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Westend61/Getty Images June 10, 2022 AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Your kitchen is a unique room within your house. You have to be concerned with form as well as function, with aesthetics and purpose. This can make lighting a kitchen a particular challenge. There are different styles of lighting, different fixtures and bulbs to consider, and different locations that need to be illuminated. It might sound like a lot, but don’t worry. We’re going to help you navigate the secrets of kitchen lighting.
What are the types of kitchen lights
There are four different types of lighting that you may want in your kitchen, depending on what you’re seeking to accomplish. It’s important to understand these types of lighting so you can pick the right fixtures and locations to accomplish the intended effect. Ambient kitchen lighting
Ambient lighting, sometimes called general lighting, is going to be the primary source of light in the room. It illuminates the majority of the space, serving as the sort of general-purpose lighting that allows you to see the overall room. You can accomplish ambient light naturally with big windows or glass doors that invite in sunlight, but you can also create this look with specific fixtures. Ambient lighting fixtures include: Floor lamps Track lighting Recessed fixtures Ceiling-mounted lights Kitchen accent lighting
Accent lighting is much narrower, typically calling attention to a specific area. It can be used to highlight a piece of art or bounce off a particularly interesting bit of architecture. Accent lights can also be used to make a room appear bigger by drawing attention to certain areas. Accent lighting fixtures: Under-cabinet lighting Picture lights Sconces Kitchen task lighting
In the kitchen, task lighting is important. These lights bring additional illumination to sections of the kitchen where you’re going to work. Whether it’s prepping food, scrubbing dishes, or cleaning up corner, you’ll want lights that let you to spotlight a specific area; often, they’re higher-intensity or sharper so you can zero in on the task at hand. Task lighting fixtures: Pendant lighting Under-cabinet lighting Range hood lighting Portable lamps Kitchen decorative lighting
Decorative lighting is similar to accent lighting in that it draws attention to an area, but it can also draw attention to itself. A decorative light can be a conversation piece as well as something that adds light to the kitchen, but you’ll want to be careful to make sure it fits the space and doesn’t make room feel small or crowded. Decorative lighting fixtures: Chandeliers Lamps Where should kitchen lights go
Because of its nature as both a room to show off and a room to work in, the kitchen can be difficult to light. You won’t want floor lamps or other fixtures that , and you’ll want fixtures that can both fill the room and help to highlight specific areas. Here are some of the common areas where you may place your kitchen lights. Ceiling lighting
The best way to utilize space and provide full room ambient lighting is with . They are capable of filling the room and having light bounce off the walls in a way that illuminates the whole space. Cabinet lighting
Cabinet lighting, whether it is under or above them, helps to illuminate the areas where you’re storing your food and utensils. Under-cabinet lighting is also useful for lighting countertops when located above these areas. Bars and islands lighting
If you have a bar or island, you may want to light them with task lighting options. This may be an overhead or smaller lights on the area. Range lighting
Your kitchen range will typically have a space for a light under the hood, which helps to illuminate the surface of the oven while cooking. Sink lighting
Your sink will also typically have an area overhead for a smaller light that highlights the area and allows you to use the sink without lighting up the whole room. Table lighting
If your kitchen has room to be an eat-in, an accent light may help to highlight the table or counter. Consider a fixture that is separate from the ambient lighting so you can highlight this area and deemphasize the rest of the space while you are eating; it can also be a softer light.
Trends in kitchen lights
Kitchen lighting is one of the more common areas of emphasis during remodels, according to the, which found that more than three in four people redo their lights when they This provides an opportunity to capitalize on some of the latest trends and innovations in lighting. The study found that pendant lights and under-cabinet lights are growing increasingly popular in recent years. are also popular, as are smart bulbs that allow you to control the level of lights and ambiance with more precision than your standard lighting fixture. SHARE: AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Related Articles