Take Your Kitchen Design to the Next Level With Matching Lights
A stunning kitchen starts with a cohesive lighting design. Strategically pairing pendant lights, recessed fixtures, and decorative accents creates an illuminated space that delights.
When textures, finishes, and lamp styles complement each other, your kitchen radiates harmony. Read on to learn expert tips for choosing and arranging lights to elevate your culinary space.
Determine Your Kitchen's Size and Layout
First, examine your kitchen's footprint and architecture. This informs the lighting plan.
Use a tape measure to record the overall length, width, and height. Note the locations of windows, doors, and vents as these impactfixture placement.
Also analyze how you utilize the kitchen. Identify key zones like the food prep area, cooking hubs, sink, cleaning station, and dining space.
Traffic patterns influence task lighting needs. Ceiling height determines suitable fixture sizes and styles.
Choose Fixtures to Enhance Key Zones
Next, select luminaires that address each area's unique purpose.
Task Lighting for Food Prep Areas
Work surfaces for chopping, mixing, and serving demand focused illumination. Undercabinet lighting in LED, xenon, or halogen effectively spotlights the countertop. Mini-pendants clustered over islands and peninsulas also supply direct task lighting. For precision food prep, target at least 500 lumens.
Ambient Lighting for Overall Brightness
Flush or semi-flush ceiling mounted fixtures create ambient luminosity. Recessed cans cast soft, even light throughout an entire kitchen. Well-placed wall sconces supplement general illumination.
Accent Lighting to Showcase Features
Use directional picture lights, display strips, or rail spotlights to highlight architectural details. Illuminate glass-front cabinets to showcase dinnerware. Uplights bring drama to a backsplash's texture.
Select Finishes and Styles Aligned With Your Decor
Coordinate the metal finishes, materials, shapes, and colors of new lighting with existing kitchen elements. Matching brushed nickel pendants to the faucet and drawer pulls establishes visual harmony. The lamp shades in a breakfast nook chandelier can pick up colors from the wallpaper.
Tailor the lighting design to the kitchen's style. The slender silhouette of mid-century modern pendants suits contemporary spaces. Crystal chandeliers or vintage lantern lights complement traditional decors.
Install Proper Lighting Controls
Include dimmers, timers, motion detectors or smart technology so you can adjust the lights. Create ambience for dining with dimmable fixtures. Program accent lights to turn on automatically at night for additional safety. Install occupancy sensors in pantries and little-used areas to maximize efficiency.
Layer the Lighting
Vary light sources at high, medium, and low elevations. Combine recessed and pendant fixtures. Splash task lighting under upper cabinets; hang pendants over the island. Introduce wall sconces or picture lights for depth. The goal is to eliminate harsh shadows and reduce glare.
Maintain balance between general, task, and accent lighting. Your kitchen should have ambient brightness for safe navigation but also highlight special architectural details.
An expertly executed kitchen lighting scheme elevates functionality and aesthetics. When thoughtfully coordinated fixtures illuminate the space in layers, your kitchen comes alive.
You can take your kitchen design to the next level with smart planning and illumination. Just remember to choose pendant heights, finishes and lamp styles tailored to your decor. Soon you'll be cooking and entertaining in a kitchen that dazzles with the perfect matching lights.