The kitchen should be given the most consideration when it comes to lighting. Kitchen lighting requires such thought because there are several areas where the light needs to shine bright. You should have good lighting that lights over the countertops, stove, sink and over a kitchen table if you have one. Nothing could be worse than dim lights over a sink with a pile of dirty dishes or dim lights over your stove when you’re cooking something. This is why it is important ahead of time. It important to know where and what kind of kitchen lighting fixtures will go where. Any planning should include size and area, budget and of course kitchen design. A modern kitchen for example would look much better with modern kitchen lighting. If the style was rustic, traditional, old world or country style then your kitchen lighting design would have to compliment and reflect overall style of the kitchen.
A good idea is to perhaps visit a showroom and to see how those kitchens look. Your research should extend to more than just looking at pictures in Town & Country magazine. If you have a small kitchen then you will have a much easier time. You can probably enjoy adequate lighting by installing two lighting fixtures that are spread apart evenly. If however your kitchen is large or medium side and has a kitchen island and table then take out paper and pencil because you need to measure and calculate how much lighting you will need. The best kitchen lighting ideas are actually other peoples ideas that you will build on or change to suit your own kitchen. This is why it’s important to see as many kitchen showrooms as you can.
Your planning should begin by identifying and marking the areas of the kitchen that need the brightest lights. These will probably be the sink area, cabinets, stove area, kitchen table, kitchen island and the countertops. You also have to take account the overall lighting of the kitchen. If you have a high ceiling then you also have to take that into consideration. You know have to think if you will place smaller kitchen lighting fixtures over these important areas or will you place a stronger light that close to say the sinki or stove. The distance is important because it will determine not only the type of lighting fixtures you’ll install but also the wattage of the light bulbs.
The sink area could have line voltage recessed lights on the ceiling or even have have track lights pointing in that direction. Low voltage recessed lights are also a good option. And that’s another thing to think about whether you want fluorescent kitchen lighting or incandescent lights. The combination of both is probably the best option. Money definitely plays a big part and if you have plenty of it then you need to get a little fancy. A pot rack chandelier is definitely worth the investment if you want to have an immaculate kitchen. A kitchen island or kitchen table would look their best with a pendant or island chandelier overhead. A nice touch to further enhance your kitchen lighting might be under-cabinet lights. When dimmed the could be left on overnight making the kitchen much more accessible if someone desires a drink or snack in the middle of the night.
The best kitchen lighting layout is the one that gives you enough bright light in areas where you actually need bright light. The most expensive or poshiest lights are not necessary. Your kitchen lighting should be a part of your kitchen’s overall theme. Spending more money on your lighting than you have on the rest of your kitchen won’t make sense. Their are numerous styles and designs to choose from. The biggest mistake one could make is to buy and install the lighting fixtures without careful planning. Another mistake is to use more than one style so if you started out with contemporary design then stick with that. Seeking the advice of salesperson selling you your kitchen lighting is also a wise move so ask questions and give some thought to what they have to say.
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