Lighting any part of your home serves several purposes, functional as well as aesthetic. When it comes to kitchen lighting design, no one solution serves every kitchen. And this is why the size of the kitchen, its design, and how it is used are key aspects that must be considered.
While some kitchens may simply be used to prepare food, others may also serve as a location for children to finish their home assignments. Still, others may include a breakfast nook. Thus, the lighting needs of a kitchen must be first calculated before one considers an appropriate design.
Types of Lighting
There are essentially three basic types of lighting for you to consider. General lighting aims to offer light to the room so that it is illuminated. Task lighting offers focused illumination to a specific part of the area. And accent lighting is used to create a focal point that the eye is diverted towards.
In a kitchen, different parts require varying levels of lighting. General lighting will ensure that everything in the area is visible. Ceiling lights help in this direction. The higher they are placed, the more light they will spread. If you are worried that the light may get too bright, you can add dimmers to control it.
How the kitchen is laid out, especially the counters, will play an integral role in the kitchen lighting design. Rather than opting for one bright source of illumination, lighting specialists recommend that one use multiple sources of light from different directions.
Bringing in the Light
Center islands can be lit up with pendant lights, chandeliers or with recessed downlights. Counter tops will receive clear unobstructed lighting from installations under the cabinets. This creates a shadow free area for reading recipes and food preparation. And as such makes it easier to focus on the task at hand. It also makes the kitchen look well accentuated and inviting.
Task lighting with products such as strip lights and puck lights ensures that one can clearly and easily see the jars and storage containers in the cabinets. This makes it easier to find the ingredients that a recipe requires.Recessed lighting offers the area a softer illumination.
When it comes to the color of the light, experts recommend warm, incandescent lighting. You may also wish to go with halogen and LED lights that now offer a range of shades for you to select from. Toe kick lighting can be used as an accent light as well as for safety.
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