Kitchen Lighting

When working in the kitchen, it is vital that the lighting is correct, both for safety reasons and practicality. Natural light should be maximized but during times when this is not possible (such as at night), artificial lighting is required. In the kitchen, it is important to have light shining on the work surfaces, sink, and stove. This is because it is dangerous to work in shadowed areas. A single light in the middle of the kitchen will nearly always be insufficient.

You will probably need to use three different types of lighting in your kitchen: ambient, or background, lighting; task lighting; and mood lighting. There are three common types of lights – downlights, fluorescents and spotlights – and these can be manipulated to suit your area. The hottest lighting trends see the return of the fluorescent bulbs, downlighting and pendant lights.

Ambient Lighting

When installing ambient lighting in your kitchen, it should match the colour of natural light as closely as possible. Good ambient lighting comes from ceiling lights that have been correctly positioned. Popular forms of ambient lighting include recessed halogen downlights, halogen bulbs on an exposed trapeze, fluorescent lights, or even the standard incandescent bulbs. For energy efficiency, install bulbs with the maximum brightness that you need and also install a dimmer switch. This will give you greater control over the illumination.

It is important to locate the ambient lighting away from overly reflective surfaces (such as stainless steel or glass) and in places where you are not likely to be distracted by dazzle when carrying hot objects.

Task Lighting

Because the kitchen is a place where a lot of work is carried out, good task lighting is paramount for safety reasons. Task lighting needs to illuminate the sink, stove, benches, and any other work areas. Options for task lighting include downlights that have been installed underneath wall mounted cabinets, spotlights aimed at a specific area or fluorescent lights that have been mounted above the splashback.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are increasing in popularity and usage due to factors such as more island benches being installed and the absence of overhead cupboards. Pendant lights can be both task and ambient lighting, depending on how they are used. Installed over countertops, they can throw bright light directly on the area that needs to be illuminated. If there is some sort of dining area in or near the kitchen, a pendant light can be positioned over the area and dimmed as required to provide ambient lighting, or even mood lighting depending on the light levels.

Professionals

It can be confusing trying to select the right lights for your kitchen on your own, so why not take a look at our directory to find lighting design consultants and lighting installation professionals for your perfect kitchen lighting? Qualified electricians can also help to get you properly set up. That way, you are sure to end up with a well-lit, safe kitchen area that looks great!

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