The 10 Kitchen Lightning Tips For DIY DieHards… You Should Take #3 Seriously!

The kitchen is a place of warmth and preparation, which is why lighting is very crucial indeed. It not only adds to the aesthetic beauty of your kitchen, but it also sets the mood of your kitchen.

Your choice of light, shade and shape will change the way your kitchen looks dramatically. There are several things you have to consider, like the height of your ceiling, the space you have in your kitchen, and how much light you need at night.

Here are a few tips and tricks on how to manipulate the lighting in your kitchen:

#1 Work with your kitchen space.

If your kitchen already has a lot of things going on like big stoves, bar stools, wares and cabinets, don’t go for big and adorned ceiling lamps and even floor lamps. Find something more subtle and sweet, but still provides enough light. The usual choice is kitchen countertop lighting, which involves a few ceiling lamps above your countertops so the light covers more area and highlights your countertops.

#2 Pick your kitchen spotlights.

Your kitchen has certain key areas that need the most lighting, like the cooking surface, the sink, over the counters or any work area.Say you want to show off your new granite countertops, then you should pick that as your spotlight. Identify yours and plan your lighting from there. You can get spotlights, or simple lamps that are brighter than the rest in your kitchen.

#3 Consider having underlights.

If you have overhead counters, underlights are the perfect option for kitchen countertop lighting. They provide a subtle glow that radiates and focuses only on your countertops, so it’s great for your work areas. They also have great DIY instructions, so you don’t need to call a professional, if you feel like doing it on your own.

#4 Don’t be afraid to mix and match!

Others may argue that one theme is all you need in your kitchen, including the kitchen countertop lighting. This isn’t necessarily true! Having a couple of different lights gives layers and changes the tone and ambiance of your kitchen. Use modern spotlights for sinks or the cooking area and a very subtle glow to emphasize countertops and to provide more light coverage.

#5 Check your ceiling height.

If you have a high ceiling, your kitchen would look a little empty if you’ll get lamps that are small and thin. Go for adorned, vintage or classic looking chandeliers and lamps that are huge. This easily cleans up all the ceiling space and gives your kitchen a very classic look with an instant wow factor.

#6 Attach lamps on your counters or islands.

You don’t have to be restricted to wall and ceiling lamps. You can also opt for lamps attached on your counters and islands. Of course, these require space and wiring so you can call up your local granite counter installer for more information. It may take up quite the space, but the effect would be wonderful. It also ensures that your countertops and islands, which are mostly your work areas, are very well-lit.

#7 Check the distance of your lights.

Ideally, lights should be 30 inches above your countertops, but it might be higher if you are a tall person or if you’re placing the light over a sink or a stove. Horizontally, lights should be about 24-42 inches apart from one another to provide more light coverage in your kitchen. Contact your local kitchen countertop lighting company for information on the best distance between lights that your kitchen needs.

#8 Analyze and use your kitchen colors.

Colors are everything when it comes to lighting. You will need to analyze your kitchen’s color and overall theme so you can determine how much illumination you need. White reflects light, so if you have a white kitchen, or the colors are dominantly white, you don’t need super bright lights. The opposite is true for darker themed and darker colored kitchens. Simple pendants could be used to emphasize and illuminate your white countertops beautifully.

#9 Be bold.

You don’t have to stick with the usual cylindrical lamps, spotlights, and chandeliers. You can always take a risk and go for bold colors like red cylindrical lamps, or overlarge out-of-this-world chandeliers. They definitely add personality into your kitchen. In any case, if you need to change the intensity of the light or the color of the light, you just need to change the bulb.

#10 Consider LED lights.

At first it seems like a strange idea, but why not? LED lights are eco-friendly and consume much less energy while giving off a more intense light. There are a lot of ways on how you can have LED lights in your kitchen. Consult your kitchen countertop installation expert on what kind of lights to use on your countertops.