Lighting Up The Kitchen: Use Both General And Spotlights For Full Coverage

The kitchen in your home needs to be brightly lit. Not only does that help you cook as you can see how recipes are shaping up as you make them, but the light helps you spot areas that need to be cleaned (extra important for people with granite countertops, which are notorious for hiding crumbs). Light can also help you feel better; a dark, muted kitchen doesn't really add any energy to your life. Balancing the light in the kitchen between general ceiling lights and under-cabinet lighting can give you the best coverage.

Recessed Lighting Should Be Placed Away From Cabinets

General lighting in a lot of kitchens now relies on recessed lights. These separate lights ensure that the kitchen can always be lit up because, even if one of the lights burns out, the others can still work. Place the recessed lights away from wall cabinets—if the lights are too close, the cabinets could actually block some of the light from reaching the counters and floors. It makes no sense to have a recessed light directly over a cabinet unless you're deliberately trying to light the area above the cabinet.

Add Under-Cabinet Lighting, and Remember to Hide the Cords

Under-cabinet lighting is a great way to spotlight what's happening on the counter, and it allows you some light if you don't want to turn on the main recessed lights in the ceiling. Under-cabinet lighting can be professionally installed with trim that hides the fixtures and wiring, or you can buy strips and puck-style lights that you install yourself. Some of these are battery-operated, while others are corded; for the corded ones, be sure to hide the cords as having those hang down from under the cabinet can look terrible. Get cord wraps and brackets at the very least.

Heat Is an Issue—Choose LEDs

The kitchen is a naturally hot place, with the stove and oven creating and adding to hot temperatures. In summer, that can make the kitchen unbearable even with air conditioning in place. When you add lighting, make it LED lighting. This is a lot easier now than it was just a few years ago. Under-cabinet lighting is available mostly with LEDs now, which is essential for safety as well; you don't want hot lights adhered to the undersides of flammable cabinets. As for the general recessed lighting, using LEDs cuts down on the heat in the kitchen in general, which is a relief on hot summer nights that haven't cooled down.

Lighting that is recessed in the ceiling and that fits into the small recessed areas under the cabinets helps keep all parts of your kitchen nice and bright. An electrician can help you choose the styles of recessed lighting you want and then install them for you.