Kitchen Lighting Tips for Designer Kitchens
Interior Designer, Elaine McHale presents kitchen lighting tips for designer kitchens.
Kitchen Tip 1: Design Kitchen Lighting Where Needed
The key to any lighting scheme is the lighting design. When it comes to positioning your kitchen lights, down-lights in particular, forget about grids and symmetry. Think about the key areas where kitchen light is really needed and design kitchen lighting only where necessary.
Kitchen Tip 2: Source Kitchen Light Properly
Source LED kitchen lights properly, in conjunction with other kitchen light sources. Energy-saving potential is massive, when using LED kitchen lights. Lighting a room using LED lights with other interior lighting can reduce energy consumption by about 25 per cent. It’s worth your money to invest in quality LED fittings. (eg. the Zenigata LED from Sharp).
Kitchen Tip 3: Consider Beam Angles for Kitchen Lighting
Consider the beam angles of your interiors when adding kitchen lights. The narrower the beam angle, say: beam angle < 45o, the more focused and spot-like the kitchen light will appear. Beam angles of 120o for example will get you an evenly spread distribution of kitchen light without "hot-spots" or glare.
Kitchen Tip 4: Options for Choosing Light Fittings
When choosing light fittings, option for recessed or semi-recessed light fittings. Avoid light fittings which collect grease.
Kitchen Tip 5: Which kitchen area to light and highlight?
Choose between highlighting a high kitchen ceiling or using under-lighting for kitchen cabinet units. Swan-neck display lights subtly highlight glass kitchen cabinets and rows of tall kitchen cabinet units while also creating an interesting decorative feature.
Kitchen Tip 6: Highlighting Kitchen Ceilings
If you wish to highlight the kitchen ceiling, run LED light strips along cabinet tops of kitchen cabinets. Cast a glow towards the kitchen ceiling for more ambient light.
Kitchen Tip 7: Attractive Lighting for Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands are usually the central feature in island kitchens and so, effective and attractive kitchen lighting is key. Light kitchen islands with recessed down-lights, or decorative pendant lights. Hang pendant lights fairly low, over dining tables and kitchen islands to focus the light pool. A stunning feature light such as The Elica star fitting which we use in designer kitchens will add that "WOW factor" to your designer island kitchen; and also doubles its functionality as an extractor fan!
Kitchen Tip 8: Shadowless Kitchen Lighting
Kitchens are home to sharp knives and tasty food so it’s important to have adequate kitchen lighting without dropping shadows. Bright, focused task lighting which creates no shadows is important. Under-cabinet LED lighting is ideal for shadowless light as this runs cool and costs very little.
Kitchen Tip 9: Control Lighting Levels in Your Kitchens
To create an intimate and more atmospheric light for evening meals, it is essential that you can control lighting levels in your kitchen. Set the right mood with dimmers and designer lighting controls. Also putting task lights and ambient lights on separate circuits will gain you control over lighting levels in your designer kitchen.
Kitchen Tip 10: Set Light to Your Kitchen Floors
For mood lighting, consider setting lights into kitchen island plinths or into the rows of kitchen storage units to light the kitchen floor. These lights will bathe your kitchen floor with light, enhance the impression of space and give a floating appearance to kitchen units. Coloured LED lights are also available to set light to your kitchen floors. Blue versions of LED lights add a certain interest and also add a touch of subtle colour to kitchen floors.
Kitchen Tip 11: When's the best time for new kitchen lighting?
Remember: The best time to consider your new lighting scheme is before you start to build or remodel your designer kitchen. Don't be afraid to get an Interior Designer to help, it's worth good kitchen lighting which makes a world of difference!
For more on home and designer kitchen lighting please contact Interior Designer, Elaine McHale on 087 610 2428 or email info(at)homeinteriors.ie
