kitchen with hanging lights over counter

A How-To Guide to Kitchen Lighting

When it comes to your kitchen, the right lighting can make all the difference. A kitchen has to be bright and spacious to make the cooking experience pleasant and enjoyable, and the ambiance while you eat can go from cheerful and light to romantic and relaxed with the flick of a switch.

Here are some tips on how to position your lights to enjoy the perfect lighting in your kitchen at any time of day.

Designing the Space

The first step in illuminating your kitchen is to find the spaces that need the most lighting. The spaces where you cook, prepare your ingredients, and your dining space are some of the primary areas that require good lighting. Of course, each area will be best suited to a different type of lighting. Let’s review them all now:

Illuminating the Island

If your kitchen has the luxury of an island, we’d recommend one or more pedants to provide lighting just where you need it. Luckily, pendants come in all kinds of shapes, styles, and sizes, so you’re sure to find the right pendant to suit your kitchen’s look. These fixtures should be placed at least 30-32 inches apart, 30-36 inches above the island, and at least six inches from the edge to ensure they don’t get in the way while you prepare your meals.

Cabinets and Countertops

The space under the cabinet is always poorly lit, as any ceiling light fixtures are usually obscured by the cabinets. This is a non-issue, though, when you install lighting under your cabinets. Under-cabinet lights illuminate every corner of your countertops so that you can safely prepare meals, read recipes, and easily spot ingredients when you need them. Whether you choose strip lights that illuminate the entire length of your cabinets, or pluck lights that provide brightness for a few select areas, this lighting option provides a luxurious look to any kitchen.

Ceiling Sights

In most homes, the primary kitchen light source comes from the ceiling and can illuminate the whole room. For a small kitchen, this can be a single light fixture, but for a larger space, you might need multiple ceiling lights. Recessed, over-cabinet, and toekick lights are all viable options, depending on your personal style.

Lucky for you, our team can install all of these fixtures in any combination of your choice. Give us a call at 701-232-1991 to discuss how we can help you light up your life (and kitchen) today!

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