The kitchen has many functions that serve different purposes, which is why planning your kitchen lighting may seem like a daunting task. As the central meeting place of your home you want your kitchen lighting to be warm and welcoming, for food preparation you want areas to be illuminated with strong, bright lighting. We’re here to help guide you on the best strategies to utilising different lighting in your space to create a vibrant and dynamic kitchen. Follow these tips to get your kitchen lighting right!
1. Don’t Leave It To The Last Minute
A lot of people underestimate the importance of lighting to the overall appearance and atmosphere of the kitchen and tend to leave lighting decisions to the last minute. This can cause challenges throughout the project, if the design hasn’t accounted for lighting requirements. If you want to make the most of natural light, you may need to swap walls for glass or install the correct structures for certain lighting fixtures, which is why it’s so beneficial to have planned your lighting strategy early in the design process.
We recommend researching the three main types of kitchen lighting; ambient, task and accent and planning the best areas to incorporate each style into your design, in advance. Plus, our designers are experts at these types of lighting and are happy to share their valuable advice about how you can best incorporate each style in your kitchen.
2. Take Advantage of Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is always a great asset to any area of your home, especially in the kitchen. If you want the natural light to shine through, make use of windows, install a skylight or swap out your walls for glass so the sunshine can light up your space! It’s important to keep in mind that this lighting will change as the sun moves throughout the day, which means you can’t rely solely on this lighting and will need to install alternative light sources for times when the natural light isn’t filtering through.
3. Illuminate Cooking and Preparation Areas With Task Lighting
Certain areas of your kitchen demand bright lighting to get the job done. That’s where task lighting comes in. Task lights cast a clean, bright light that successfully illuminates the areas of the kitchen designated for preparation, cooking and any other tasks that require strong lighting. Bright lighting throughout the kitchen can be overwhelming, so we recommend utilising task lights only over certain areas such as counters, the range, cooktops and sinks that demand easy navigation and sufficient illumination. If you want to operate in your kitchen efficiently you need to be taking advantage of task lighting.
4. Let There Be Ambient Lighting
Nobody likes being left in the dark – so let there be light! Specifically, ambient lighting, which is the main source of light in your kitchen. Whether it’s in addition to natural light or to fill in for the lack of it, ambient lighting is important to get right. You don’t want it to be too harsh that your guests feel like they ‘re under a spotlight. Instead, opt for soft overhead lights to create the perfect atmosphere to entice guests into your space and make them feel warm and relaxed. A pro tip is to cast ambient lighting as evenly as possible throughout the space. This can be achieved through chandeliers, pedant lights, recessed lighting and flush mounts.
We love pendant lights and how they transform spaces with their visual appeal. If you’re concerned about lights dangling down, don’t fret, we know the perfect height for any pendant lights. A general rule of thumb is to position your pendant lights leaving at least 77cm to 82cm between your countertops, islands or tables and the fixture’s lowest hanging point.
5. Create Visual Appeal With Accent Lighting
The final type of lighting is often ignored, but can really add character to your kitchen by the emphasising artwork, plants and objects that add interest or personality to your space. Accent lighting emphasises objects by focusing light directly on them, making them a focal point in the space. If you want to utilise accent lighting, we say go for it! However, it’s important to note that subtly is key to getting your accent lighting right. Make people notice the object you’re lighting, not the way that it is being lit.
Dedicating the time and creating a strategic plan will help you master the layering of task, ambient and accent lighting to achieve a beautiful, dynamic space. Why not visit your local Kitchen Craftsmen showroom to explore the different lighting options or get some guidance with your kitchen lighting planning from our expert designers. We’re here to help, get in touch with us today to make an appointment for a free design and quote.