KITCHEN LIGHTING

HOW LAYERED FIXTURES CAN ENHANCE YOUR SPACE

The kitchen is the social heart of the home, from helping the kids with homework, to cooking a nourishing meal or simply batching cocktails to share with the friends. It’s important for kitchen lighting to allow for flexibility to host all these activities. The following guide provides an intro to various types of lighting, as well as tips and ideas you will want to consider when building or renovating your kitchen space.

RECESSED LIGHTING

Recessed, or pot lighting, sets the overall tone within your kitchen space and provides the general lighting needed for navigating and preforming necessary tasks. Pot light housings come in various colours and finishes. Pick a white housing if you are looking for a seamless look across your ceiling, whereas a black or gold housing provides a contrast or accented look. Remember to place pot lighting 24”-30” from cabinets or walls to reduce glare.

PENDANT LIGHTING

Pendant lights are great way to bring decorative and accent lighting into your space and tie your whole kitchen design together. Pendant lights are generally best installed above fixed kitchen fixtures such as an island or breakfast nook. An installation height of 30” above a counter or table surface is also recommended.

UNDER CABINET LIGHTING

Under cabinet lighting can come in various forms such as individual LED pucks or continuous linear strips. Under cabinet lighting is crucial for highlighting high-traffic work and prep areas within the kitchen. Under cabinet lighting can also beautifully accent textured backsplashes and tiles.

DIMMED LIGHTING

While it may seem like an additional cost at first, installing general recessed lighting or accent pendant lighting with a dimmer switch has several benefits. Having the ability to dim or reduce the amount of light your fixtures put out not only decreases the amount the energy you use in your home, but also results in cost savings and a reduction in your homes environmental footprint. Dimmed lighting also gives you the flexibility to control the ambience within your space, whether it’s a busy a morning which requires increased visibility or a late- night dinner with loved ones.

LIGHT BULBS

So now that you’ve picked the right lighting for your space, what kind of light bulbs will best suit your space and enhance your beautiful fixtures? Light bulbs come in a variety of colours, or temperatures, which have different uses for different applications. Light bulbs with a higher temperature of 4000k or higher are generally suited for commercial or high traffic areas which require a high amount of visibility. For more intimate areas such as your home or kitchen, light bulbs temperatures of 2700K-3500K are recommended. Lighting temperature can also greatly affect the appearance of paint colour and finishes, which is why it’s always a great idea to bring samples into your space before making a final selection.