energy efficient LED tape lighting or puck lights. Place task lighting both in front of and behind countertops and work areas to reduce shadows. Extend under cabinet lighting throughout the kitchen, not just above sinks and stoves.
Track Lighting
Track lighting presents another stylish task lighting option. Track heads on ceiling-mounted rails can be aimed to precisely accent specific areas. Focus adjustable spotlights on display areas like glass-front cabinets or corner hutches to show off prized dishes and collectibles.
Track lighting also works beautifully to spotlight architectural elements, draw the eye to wall art or illuminate houseplants. Choose LED track heads for efficiency and long life.
Essentials of Planning Your Kitchen Lighting
Thoughtful planning ensures your new kitchen lighting works in harmony to create the perfect mood and function. Follow a few fundamentals when designing your custom lighting plan.
Strategic Light Placement
Your lighting design should distribute light throughout the entire kitchen, avoiding distinct pools of light and shadow. Place ambient lighting not just above task areas like countertops, but also over the kitchen table, perimeter and islands.
Combine ambient lighting with strategically placed task lighting. Remember to light decorative displays, not just work zones. Consider kitchen lighting zones - for example, highlight an architecturally interesting hood over the cooking area.
Selecting Kitchen Lighting Fixtures
Choose fixture finishes and shapes that integrate into your kitchen's style - sleek and low profile for contemporary spaces or elegantly curved for traditional kitchens. Selecting LED fixtures ensures exceptional energy savings.
Modify the warmth of LED and recessed lights with adjustable color temperatures, from invigorating daylight white to relaxing warm white. Investing in dimmable fixtures allows you to set the perfect mood from formal dining to casual gatherings.
Ditching outdated fluorescent lighting presents an exciting opportunity to transform the heart of your home. Thoughtfully designed and placed lighting can re-envision your kitchen as a warm, welcoming space for connecting and creating memories.
With the right mix of ambient, task and accent lighting matched to your personal style, you can craft a kitchen that dazzles. Consult a lighting professional if needed, and start envisioning the kitchen of your dreams illuminated in a whole new light.