How To Start Your New Kitchen Lighting Layout

Designing kitchen lighting is not a hard job even to a novice. As I have experienced throughout my 12- year experience in this department, I have heard about several lighting styles and forms, but if I use the term ‘maximum’ – I should say, that there are mainly four types of lighting needed to make a complete kitchen lighting layout, irrespective of the size and shape of the kitchen.

Most of my colleagues agreed with me in this point. Even, if you search minutely about the modern kitchen lighting design, you will notice the said four types of lighting. The task lighting for the sink and over the countertop, display lighting or accent lighting inside the cabinets or over any extra architectural objects inside the kitchen, general directional lighting from the ceiling and last one is decorative lighting, which is occasionally used to create some extra ambience. Decorative scones and other lights generally fall in this category.

Naturally, every designer will start his layout upon the level of demand. Kitchen is a working zone. Cooking, the word that is supplementary to a kitchen needs both concentration and comfort. The countertop, all along its length and the sink are the two most vital parts for all kitchen activities and these two areas are under strong demand of task lighting.

Task lighting means the designing with the lights of most bright illumination and with directional flexibility to deliver sufficient light to those working areas from every direction. Track lighting is the most powerful use for getting maximum result in task lighting. Track lights are directional, as those lights you can fix on flexible rails and the swivel technology helps the lights to be directed easily as per your need. Your layout must point out the portion of your ceiling from where you will focus your light over the countertop. Calculate it, and make a sketch to help your technician in getting the clear idea of the required positions. Remember, that installation of track lighting in the ceiling needs cutting of holes. Therefore, unplanned design may damage the decency of your ceiling. Hanging some pendants over the countertop keep all the unwanted shadows as well as create a decent artistic touch around the place. Pendants are always good looking, with various shapes, and shades. I always prefer a mix up of track lights and hanging of beautiful pendants from the same rail of the track lights.

Recessed lighting is a great option for lighting on the sink. Recessed lights are directional and you can control the intensity of the lights by using dimmer. Along with your track lighting plan, include at least two recessed light sources over the sink. I will advise you to install swiveled recessed lights to direct the light as you need. If you do not like to use either of these, use sconces from the wall as decorative-cum-task lighting over the sink. Pendant lights are also a good alternative in this section.

Brightness is not always necessary inside a kitchen when there is no such important function on the countertop. General lighting is a must-do part for all kitchens. During enjoying a chat with your family members or just listening music by yourself to have some recess, fluorescent lights are the best option for an overall illumination. Place a couple of fluorescent bar lights at the center of your kitchen. Over the dining table, you can use mini pendant lights or a good-looking chandelier to add a dimension. In my kitchen, I have used two medium height chandeliers and four fluorescent bars surrounding it. It looks great and gives a pleasant comfort to my eyes when I put on only those lights inside my kitchen.

Accent lighting is another important thing to highlight the most important items inside your kitchen. Obviously, you have had some antiques placed in your kitchen and some old family photographs or a classic oil painting. Accent lighting is the only option to give them the perfect look and accent. You can use track lights on these items.

Cabinets are most functional regarding storage of all of your food grains and utensils. Lighting inside the cabinet needs a bit creativity to get the best result. LED lights and puck lights are the two most popular choices for the in-cabinet lighting. These lights are tiny and can be placed hidden inside the cabinet easily. Moreover, they are energy-saver, have a long life span and never produce heat. If possible, use glass doors for your cabinets, as I am using. Collect matching dinnerware with your kitchen color scheme and display them inside your cabinet. Mix them up with some glassware and arrange it dramatically. Enlighten the cabinets and put off all other lights of your kitchen. Now look, what are you watching? Is it not dramatic, huh?

Drama is everywhere, in life, in office, on the road and drama is in your kitchen too. They are hidden. Expose the drama with perfect kitchen lighting design.

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