Helpful Tips and Advice on Contemporary Kitchen Lighting

The kitchen might mainly be a work area, but it is also a gathering place for friends and family. This is why contemporary kitchen lighting that is comfortable and functional is needed.

Under cabinet or under shelf fixtures offer both accent and task lighting. Under kitchen cabinet lights  are designed to light a countertop while a display cabinet will show off prized possessions. They are also used in a workshop or anywhere you need lighting right at hand. They include slim low voltage mini lights, small track lighting and energy-efficient fluorescents.

Pendants can give both general and task lighting, and can be halogen, xenon, incandescent, or standard with globes or shades to avoid glare. They are suspended from the ceiling over kitchen counters, game tables, dinette tables, or other work areas. The use of a dimmer gives you the flexibility to vary the light to suit the occasion. Using mini pendants have become popular recently both as a good light perspective and as a piece that brings together the rest of the room.

A big ceiling fixture like the Elba 12 Light Chandelier by Uttermost, equipped with energy-efficient bulbs will give plenty of well-diffused general lighting, but it can leave your working in your own shadow at the countertops, range and sink. These areas will require supplemental task lighting. For instance, recessed lighting or track lights over the sink will give you the illumination that you need for scouring pans and washing dishes.

Recessed lighting that is properly installed in a kitchen can give fantastic task lighting. When combined with other task lighting, it can be both functional and beautiful.

Dinettes, island counters and nooks — These areas can be lighted with decorative pendants like the Arpeggio 5 Light Pendant by Kenroy Home. When used with dimmers, these fixtures will give ample task lighting for crafts or homework, and allow you to adjust the lighting for entertainment and dining.

Sink and range — A single recessed downlight with the right bulb will give you enough task lighting when it is installed in the ceiling or in soffits over these two very busy work areas.

Countertops — Undercabinet lighting is ideal for countertops. They have to be mounted as close to the front of the cabinets as possible to prevent any glare reflecting off work surfaces, like fluorescent, halogen or xenon. The size of the fixture will depend on the light source that you pick.

Kitchen cabinets — Your cabinets can be accentuated by placing lighting on the tops, under, and inside. One way is to use a wall sconce like the Zip Linear Wall Sconce by De Majo by Illuminating Experience. With the wide range of lighting fixtures available, you can use anything that you like depending on where you want it installed.