Kitchen Lighting Fixture Options

There are so many options for attractive kitchen lighting. Deciding on the right type of fixture for your kitchen will depend upon several variables: size of the kitchen, purpose of the lighting and budget.

One of the best ways to start your search for lighting ideas for the kitchen is to look through photos on the Web or in magazines. Mark off or bookmark the pictures you like and then narrow down your search.

There are three kinds of lighting for the kitchen: ambient, task and accent.

Ambient Lighting: Ambient lighting is general kitchen lighting for the purpose of creating bright light throughout the room. Adding ambient lighting can immediately improve the look of your kitchen and add a sense of warmth. Ambient lighting includes some of the most commonly used lighting fixtures: recessed and ceiling-mounted fixtures.

Recessed lighting is known for creating a clean, bright and organized look. It can also create an open and spacious feeling which is great for smaller kitchens. One of the perks of recessed lighting is that it can be installed along with a dimmer. Dimmers work to create the light to match your mood and can help reduce energy use. Additionally, recessed lights will not interfere with the design of the room. Alternatively, investigate the benefits that track lighting can bring to your kitchen.

Track lighting is a form of ambient lighting, but it can also be used as task lighting since a homeowner can focus the light on a specific area. When used for general lighting, track lighting can produce strong light without glare.

There are many ceiling-mount fixture choices. Choosing the shape you desire is the first step in selecting a fixture. Many shapes are available, from square to round, linear and more. Choose the placement of ceiling-mounted fixtures carefully and do not install too many.

Task Lighting: Under-the-Cabinet-Lighting Task lighting focuses on specific areas or objects. Task lighting is usually placed between the countertop and the person working in the kitchen. The most common type of task lighting for a kitchen is under-the-cabinet lighting. Under-the-cabinet lighting brings direct light to work areas, such as the countertop, to help see better. Under-the-cabinet lighting can also help save energy by eliminating the need to keep the main kitchen lights on.

Under-the-cabinet lighting has some other advantages: It can highlight your counters and backsplash; make jobs easier and safer; and eliminate shadows.

Most under-the-cabinet lighting fixtures use low-voltage light bulbs. Low-voltage light bulbs last for many years and save energy compared to regular bulbs.

Accent Lighting: Accent lighting or focused lighting is used to highlight a particular object or to draw attention to a specific space. Similar to task lighting, accent lighting can be used in combination with low-voltage bulbs.

Under-the-cabinet-lighting can also fall into this category, as some use it to highlight a beautiful backsplash, countertop or piece of art.

Pendant lights (as well as mini-pendant lights) can be hung over a kitchen island to combine decorative and task lighting. Pendant lights are popular in kitchens because they have a functional and decorative appeal. Pendant lights can control the spread of light. Hang pendant lights low for less spread of light and higher for the light to spread throughout the kitchen. Homeowners favor pendant lights because they are easy to clean.

The bottom line in kitchen lighting is to use a combination of lighting fixtures. Too much of one kind of lighting fixture can distract from the design and beauty of the kitchen. However, a lack of bright light can make your kitchen look dull.

Marcy Tate is a home improvement blogger at Networx. She has been working with electricians for over a decade.



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