A commonly overlooked but important aspect of kitchen design is lighting. Knowing where to place light fixtures and how to use natural light can be important for transforming your kitchen into a cheerful and practical space for cooking and socialising. Below are just a few bright ideas for optimising lighting in your kitchen.
Don’t rely on a single overhead bulb
Kitchens are complex rooms full of obstacles like cabinets and appliances that cast shadows. As a result, a single overhead bulb is usually not enough to fully illuminate this room. Additional ceiling lighting can help to brighten up every corner and crevice. Track lighting is an affordable option that involves fitting multiple lights pointing in different directions off a single ceiling rail. Alternatively, you could consider wiring in multiple recessed lights across the ceiling – this can work out more expensive than track lighting, but can look cleaner in modern or low-ceilinged kitchens.
Install under-cabinet lights
Under-cabinet lights can provide focused lighting for tasks like chopping vegetables or measuring ingredients. These lights can also provide gentle illumination while navigating your kitchen at night instead of having to use bright overhead lighting, plus they can introduce an atmospheric glow to backsplashes and worktops. Such lights can be wired in or battery-operated, and can take the form of round recessed lights or LED strips.
Hang pendant lights over islands
For shining a spotlight on a kitchen island or breakfast bar, consider pendant lights. These are lights on long cords that dangle from the ceiling. Pendant lights come in many styles from art deco pendants with ornate brass lampshades to bare oversized lightbulbs for a charming industrial look. Consider at least two of three pendant lights and make sure these are evenly spaced.
Add blinds/curtains to windows
When it comes to sunlight, it can be useful to be able to control exactly how much light enters your kitchen. There may be times when you want to let it all in, and other times when you want to reduce glare. Window blinds can provide precise light control and are excellent for contemporary kitchens with a minimalist look. For older or more rustic kitchens, consider a pair of curtains. Blinds and curtains could be brightly coloured to create a vibrant vocal point in the room, or you could stick to a neutral colour to keep them subtle if you want other kitchen features to stand out.
Consider putting in a skylight
A skylight is a window fitted into the ceiling. These features are excellent for kitchens that don’t have many windows, helping to flood the room with sunlight from above, but are only possible if there is no room above the kitchen. When choosing a skylight design, there are many different styles to consider. A simple square window could be the most cost-efficient option, while protruding windows such as domes and roof lanterns can increase the amount of sunlight that comes through. Think carefully about how to also incorporate electric ceiling lighting around this window.